Looking for some direction

Welcome to the forum Ty! Trust me, there's a lot more positive than negative here. Sometimes what appears to be a negative post is actually positive in that it helps us to avoid something or other. For the experienced drivers to help you, you might consider telling them a little more about yourself, such as.....family, goals in a new job, wage requirements, etc. You might, if you're willing, mention anything that might prevent you from getting hired on with a carrier. The trucking industry is undergoing some pretty major changes these days and there's more change predicted for the future. Carriers are being more selective these days about who they bring in because of new safety regulations, more stringent health requirements, more in-depth looks into an applicant's background, etc. Some carriers are more lenient than others though. Bottom line: in the short time I've been a member here, I've seen a major shift in hiring practice...at least that's what has been reported by members looking into this career. Good luck to you and stay in touch! Thank you for joining in with us!

 

Hello and Welcome

IMHO, I suggest that you check with your local community/Technical Colleges and their truck driver training programs.
Funding is available for training through the WIA program, as well as other programs, grants...If you qualify (unemplyed, underemployed, displaced worker)

If you would like, introduce yourself in the welcome Wagon as well.

Best of Luck to You !!!!

 

The best thing I can tell you is forget the lease option. You think times are tough for you now. Multiply that a few times with the lease route. Even if someone considered going O/O the legitimate way by not leasing you do not want to rush it. Drive at least 5 years as a company driver to learn the industry at no cost to you.

 

You mean like CRE? They are notorious for recruiting, training new guys to lease and then turn out drivers like this one. This was one of their drivers
caseyg
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Worked for them a couple years ago. Did 6 months as a company driver.

I made 6,000 (W2 FORM) is 6 months, After taxes and after you pay for schooling and just VERY SIMPLE living expenses......how much you think I took home each week?

Not to mention when I quit and the second I stepped off the bus to get home, they took the rest of my money off my comdata card.

Didnt realize mormons can be just as vicious as the government and the mafia!

 

Have to agree with notarps. Spend some time as a company driver & get payed to learn.

Check into the WIA as kickin chicken suggested for the CDL training, these would be your tax dollars at work for you.

Remember if you do the lease thing you will be left holding the bag & the company will be pulling the strings.

Good luck.

 

Do some reading here . You'll see for some "driving all they can " is less than 1500 miles a week for less than $.30 a mile .
A lot of members complaining of making less than $400 a week . Carriers have reduced their fleets so they aren't hiring because they have more work . They are hiring because people keep quitting .
I have pointed out several times you can go to the Safestat history of any major carrier and see they have the same number or less drivers they had 2 years ago despite putting thousands through orientation .

 

I'm in a similar situation and will drive while my wife is in nursing school (I'm a laid off plumber). I will not even think of o/o until I have a lot of road experiance.
I am searching now for a comapny owned school because I am very hesitant ro lay down six grand without a guarentee of a job after graduation. Take it slow as many of the experiances ones here would probably tell you.