Starting out for rookies

You should be able to find many jobs. We had seven recruiters come to my school, SAGE # Isothermal CC in NC. I sent out about 5 applications all gave me a return email and/or call back. I also sent out a blanket application through cdltruckstop.com
http://cdltruckstop.com/
Got many emails back along with phone calls from recruiters. Good luck.

 

Have orientation next week with Epes Transportation out of Greensboro, NC. I guess like many companies they will weed out the weak drivers. I am confident in what I have done for the past 5 weeks in school....am just waiting for real world driving to hit like a 2x4. Wish me luck.

 

Sounds like you're goin in with your eyes open, so I don't believe the "thump and sting" from that 2x4 will knock you out of the saddle good luck

 

It's definately a step by step process. CDL school teaches you their way to drive and it's really based on just getting a CDL in your hand from motor vehicles. Onto Orientation you'll learn the trucking companies way of driving, then the trainer you have will give you some tips. Being in it a short time myself, the most nerve-racking part is trying to find these shipping/receiving places where you're going down city streets and little spindly backroads that would be tight for a car, let alone a sleeper cab and 53' trailer. Good luck out there. Best piece of advice I can give is when you get into a jam (which you will) CALL dispatch and let them tell you what to do, don't try to figure out the problem by yourself.

 

WHAT?!??!?!?!


Thats horrible advice, in MOST cases dispatchers have NEVER even sat in a truck let alone driven one. If its a dispatch issue yes call them but other then that NO

Truck problem call your shop

Anything else call a DRIVER!




And i don't know about you but i love 2 lane roads barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass with a 55mph speed limit to truck on at 80,000lbs! Thats fun for me






American Trucker

 

American-Trucker, I call it CYA (Cover your ***). If I try and get out of a jam and crumble a bumper or side wing the first thing they will ask is "Did you call dispatch when you got into this mess"?? In the few tight spots I've gotten myself into, that's the first thing my company asks.

Last week They had me routed to a customer down a road that had "Road Closed" signs posted. It was a VERY rural country road. I called them about the closure and they said it closed AFTER the turn I needed to take. However It was closed before my turn. The detour said "No Semi's". So After backing up for about 1/8th of a mile I needed to back the trailer onto a very narrow 90 degree side street to get turned around. But it involved moving the barracade they had set up. As dispatch had told me, "Who do you think would be responsible if a car went blazing through and got into an accident because YOU moved a roadblock sign"?!?!?! I called the police dept, a sheriff came out, moved the sign and held up traffic while I struggled to "blind alley back" that trailer down the side street. I thanked him, He told me "have a great day" and all was good.

And BTW, If you love those narrow 55mph two lane roads you must love that stretch of I-64 that runs through WV, Lol.

 

I-64 is great but the Dragons Tail is better!



I see what your saying, but YOU should have thought for yourself and called the cops on your own. I've done it before, you shouldnt need a idiot behind a computer to tell you things like that If your not sure you can make a turn......DONT CALL DISPATCH, find a way to either make the turn or make 3 lefts and you made a right....



American Trucker

 

Yes...Dragons Tail (US 129) is awesome. 318 curves in 11 miles. You may not make it in a semi, but if you got a bike, in your in heaven. Rode it a few times over the years (I live about an hour or so away). Don't worry about finding a cop, though. They will find you on that road. If if dispatched mistakenly directs you up that road...your screwed.

 

speak for yourself! I've run every little goat trail in WV with my truck, scary at times but fun haha


P.S the dragons tail IS NOT a restricted road (its just not "recommended")




American Trucker

 

I never said it was restricted, just said 'You may not make it in a semi'. I've seen a few trucks try and get stuck there with troopers so pissed at them for EVEN trying. Probably not experienced drivers. I'm not saying that you wouldn't make it but expect to track from shoulder to shoulder. You will take up the whole road on most turns. Which is also extremely dangerous because there are so many blind hairpins. On a bike, you never know what's around the corner on many turns...and once your around the corner and a truck is in front of you, you have no where to bail out.