Newbie truckers. Don't work for these companies. Heed my warning!

Yup. Ive been lurking around here for about a year. Posting on forums in general for 22 years.


On topic,

I just want to avoid the headaches I see people say they've been through. Ive watched hundreds of hours of YouTube videos (good, bad and weird lol...) spoke to truckers, and regularly pepper a trucker friend of mine with all manner of questions. Thankfully, he patiently answers all of them.

My only reget is that I didn't do this sooner. I got out of the Navy back in May of 2002 and by now I think its too late to utilize my GI Bill and qualify for the military apprenticeship program I see so many companies offering. That extra grand a month would have been nice.

For the record, Im looking at CFI and Jim Palmer trucking (Ive seen how picky JP is, hope they will like me lol). Ive considered Knight too, but really, I am limited to a company that will train me and help me get my CDL. I don't have the credit score to finance training. If I did, I'd go to TDI's Milton FL campus.


Edit:

Thanks to everyone for their insight and info, newb and senior drivers alike. In every collection of humans there will always be antisocial neckbeards ~ I just ignore that and keep looking for info.

 

Once in a while I can agree with White Dog even here.

To be a owner of your own truck (I was for almost a week, for my own story it's unique...) and learn about the process in the months leading up to acquiring and signing for the rig after careful thought, I don't consider this a "game." It is a chance that America has for anyone from anywhere to literally work and eat by the labor you put into life. Not everyone is going to be successful.

 

First off, thank you for your service. And second off if memory serves my Spouse was provided some information via the VA for the possibility of taking up trucking school as part of her education. As luck would have it FFE paid just about all of it, we picked up what was left over to close the book on her training. She ultimately used the GI bill to attend school and graduate, decades after her Marine service.

I don't want to derail the topic, but wanted to sound off and let Vets know that the GI bill should still be good after your Seperation.

Give some time for your credit score to improve. It only needs a little feeding as far as keeping bills paid. I carried a top score prior to divorce and took a few lumps since but it's coming along again little by little now that the Student loans are out of the way.

 

Thank you so much, I was a combat vet, always feel guilty when anyone thanks me.
Im not sure what FFE is though? I really hope its not too late to use my post 9/11 GI Bill then.

On Topic,

Ive just contacted Knight for info and will see how it goes. Dunno if Knight was on the OP's hit list... lol


Edit:


Also, my credit number is low for lack of credit. Only one small bad item i think. I plan to company drive for a couple years to build it up then possibly pursue o/o with a company like TravelOkO

 

FFE was purchased by KLLM not too long ago. my apologies, it's Frozen Foods Express prior to the Purchase based in Lancaster. I speak of it now and then because one of the reasons it was a very good success for us for the time me and spouse spent there. I think we were privileged to do some of the things we were allowed to do.

You can get your credit going again by having a checking account totally seperate from your main bill paying account. Have a basic visa or mastercard, buy a couple of tanks of gas per month on it, pay it off each month. Eventually your score will improve. The scoring system is biased against those of us who do not use credit as part of what society would have us do. Essentially penality to those who are good stewards with money.

I don't know very much about Knight. But I do wish you best of luck.

 

Thanks x1Heavy!

 

I held a 784 score for a while until the event came around and dropped it into the 620's Im back up to 650 months later. I expect at this rate to be back over 700 within the year from this month. At that point I will consider some purchasing. Maybe. But not until then.

Most people don't know they are in subprime territory at 630 and lower.

A long time ago, I applied for a cell phone back in the 80's and in those days the interest was horendious. We just came off like a 15% or higher for some kinds of loans in that financial problem period since the 70's (Loss of the Gold Standard and the cession of the silver certificate dollars, in favor of the Federal Reserve Notes which is literally just Faith. Pure prayer and faith...) the person checked my credit and he laughed. A kind of horse laugh too. When he finished he told me the carrier demanded a 1200 dollar upfront cash payment to hold the account should I follow through with the cell purchasing.

It was a nice way of telling me to scram. My business was not wanted at all. Not with that bad of a situation.

Im glad I did not get involved with cell phones in those days there were many sharks in the blooded sea taking advantage of idiot people like myself in those days. I finally got my first cell for trucking roughly 1997 and it instantly disposed of the payphone trucking roll of quarters crap forever and the loss of time, mileage parking to make these calls which sometimes turned into one or more hours on hold or waiting by the phone. That sprint cell allowed me to travel 300 miles sometimes with it in one hand or a pocket on speaker phone.

 

I'm about where you are... I know if I get a card, use and pay it off it will rise. I don't have a car or house payment and will try and do my best to stay on the road as much as possible so no rent either (I can stay with family when I do take home time).

 

I pretty much already knew that..... If any company is pushing you to work 70 hrs or close to your 70 and you only making $40,000 yearly...... Quit!!! Your making equivalent to minimum wage what a person who works hourly does and yet gets to be home every night. Good companies pay $60,000 a yr or more starting off! That's what every driver should be making to start.