Starting out for rookies

1 - 2 years over the road then local

 

my head hurts to many confusing comments in the thread....

 

hi i've been an o/o since 1979 i was 27 when i bought my first truck the max lenghth of entire rig was 55 feet and the trailer was 45 feet now you know why cabovers were needed.the max speed was 55 mph the most you could log was 50 mph.trucks got 4 mpg and most were 250 hp cummins or 318 hp detroits.fuel was always less than a dollar and most freight paid the truck and trailer around a dollar a loaded mile.the only reason i was successful was i could do all my own repairs and GOD blessed me with a wife who worked and knew one day it would pay off.now i'm 58 and me and the wife have a networth that let's us do what we want as well as investments that pay all the bills.don't be discouraged keep your record clean leave the ###### alone know GOD and find a good successful woman to partner with.the years pass so fast the experience issue will seem so minor so soon.i still truck because i want to and pull chemicals in liquid bulk tankers. really keeps you on your toes.like dancing with a fat woman.GOD bless and much success to all of you. mike stockton

 

I've got a question. I got my CDL the week after I turned 19. I have been waiting on multiple surgerys to my jaw and am just about done. I'm almost 20 and need some advice. I can't go OTR so I'm hoping to find a class B truck for a year. If I can't get a CDL job then just sit on the license till I'm 21 and go OTR for 1 year. I would love to see the country but I've done lots of soul searching and I can't leave my fire station. My goal is to get a local job, but they won't hire without experience, you can't get experience without OTR . Is this feasible or am I dreaming?

 

Im finding alot of these websites where they claim you can fill out their application and they will match you with multiple companies that fit your profile. Are these legit?

 

You don't say if your a fulltime firefighter or a volunteer, either way driving a class B is all you'll probably find. As far as OTR your gonna I'm afraid to say leave the fire battle's behind.
Your not gonna get behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler, like you say, UNLESS you find an understanding o/o that will work with ya.

Good luck to ya, and Thank You for your service as a Firefighter

 

Thanks for the reply. I am a volunteer about 80 hours a week on average. If I go OTR for a couple weeks and get back for a couple days I would spend it at my fire station, so I don't have to leave it. How many years experience would it take to get a local job? I think in the end the pay is worth the couple years spent OTR.

 

Thank you. What a great post. You hit the nail right on the head. A lot of these new guys think it's not as good as it used to be, well, maybe not in some ways, but you just have to make the best of it, and like you said, keep your nose clean. They can't make you run illegal.

 

I live in Northern Va, 26 miles south of D.C.
Reading the threads makes it seem like there are no good companies. It seems like someone has something bad to say, most likely because they don't have thick skin and somehow got their feelings hurt.

I don't believe anything I hear and only half of what I see. I also know that if it isn't in writing, it didn't happen. If I volunteer it isn't working because I'm not getting paid. Work is compensated.

I already have my class A, so is that a plus for a company so I don't have to go to their school or would I still have to go for a few days to learn S.O.P.'s and such?