Trucking school or "personal" trucker-trainer?

Having your trucking friend teach you might be alright if you are going to be driving for him or become a O/O, but if going to be going to any larger companies, most are going to require you to have the schooling of a approved and/or accredited school.

 

Check out Millis Transfer...they are right up the road from you. Great instructor, you have to commit to them...but you will make way more than most rookies in your first year.

 

Some company require that you have schooling.. mainly for insurance reasons.. so, if hou have a comany in mind that you want to get on with.. I would check with them and see if they will hire you with CDL and no schooling..

A driver I met in orientation.. he went out with a friend for six months.. his friend taught him and they rode team.. but, he wanted to go solo and the company wouldnt hire him, he applied with other companies with no luck.. ended up going to CDL so he could get hired on somewhere...

 

Be sure to check out your state requirements, as well. Some states now require up to 160 hours of "legitimate" training. Other states don't care as long as you have the money to pay the fees.

 

I certainly don't want to burst your bubnle or squash your enthusiasm... bjt in my opinion.. being an O/O is not for beginners.... it seems lime it with tne mega carriers pushing lease opportunity righ out the gate...
However.. there is a lot to driving effeciently and it takes times in the seat to learn and build the skills..
Being an O/O is a lot more responsibility... with the O/O carrying the costs.. if the truck needs a tire.. the O/O has to have the money to get a new one, the O/O pays for fuel, fuel additive, oil, etc, etc...

I have desires and thoughts of becoming an O/O in the future.. so, while I am out running as a company driver and thjnk about it.. like yesterday when I put $700 of fuel, two bottles of additive and topped of my oil.. for me, the compay provides it or pays for it.. if I was an O/O.. I would be paying for it.. last week I had a trailer tire blow.. was able to pull into a rest area, send a macro for roadside.. and then wait for 7 hours and 43 minutes for roadside to get there... fortunately for me it happened at the end of my day when I only had 1 1/2 hours left to drive.. so I was on my 10 hour while waiting... but, it doesnt always go that.. and so it can cost hours and money... which sucks for company drivers and O/Os... but because O/Os have more costs it is more costly.. a company driver can make it up easier...

Anyway.. I just dont think it is a good idea to to rush into being an O/O.. if you start as a company driver you get a better idea of what all is needed to be a successful O/O and you can build up your cash reserve.. which to be an O/O yoj will need a healthy cash reserve...

 

It always a good idea to get as much info as you can so you can make a sound informed decision..

It is also good to write down and know the pro and cons...

Trucking is not for everyone.. so having a chance to be out there and experience before forkk g out tne moneh for school is. A definate plus... and even if you need to go school.. at least yoj already know it is a worth while investment for you... and a lot of people did have the opportunity and discovered that trucking isnt for them...

Also, check out the O/O section hear.. lots of good info there..