Starting out for rookies

go to school its the best way they all ask that in the apps

 

mack-e you have given good responces and some pretty off the wall ones, i wonder are u still a driver are did you stop n become a preacher?

 

Read this post carefully and then re-read a second time. I am a 30 year driver. I have seen the ups + downs of the long haul trucking business. I have never senn this business more down than it is right now and I don't see it coming back anytime soon, if ever. This business is populated by immigrants who are quite happy to work for next to nothing and slackjawed mouth breathers who still believe all the BS in Smokie + the Bandit and other trucking related nonsense movies. Mega carriers haul the bulk of the freight. The day of the Owner operated + the independent driver are long gone. These mega carriers have one goal and one goal only: PROFIT. That's not to say that profit is a bad thing. But when the goal of profit blinds these companies to the facts that their drivers are human beings with families and homelifes then the quest for profit has gone too far. These mega carriers will promise you that you can make $50,000 per year and spend every other weekend at home. This a lie and they know it. They are counting on you not knowing it is a lie because you are new to the business, so how could you know it? The truth is you will operate exactly as they tell you to or you will discharged at a time + place of their chosing. If they choose fire you 2000 miles from home that's just too bad. You better get your gear out of their truck in the time frame they specify or they will call law enforcement to assist you. The law is on their side. Is your wife delivering your first child in 2 weeks + you requested hometime a month in advance so that you wouldn't miss the once in a lifetime life changing event? But when the time comes for you to get home your Co. Tells you that theyy just can't seem to find any freight going your way. Oh, and don't pay any attention to the 20 or 30 co. Trailers going in the direction of your home. I could go on page after page with examples of how mega carriers treat their drivers worse than cattle. They hire drivers with the same sharpened pencil that they buy tires or bulk fuel. My main point is this: truckdriving is no longer a reliable source of income for hardworking honest Americans. If you are going to spend thousands of dollars on job training, spend it on something that actually requires some intelligence and/or skill. With autotransmissions + qualcom etc., truckdriving is something a trained gorilla can do. (I've seen a few doing it). Save your marraige, your relationship with your kids, your friends, and your sanity. AVOID the trucking business like the PLAGUE! Do what Mom always told you. Go to school, get an education, and get a real job.

Singed,
A friend

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...57-adivce-new-those-you-thinking-about-2.html

 

In 2 weeks I start my course to get my CDL in the trucking industry and would really like some advice on the ins and outs. What should I look out for and what should I be looking for? I've read a lot on this board. What companies are good with new drivers. Reading this forum I hear good things about SNI. Any others?
Anything else you want to tell me please do.
I appreciate any advice given.

Thanks

 

I started with Schneider, they have the resources to help you transition into driving. They give you time to get used to driving 11 hours a day. My first trip was from Laurinburg NC to Orlando FL. I was two days early, they give you those longer trips with shorter miles. And they guarantee you make a certain amount. If you go over awesome, if not you still make the minimum. Plus they have operating centers all over, its a great place to go. It's safe, food, fuel, and you don't have to worry about parking.

After I left Schneider I went to TransAm, I was experienced but soon as I got there I had a 2000 mile run with 3 stops. Talk about running, and newbies were getting the same thing. Look at Schneider, try it for a while you may like it.

 

Rodzilla:: Thanks for the Great input. May tactfully disagree here a little as I have the degrees, all the awards (whatever that means) and doing my thing for a long time in Software engineering.

Can still find work & get paid top dollar in an economy which is questionable. As they still like the experience. Need a break for awhile so will do this insanity (of mine to do this) of driving for awhile till I get my desire to do what I normally do back..

Feel for the younger generation as they are trained to excel in the 3rd grade now, get good grades, go to an expensive US College (which I love our college system) and maybe get a job or not as competition outside the US has cheaper schools, and the large companies can call for a visa as they can justify that the US does not have the talent ???? (pay 1/3 the price by holding a work visa over my friends heads that where born outside the USA).

Will need a PhD to work in Walmart soon at min wage & I like Walmart actually.

Not everyone can drive a Big Rig as that takes tremendous talent to me (though it is classified as unskilled which I do not understand who determines that???) &to drive in any and all conditions OTR. Most people can not drive a car correctly !!!! To do that safely (with or w/o Auto Transmission etc) take a a particular computer skill set and mindset which you & most truck drivers have.

Understand what you are saying though completely. Take Care, keep doing what you are doing & God Bless. Hopefully are paths will cross some day.

 

Im 22 and want to get my class a and drive otr off the bat. I dont have any problem signing a year contract if they will put me threw there school. I realy want o do this but dont want o have to put and money up front o go threw there school as I just got layed off and money is tight. Any sugestions on who I should go to?

 

Go to Stevens.

 

Do you have any contact info for them and did you go threw them?