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Is this business really that bad??

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012.

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  1. Sep 7, 2012 #21
    JPalmer81

    JPalmer81 Light Load Member

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    Sorry, I sounded a bit harsh there, wasn't trying to. Hard to convey emotion over typing ;-)
     
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    #21
    chompi Thanks this.
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  3. Sep 7, 2012 #22
    Keyster

    Keyster Light Load Member

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    Your father's era is quite different from the present day climate.
    Be aware you will be OTR for 4 to 5 weeks at a time and hometime of 3 to 4 days inbetween for your first year. You will net between $6 and $10 per hour of actual work hours at 70+ hours per week. If you can survive that you can start considering O/O. You're essentially starting as an apprentice driver and working your way up. This takes several years.
     
    Keyster, Sep 7, 2012
    Keyster, Sep 7, 2012
    #22
  4. Sep 7, 2012 #23
    JPalmer81

    JPalmer81 Light Load Member

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    I figured, as with any job, when your first starting out you have to prove yourself. Not going to say I will like being gone like that, but I have been away from my family for much longer periods of time, getting to come home once a month or so would be very nice compared to now.
     
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    #23
  5. Sep 7, 2012 #24
    nicholas_jordan

    nicholas_jordan Medium Load Member

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    temple texas
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    pm'd you about straightening my post if you need it ~ proving yourself nowdays is not like what we knew decades ago, they all sit in TS backyard clicking plastic PDA's when need to shut the left door or reading fictitious job numbers from recruiters - will decipher my post for you if you want to by pm .... have reponses coming in so busy and need to go take a walk to clear the head but you can post on me all you want is my only req is actually looking for work, all others are BBMF & GTFO
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2012
    nicholas_jordan, Sep 7, 2012
    nicholas_jordan, Sep 7, 2012
    #24
  7. Sep 7, 2012 #25
    JPalmer81

    JPalmer81 Light Load Member

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    The more things change the more they stay the same. Good work ethic and diligence will always pay off in the end, no matter what is going on in the industry today. I am not one to say and I believe you experienced guys when you say that things are different, and I will try to figure that out and adjust accordingly. Nothing good comes easy.......a good career in trucking i imagine won't come easy to anyone, and that is why you have these huge wash out rates, you have a bunch of lazy people looking to make a buck being lazy and find out you can't be lazy and make it being a trucker, or with any trade or job you will ever have.

    I'm stepping off my soap box now.....

    I will pm you jordan......are you a recruiter?
     
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    #25
  8. Sep 7, 2012 #26
    massparanoia

    massparanoia Light Load Member

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    Who do you work for?
     
    massparanoia, Sep 7, 2012
    massparanoia, Sep 7, 2012
    #26
  9. Sep 7, 2012 #27
    Keyster

    Keyster Light Load Member

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    That's part of it, but also adapting to the life style. The pay rate is also quite low at first considering the hours, days and the responsibility that's been hoisted upon you, not to mention it's a dangerous job. And then there are those that just can't hack the skills part; driving 11 hours thru the night and then having to back up into a tight hole in a shipping yard somewhere. Fatigue is rampant which is why there are lawyers that specialize in cases involving 4-wheelers vs. truckers.

    Moving Freight is a VERY competitive business. They have financial metrics down to the penny or less. You have to have a passion for it or it will eat you alive.
     
    Keyster, Sep 7, 2012
    Keyster, Sep 7, 2012
    #27
  10. Sep 7, 2012 #28
    nicholas_jordan

    nicholas_jordan Medium Load Member

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    no - just looking for work myself ..... as noted in pm

    as for nothing new under the sun that sounds great but we have an increase in what this board seems to call steering wheel holders - some of those schools are making good ($) pumping people past the test w/o heavy field-ops, that is why I suggested FFE => the video even gave me some adrenaline just watching their obstacle course

    edit: read Keyster what posted just below here very very (very very very) closely, we do A.I. professionally and what is posted just below here is probably worth more than what any SWH-school ever charged for one course .....
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2012
    nicholas_jordan, Sep 7, 2012
    nicholas_jordan, Sep 7, 2012
    #28
  11. Sep 7, 2012 #29
    JPalmer81

    JPalmer81 Light Load Member

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    I think I might have the "operating under extreme fatigue and stress" down somewhat. I am an airborne paratrooper, 11B(infantry) finishing up a 10 month deployment, so I have learned to deal with stress and more danger than most will ever dream about. Albeit, driving a monolith down the highway while dealing with idiots on the road while having your DM breathing down your neck is a different kind of stress. If i put my mind to something, I will accomplish it. However, I have no clue if I am cut out to live the life of a trucker, none at all, this is all a shot in the dark for me and another one of my grand idea's, the outcome of which i know not......

    I do appreciate all the heads up though, this is a big decision for me, and one that I will research till there is nothing left to research and one that I do not take lightly, as I have a wife and kids to think about. If I decide to go through with this, you can bet i will have the full support of my wife and that I will be absolutely 100% completely committed to seeing this out to a success, even if I decide it is not the life or trade for me, i will put 100% effort into it until the time comes for me to move on to the next thing, if that time ever comes.

    I appreciate all the comments, please keep them coming.
     
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    JPalmer81, Sep 7, 2012
    #29
    nicholas_jordan Thanks this.
  12. Sep 7, 2012 #30
    RamboJatt

    RamboJatt Bobtail Member

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    i got my license in 2010 in november, then i went to werner for 1 month training, i came back home and never went back . after taking 1 year break from trucking .then i started working for small company locally hauling container local in nj. it was definately better then werner. home every evening. now i finally got my own truck and going to work on monday first load as an owner operator over the road mon-fri and weekend off . the company i leased to promised me i should be taking atleast $1800 a week after expenes. im on percentage 85%. and 15% to the company . i think finding the right company is like finding the right person to marry. KEEP TRUCKING
     
    RamboJatt, Sep 7, 2012
    RamboJatt, Sep 7, 2012
    #30
    nicholas_jordan Thanks this.
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