Jobs that have paid driver helpers?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by insipidtoast, Jun 22, 2023.

  1. insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    Well, my wife said she's not very interested in driving now. We had been considering doing teaming. Maybe she'll reconsider at some point, but for now, it doesn't look like that's going to happen. She feels intimidated about the idea of driving a tractor-trailer (doesn't have much driving experience in general).

    What we are planning is to live out of the truck. Are there any jobs that could pay her to be a helper or spotter or something like that? Foodservice? Dollar General?

    Do any of those kinds of jobs let you live out of the truck? The whole idea was to save lots of money by not having to pay for an apartment somewhere, which worked well for us before when she was a passenger doing OTR. We could do that again, but was just wondering if maybe there are some other opportunities that get her involved and earning an extra paycheck. Even if it's only $200 per week.
     
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  3. snowmantrucking101

    snowmantrucking101 Heavy Load Member

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    Unless she has the stamina of a pack mule..avoid the "driver" unload hell like DG.
    She has "limited" driving exp.? Good luck...
     
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  4. insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    Yeah, we're both in pretty good shape. Practice weight lifting and HIIT regularly. Trail runners. How do those DG gigs work? Do the trailers have a lift gate? Pallet jack? Or just a regular dolly? Do you have to stock the store shelves too, or just stack everything in the back of the store and move on to the next destination? So you're saying those jobs can have helpers?
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Only 2 I know of is food service and household good movers.
    Not worth it though.
    Just find a decent company that lets her be a passenger and go that route.
    She's your queen, so treat her as such.
     
  6. snowmantrucking101

    snowmantrucking101 Heavy Load Member

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    Lift gate yep, balls to the wall piece work. A lot of the freight will be all over the trailer from falling out of the containers. Most of the time there is NO store help. Unload all merchandise and stacked in the back on carts/roll containers. TIGHT & DANGEROUS backing conditions most times.
    The pay....most times NOT worth it.
     
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  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Most DG loads require the driver to "fingerprint" or "tailgate" the freight. That means driver manually rolls the stack of freight to the trailer's tailgate, lowers the tailgate to the ground, and then rolls it off onto the ground or rolls it to the delivery door of the store. Employees are supposed to take the freight from the tailgate, or delivery door, and do what they do inside the building.

    The issue comes up when the employees are not willing do what they are expected, short-staffed or whatever. Now the driver decides does he sacrifice the next few hours waiting for employee(s) to finish their slow=paced work or does he pitch in and get the work done in the 30 minutes his schedule allows before leaving for the next stop. Wash, rinse, repeat.

    I've never heard of a trucking job that allows or pays some helper to ride with you permanently, let alone pay the helper even $1 per week. Every human in that truck is a lawsuit waiting to happen if there is a crash.
     
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  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Labatt Foodservice in Texas
    New World Van Lines in Florida
    A few Sygma Network termnals
     
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  9. insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Heavy Load Member

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    Why are they not worth it in your opinion? Do any of them let you live out of the truck?

    At this point, I'm really not sure what to do. Supposedly the high-paying jobs are hazmat tank, but they don't allow a passenger at most pickup and delivery locations. Plus they all pretty much stick a camera in your face nowadays, which I'm against. I've done otr flatbed, reefer and dry van. I did not like flatbed or reefer. Dry van was pretty nice, but everyone seems convinced the economy is headed for doom, so that's not the best sector to be in.

    I thought my wife might be cut out for linehaul teaming with me since it's just interstate driving terminal to terminal, but it sounds like she wouldn't want to do that either. Also, most of those companies aren't hiring newbies nowadays. I've heard Old dominion, but the recruiter I talked to made it sound like the training period isn't something my wife would be willing to do. R&L said they need 1 year of experience. I thought maybe a fedex ground contractor could work. Not sure what their training period is like. The whole team driving idea is a long shot anyway. I'm still not convinced myself that I could adapt to driving nights all the time and sleeping during the day in a moving truck.

    Our first idea was to run as a super solo operation and pocket a few hundred dollars extra per week, but alas everyone on the forum said no companies allow this in the real world because of liabilities, insurance costs, yada yada.

    I was told to stay away from anything agricultural if I'm not willing to work more than 14 hours per day. I liked the sound of your suggestion of greenproducts that I saw you post to someone else in another thread. Is that ag exempt work?

    I don't know if I can be too picky honestly. I've been out of trucking for three years. I have three years of clean record otr experience under my belt though, so at least I have that in my favor.

    What do you think pays a lot and would let us live out of the truck?
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2023
  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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  11. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    In truth -- when reading "between the lines" in your posts....you guys actually seem pretty set in your ways.

    With that said.....I'm surprised you haven't looked more into the following fleet:

    FCC--Fremont Contract Carriers | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver Message Board (thetruckersreport.com)

    The above is easily one of the best threads here on the Forum; that's no accident.

    I say the above...also in part....due to post #7 in the following Forum thread:

    Companies that only run the great plains? | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver Message Board (thetruckersreport.com)

    And yes...they do have a Family Member rider program (after 90 days)....

    Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc. (fcc-inc.com)

    -- Lual
     
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