Recent Truck School Grad Worried about training

lookingupLedbetter who did you start driving with? Who are you driving with now?


A company out of Memphis, TN is where I started. Right now not working but hope to come Jan 2 with local company. Been driving since Spring 2001.

SibaSo in you're first yr of trucking I did the math but tell me if I'm right you can only expect to make barely over 2000 a months? My next question is can a solo driver drive 3500 miles per week or so? if they drive sat and sun? 7 days a week? I really need the most miles I can get :smt112. And I as I said before I don't have to really worry about home time. I don't care if they have me out for 20 days in Alaska as long as the money is right:smt043


After all deductions, yes and maybe more. Your bottom line will be different each week cause your miles will be different.

My next question is can a solo driver drive 3500 miles per week or so? if they drive sat and sun? 7 days a week? I really need the most miles I can get :smt112.



3500 miles a week is no problem as long as you aren't at the mercy of shippers/receivers. If you drive less than or equal to 8.33 hrs per day, you will never run out of hours. Even at 62mph for the lower 48 that equals
3622 miles. Just be careful you don't use too much of Line 4 on the logs.

{And I as I said before I don't have to really worry about home time. I don't care if they have me out for 20 days in Alaska as long as the money is right:smt043}

The longer you are able to stay out on the road, the more your company will love it. I stay out from 3.5 to 5.5 weeks at a time. As long as I am kept moving, the happier I am. I do not sitting when I have the hours to run and my day is not done yet.

Hope this helps.

 

I am gonna begin training in a straight truck that is an 8 speed, and I am fresh out of the water with only 2 days of solo experience on a ten speed. (all of my training was with a ten speed).

Could someone give me the approximate speed for each gear in an 8 speed? I am rough when skip shifting and need some help. I can downshift fine gear by gear, but we all know that gear-by-gear downshifting is impractical. Especially when a tight situation calls for some braking.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

Siba,congradulations on your graduation,I am still in school til mid January we have been driving a 10 speed 9 speed 5 speed and we have a 13 speed we are back and forth one week to the next ,I make mistakes because I forget which shifting pattern I am on sometimes and get frustrated but keep your head up ,I am sure I have not mastered the 10 speed either ,and when I get to training with whoever that may be ,hopefully Roehl they will lift me up with my shifting inconsistencies as well. I will probably find out tomorrow if I am invited to englewood /atlanta ga for training ,but as the earlier post stated with this job there are cheaper places to live ,I have been looking at cost of living calculators online and comparing places to live cheaper ,good luck and dont worry

 

You aren't going to make much better than 32 a mile from the start,it takes awhile and experience that these companies pay you more for,unless you want to wear your back out lumping your own loads,you can make 500 or 600 more a week,but you will wear out unless your in really good shape. Get your experience first and go from there. Scarecrow I have heard good things from drivers that started with Pam in the past,they told me like you said,it was a good place to start at the time. good luckout there.

 

Schneider and U. S. Xpress Enterprises are changing their fleets to automatic transmissions. Their statistics show that drivers of automatics have fewer accidents.

 

USX already had auto shifts.

 

They are mainly going to auto so as to reduce training time for newbies. Cause, shifting is what it's all about!! I heard they work good, but [size=+1]warning[/size]: if you get used to, don't expect to ever get a job other co. using manual---you will look bad during the driving test!!

 

5 or 600 more a week would be nice plus I could use the excercise ,also those 10 speeds are something I think is going to take time to master ,I have a lot more then 2 days on 10 speeds but I am not dropping 2 at a times with much authority either I have 1 more week of school then the real fun begins :smt026

 

You won't master shifting a manual (8+1 or 10-speed) overnight!! No short cuts or speed up tricks. Going out with a trainer (usually 1 or 2 over 1 mo. period) is tough---no matter who the trainer. I 'bailed' on my fiirst one ( I was his 1st student!) after 1 week----was pushing me to drive 'beyond' tired!! 2nd Trainer had 34 yrs experience, driven everything, done everything, etc. I learned more from him by picking his brain & just watching him everyday (2 1/2 weeks with him). You won't learn how to back successfully in the little amount of training time. Takes 1-3 yrs to really be confident all dock situations. But don't give up in training---many, many give it up there!! It will pass---I almost quit after that 1st trainer. good luck!