Help a trucker wanna be out! 2.0

The truth is, the Navy says."A #######' sailor is a happy sailor."

 

Proud to say I was a sailor. Proud to say even more my grandfather was a sailor. Been on 2 aircraft carriers, and worked with thousands of people, only known 2 gay sailors, but I havent got enough fingers or toes to count all the gay soldiers Ive come across.


On topic, Do your time, then buy your truck. Aint no one gonna take you serious until you pay your dues.

 

To be successful in a business you need to know the business before jumping in. Learn to drive, then learn the business. Then you stand a better chance of succeeding.

 

trying to be a o/o first is like trying to fire the main gun before the loader says up. lots of luck

 

Nobody can tell you which way to go is best for you. All we can do is pass on experiences that we have gone through or seen. My advice to you and to all new drivers is while you have the time now sit down and make a career list. Set some realistic goals for yourself and a time frame. Of course you need to do a lot of research but the more you put into this industry the more you'll get out. I never believed one person on any advice. It took at least two or three to tell the same information for me to make a life change. It's very hard to start off in this business so the more you learn the better off you are. Don't shoot for the starts right out of the gate. Buying your own truck takes a lot of knowledge to be successful, after all you do not want to be truck broke. That's the same as house broke when you've over spent and have no money except to pay the bills.

Going to a good CDL school is just about a must now. You might hear of some cases that did it all on their own but those are far from the normal. You'll find that most of the trucking companies are run by the insurance carriers they have. When you learn more you might look for a company that is self-insured and add that to your list. You could also add companies that do not generate their income from the truck for example Walmart. Normally those companies promote from within and give the driver a better comfort working. I'm not saying Walmart does that because I do not know but it was just an example. These are the little things that help you find work and most times good quality work. You search out those companies that have drivers that retire. That alone speaks volumes on how the company is run.

But to start out you need to find a good school. There's several different ways to get a CDL and you'll have to find the one that fits you AFTER you've researched their standing and if they lead to a company. I never went to school because they we not around when I first started driving. However, there's been a lot of new drivers that say paying for your own school is best because then you are free to work where you like when you finish. Money is most of the problem so you'll want to check out any loans or grants you may be able to get.

Then you need to select what type of company you'll want to work for. Hauling general freight is hard work and most of the time it pays the lowest. So you'll want to research again to find what type of truck fits your plans. You should make yourself a 1, 5, 10, year and to retire plan. Don't make your goals unattainable so you fail but leave yourself some room to change if you have to. Everyday you should be learning what you need to know to better yourself for the next day. I have seen drivers come in get some experience from general freight then go on to specialized loads and make a very good living. They had a plan and gained information to help them. Do not let a few ever tell you that you can not do what you want. Those recruiters will say you can not get hired on because you need so many years driving before they hire you. Then I've seen fresh drivers with no experience come in right off the street and get hired because the company needed a driver. Plus some of the older management that were drivers themselves way back like to take new drivers and teach them their way before any bad habits are picked up. So you never knoe unless you try. Always use all your resources at hand. Do not just send out applications to companies. Even if they require that you still should make an appearance to let them know you really want the job. I know I would never want to be judged by a sheet of paper alone.

So I believe your first move is a plan then pick the best school for you. Then move on to companies. Like I said the more information you have the better off you are. Count on not making very much money at all the first 6 months of work. I recommend that you have 6 months worth of living costs stashed in the bank. Anyway all this is only my 2¢ so good luck.

 

My battle station on the USS New Jersey (BB-62) was two decks below the main deck & right next to the forward 16" gun turret. "ear shattering"

 

And dont overlook the community college route to get your CDL. The company I work for now will hire noobie drivers if they went the CC route, as they figure that 1) the probably got more time behind the wheel, and 2) they can teach them the way we drive from the get go.

And I wont lie, this is a pretty dang good gig we got. $20 + and hour, overtime after 40, and averaging 60 hours a week and in my own bed at night.

But there are lot of times when I do miss parts of OTR.... they say it gets in your blood and it is true. But a lot of the exp. I got OTR I would not have got driving regional.