Fresh Meat Looking For A Starter

Go read this, I know you are not looking to purchase, but if you are hungry, this is a good place to start. It is free, and I know the author. http://rawze.com/book/The First Time Class-8 Lease-Purchase Owner-Op Guide.pdf

Many good tips on driving in there too, good stuff to know.

 

Yes, I would stay away from that racket. The author, Terry, owns his truck outright, and did it rather creatively. And he recommends staying away from these lease outfits, but some guys just have to go there!

 

Companies are even more desperate for trainers than they are for drivers. My starter company started begging people to train when they had 3 months experience. That being said, there are 3 types of trainers: ones that are in it for the money, ones that are desperate for company, and ones who enjoy teaching. Obviously you want the latter. All companies will have some of them but you may not end up with one on your first try. Companies will try to accommodate you if you have high standards or aren't happy with the first couple/few trainers you get, but you may have to sit at home and wait a few weeks to get a good one.

 

Here's a real life situation: my orientation was in Mississippi and company tells me they don't have any trainers available there and they will have to put me on a bus to Oklahoma City to meet up with my trainer who turned out to be an old nut job that just had a student quit on him.

 

They don't really lose much if a student quits. Student only needs to last a week or two for the company to recover what they spent on a bus ticket and a medical.

Standardized training can be a waste of time for a student that is a fast learner. If they can pick up what they need to know to run solo in a few weeks, no point being stuck making training pay for months.

I went with Abilene and I am very glad I did when I read some of the horror stories about other companies on here.

 

You said the WORD, "Etiquette"! I love your neighbor! Dude, he is your man, see if he can hook you up. Seriously. Etiquette, my God is it long gone out here! We used to call it common sense... If only I could bottle it!