Hello everyone so I’m a 28 year old divorced father to a 6 year old girl. I have nothing going for me right now. I need a career. All my experience thus far has been call center. I hate people and I’m a loner type so I figure trucking might be my thing. I also enjoy driving. I have been studying like crazy on these forums and other places to get all the info. I have learned a lot so far and at least enough to know that trucking is not as simple as drive from A to B. It even seems a bit stressful at times. As with any new driver I have extreme worries such as how am I suppose to drive this massive truck and turn at a stop light without hitting cars in the other lane. It’s very intimidating to drive something so huge and obviously it’s nothing like a standard vehicle. Also backing up to a dock worries me too. I know this is all to be taught I just worry about putting that kind of thing in my hands that can kill someone if I drop the ball one day. The other thing I worry about and this is one of the top is home time. Ideally I want a trucking job that I’m home every night. My happiness comes from my daughter so not being around her whenever I want and the loneliness that comes from being on the road really worries me. I am currently considering between stevens transport and Swift. Swift has a school in Memphis and stevens has one in Knoxville. I live in East TN so Knoxville is only 1.5 hours away. I heard good things about them both as a training school. So any info between them would be great.
Also I notice a lot of people want flatbed. Why does that seem to be so popular? As oppose to refrigerated and dry van etc. I know stevens is refrigerated. Anyway thanks in advance for any and all help. I have 3 uncles who all do truck driving. 2 of them are OTR and one of them just drives between georgia and Florida delivering so he’s home everynight. Something like that would be ideal for me honestly.
New trucker please help
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Devi343, Oct 28, 2020.
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Oh and one more thing I have never had any convictions or been arrested or done drugs or had a dui. My last wreck was 5 years ago and yeah that’s about it lol.
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If you go with either company with their school you will be OTR for some time.
Home once a month for 3 days or so.
Expect that for at least a year, or more.
Home daily is rare unless you can get a very local dedicated position, and that requires some experience and time.TequilaSunrise and bryan21384 Thank this. -
If you want a chance to be home every night, FORGET most of the mega carriers.
Pay for truck school yourself, $3000 - $5000 . Choose your school wisely. You want a 160 hour course. Then go looking for someone smaller (less than 50 trucks) and local.
Food service delivery is lots of work, but you're young. 12 hour shifts, Monday - Fridays. Most are always looking for warm bodies. Every restaurant gets their food ingredients delivered this way.nredfor88 and TequilaSunrise Thank this. -
Even home daily may not get you what you want.
It means getting up at whatever hour and running up to 14 hours, then home for a 10 hour break.
How much quality time would you have running those hours, even with a day and a half off for a 34?homeskillet and gentleroger Thank this. -
I'm not sure about your area. Here in Colorado, Budweiser hires new delivery drivers and will get you your CDL. Its not great work. Lots of unloading heavy cases and long hours but you're home every night. Maybe you can check into some of your local companies like that.
Class B dump trucks are a big deal here too. but most of them are smaller companies that want drivers with experience.Texas_hwy_287 Thanks this. -
To achieve what you want, dont do any of this above advise. Go apply to be a dock worker at a LTL union carrier. Most will help transfer to driver position. Become a mild people person and work your way up to driver. In 30 years you will be thankful. Or your child will.
Your gonna deal with people, yet limited.
Post what area your in. Someone will know of one.TequilaSunrise, Texas_hwy_287, homeskillet and 4 others Thank this. -
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Where are you in East Tennessee?
If we know the town you're near, maybe can help with a local job.
If you're unemployed or under-employed, the state will pay for private cdl school.TequilaSunrise Thanks this. -
Here's two companies to check out and they train in Tennessee, which, by the way, is my home state:
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R. E. West Transportation has their own cdl school in Ashland City, TN.
The school is free and no contract to sign.
Meals & lodging provided, plus $10.00 hr. while in school.
Dry van and flatbed are options there.
R. E. West Transportation
R. E. West Transportation
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