Starting out for rookies

I'm not sure that the Big truck truckin' companies aren't convinced that you have what it takes to be a kick a@# driver. It's more like they prefer not to pay what an experienced driver is worth. On top of that, their insurance carriers, --- liability and health, --- seem to be pulling the strings as far as which applicants are desirable candidates for employment, --- those least likely to cause a claim to be filed. The insurance companies seem to prefer those with clean driving records who don't exceed the new fat index scale, --- in other words, what they consider to be healthy. Those who exceed the allowable fat index are required to have a sleep apnea test, which I think the applicant pays for, around a thousand dollars, if I recall correctly.

Now-a-daze, refresher courses are required if a driver has been away from the industry for as few as six months, in some instances, but a year off is often the dividing line. Any longer than that could require a complete driving course rather than just a refresher course.
YuP.
Just like starting from scratch, although your prior experience should make it easier.

In the past, if there were two applicants with good drivin' records applying for the same drivin' job, the applicant with the most experience would usually be the more preferable of the two.
That was then.

Now, the Big truck truckin' companies are pinchin' every penny in any and every way imaginable. Even some unimaginable.
There's only so much freight to relocate, and the competition to move it is makin' it necessary for the truckin' companies to devise other ways to turn a profit, other than haulin' freight.

Some of the mega outfits have become training companies to keep their doors open. With so many folks out of work and desperate for ANY job that'll pay the bills, the truckin' company recruiters have stacks of applications on their desk to sort through. Many have no experience at all, ---- the ideal candidate for hire.
They'll either pay up front for training, or sign an agreement to drive for the training company for a period of time, usually 12 to 18 months, and the training company picks up the tab for training. Once graduated, it's not unusual for the conditions to be less than desirable for the newBees. Low pay, low miles, --- by the time the tuition is considered paid, the newBee is usually anxious to move on, ........ if they haven't already burned out and thrown in the towel before then. If they don't complete the agreed upon time frame for repayment of the training costs, those costs are still owed.

The object is to have a revolving door and a line of wannaBees constantly passin' through it. At around $3,000 to $5,000 for training and, upon graduation, movin' freight at beginner's wages for a year or so, a company can make money off wannaBees for training, and save money by payin' the newBees a lower rate than an experienced driver.
Concern about turn-over rates has changed. Instead of spendin' money tryin' to retain drivers, the training companies depend on a high turn-over rate to make room for the next batch of wannaBees. If there weren't enough terminating, there wouldn't be enough empty driver's seats for the graduates to fill, --- lost revenue.
It also helps that the training companies receive monetary incentive from Uncle Sam for their efforts to put folks who are out of work, -- back to work, ........ even if they only last a few months, which is often the case.
Abusing/Using the system?

Right now is, at best, probably the worst time to get into or re-enter the Big truck truckin' industry. A LOT has changed since you left, Billymac. I wouldn't recommend that anyone who has been away for as long as you have, to attempt to just pick up where they left off. I would recommend a refresher course of some sort. That may include time with a trainer who has fewer total years experience than you, but it's recent experience. However, there are those with prior experience who flat refuse to accept having to go with a trainer, ....... at all, period.
Pride?
Whatever.
It doesn't pay the bills.

Of the companies that offer training, some are better than others. The better ones, as you can imagine, are not the easiest to get into. Although, with your previous experience, you might be more attractive to the better companies, and your application could be included with the others --- stacked on the recruiter's desk.

Of those considered to be the worst of the bottom feeders, one in particular seems to stand out. I'd estimate that 90 to 95% of the comments posted here at The Trucker's Report by different individuals who have personally experienced the
C.R. England (mis)adventure, are negative.
I would advise that you avoid C.R. England.

I think your best bet is to do some research on the various Big truck truckin' companies, and right here is a good place to do that. Read what others have to say with an open mind. Some complaints are legitimate, others are just venting and/or whining. It doesn't take too long to distinguish which is which.
There are MANY here who are quite helpful.
You'll also likely read differences of opinion(s).
It's up to you to decide which best match your situation.

I wish the outlook was better, but it is what it is, and it ain't.
Many changes have been made in the past 10 years, with more changes on the way, --- none of which seem to improve driver comfort. But the new rules and regulations sure take a lot of the pleasure out of the job as the Washington desk drivers attempt to improve conditions, --- mostly as a knee-jerk reaction to the knee-jerk demands of the special interest groups using campaign contributions for leverage.

Don't misunderstand me though.
I'm not sayin' it's not possible to find a descent gig, because it is possible. It's not likely that you'll find a descent gig easily, although some have managed to have luck on their side and walk right into a dream gig. But don't count on that happenin'. It doesn't hurt to be able to recognize such a gig should it present itself though.
Plan on a lot of lookin', questions asked, offers presented, ...........
and rejections. Don't let rejections get you down. Try to determine why you were rejected, compare reasons, and decide if you need to re-think what you require from a company.
Know what you want from a company, and what you'll accept.

Inquire about refresher courses.
It really is a good idea, even if a company doesn't require it.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.

 

I'm the same age as you and have had a totally different experience in the industry than you have.

Hmmmmmmm........After 38 years and 4,000,000 miles I'm still having a great time out here, It's never boring!

Maybe it's just you....

But you could be wrong.....Or maybe you're right, For you!

How many pills and cigarettes and trips to the buffet did it take to help wreck your health....
Trucking didn't do anything to you that you didn't contribute to with your own bad choices....But like everyone else in America these days you just want to blame everything and everyone but yourself because it's just too hard to accept personal resposibility for our own actions.

I'm 55 too and have been truckin a long time and guess what?

I'm in great health! No diabetes, high blood pressure or any of the maladies that seem to plague so many people these days...Go figure!

 

Brand new to the board. Hi y'all

When you say $200 a day, you're not talking about a fresh out of school, just got there CDL and are going through the orientation/riding with a trainer period at $200 a day are ya ?

 

I am not sure about what they are thinking but for newbie I think that is very high. If you are making $.30/mile - not sure that will happen - you would have to average over 650 paid miles per day. Some will tell that this can be done day in and day out legally but that is false. Even on a good dedicated run you can get that for on duty days but you still have to restart weekly.

Once you get on your own you should look at ramping up to about an average of 400-500 miles per day.

 

Well newbs generally don't get paid by the mile while with a trainer (anywhere from 3-6 wks). They get paid anywhere from $200-500 a WEEK, depending on the company.

 

I got my start at a moving company, hard work, but got the exp needed to move on.

 

i am a new driver an i hear you all but i don't have no training.. everybody i have talk to say i need at least 6 months.. so i am goin to go to crst to get this training we started some where correct.

 

This thread is so old. SNI training is NOT free. you'll have o stay 2 years, then they'll give you the money back they take out of your pay every week. It comes to aout $3500 (as of 2008, it may be more now). You will get shafted durng these two years sometimes. You will go hungry at times. Beware of the night and weekend support crew, they will play with you.
If you can make it through the two years, God Bless you, because then they will give you some respect. If not, you have the experience to go almost anywhere.

 

SNI does not have their school anymore. They hire out of the private schools then run you through a week of paid orientation. You then go out with a trainer for up to 2 weeks. Orientation and training pay is about $300 a week. Their starting pay is around $.30 a mile. They have the shortest training period and higher pay than most of the starter companies.

 

so is SNI a good company to start out with? I have no experiance and I am looking to get into trucking after a layoff and no luck finding a decent paying job.