Good Rookie Company to Use For Training...Then Quit

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by VeganFoxtrot, Nov 23, 2021.

  1. VeganFoxtrot

    VeganFoxtrot Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    OK, here's a fun question. New CDL guy here. As insane as it is, I definitely want to go straight into the o/o route asap. I have money saved up and have always run my own businesses, so it just makes sense on many levels. The owner part doesn't scare me. But operator... I obviously really want to do at least a few weeks or months of training to really feel comfortable OTR as an operator. So...

    If I know for sure I want to be a company driver for as little time as possible, but still want to potentially do a training program to just feel confident on the road, what is a good recommendation for a company training program that wouldn't lock me in for a year or a long contract? Anyone I could use just for their training and then quit?

    I guess alternately, I could find an established o/o and just try to mentor with them? It's not really about the pay of the training period for me (in fact would consider sitting in with an o/o for a week or two for free and just pick their brain), more about experience and just setting myself up to feel confident enough to run solo as an o/o after a fairly short period of time.

    PS no lectures please, just give me some hacks.
    PSS based out of the Northeast (Newark/NYC), so national companies would work as well as Northeast regional or o/o's based near NYC.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

    3,547
    8,999
    Jun 3, 2018
    0
    Ya

    1. No O/O will let you drive their rig.
    2. Owner ops are owner ops because they want to be alone in their rigs.


    No hacks. This ain’t a game.

    jump in pay your dues and hope you survive the bs.


    Ask your questions and many will help. But non will have you on their rig. That’s for sure.
     
  4. VeganFoxtrot

    VeganFoxtrot Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Good point. I guess with the mentor angle, would just be about picking their brain and watching and learning their system, not driving their rig. But I guess I can do that on the internet, so it's kind of a wash and not practical. If it's more about driving skillz, company trainer might make more sense, then dip after a period of time once my confidence is high enough to give it a go.

     
  5. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

    3,547
    8,999
    Jun 3, 2018
    0
    learning the system is different for everyone.

    every owner operator keeps their secrets close to their chest. The brokers they talk to, the mechanics they use and everything that can give the next guy an advantage. But this is industry known and other owner ops don’t hold each other in contempt for that. We know how the game is run and played and we play it.

    if someone needs help we help if we can. But other than that you need to pay your dues like us to gain our respect.

    to this day I still don’t know 20% of what some of these vets know.
     
    spindrift, tscottme and VeganFoxtrot Thank this.
  6. VeganFoxtrot

    VeganFoxtrot Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Right on. Yeah I idolize most o/o's, so I get that and respect that 100%. Obviously nothing beats experience and paying dues. And I know the thread is coming off as eye rolling. Just looking to fast track my learning of the actual driving and operating aspects to get me to where I want to go as efficiently as possible, whether that's with a company trainer for a while, or elsewhere.

    I guess I know exactly what I want to do with trucking from day 1 which is the owner op route, which might make it a little easier to plot a course as a rookie to get there as opposed to someone starting out who might just want to ease into things and test the waters as a company driver.
     
  7. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

    3,547
    8,999
    Jun 3, 2018
    0

    Here’s a story, some of the most successful owner ops are the ones with no training behind the wheel before they started driving.


    most are company drivers who scraped enough to buy a truck on the bad times when prices were low and don’t have payments and are now driving paid off equipment without any hassle.


    You jumping in at this time when the market is almost ready to bust is going to guaranteed you being a $1 mile driver.

    in other words wait for the market to bust buy equipment cheap, not cheap equipment and make due with the bad market. Because if you can survive in the skinny years you’ll love the fat ones.
     
    tscottme and VinceBlack Thank this.
  8. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

    3,778
    9,850
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    Very risky and unwise plan IMHO, but, have at least 50k in cash and at least that much in available credit AFTER the purchase of your truck. There are lots of legalities, rules and regs as well. I would suggest that you join OOIDA for starters. You will also need a competent accountant that knows the trucking industry. Best of luck to you....... you are going to need it!
     
    jethro712 Thanks this.
  9. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

    5,768
    20,578
    Aug 31, 2018
    0
    Do you have your CDL yet?

    How much money do you have?

    Sounds like your the equivalent of a civilian who’s wanting to ship straight off to war because they want to get in the fight so badly. Likely, that person would get picked off very quickly by the enemy.

    I also don’t like the idea that your ok using a person or company to try and leap frog even if it means completely wasting their time and resources by getting what you want then “dipping”. Or, assuming someone wants to help you and let you drive their truck for a couple weeks “for free”.

    I can’t put my finger on it but you come off a bit arrogant and entitled. My bad if that’s way off base.
     
  10. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

    3,547
    8,999
    Jun 3, 2018
    0

    I think he’s saying to drive their truck without pay. But still that’s like I’ll mess up your truck and the 2k you save on my pay will pay the 10k in possible damage if not more.
     
    SoulScream84, tscottme and homeskillet Thank this.
  11. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

    3,778
    9,850
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    I wish learning this business was as easy as watching a few youtube videos, driving around in the passenger seat for a couple of weeks, buy a truck, make big money. Lol
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.