I want to be a truck driver

find a retired OTR driver. they have their own truck , have him spend time with you, and teach you the right way.

 

however, companies plan down to the second for pick ups and deliveries these days. It is hard to stop for personal reasons.

 

Swift has dry van, refrigerated, flatbed. Pay is pretty good there. Probably do better, pay wise, at some of the other companies that were posted to you. I'm not knocking Swift, but you living in high tax, expensive California, need to go where the money is.
Prime gets some bad press, undeserved though, and the pay is really good with refrigerated division.

 

Either is ok. You'll learn how to trip plan and think ahead. For example, you want to stop and walk around a few minutes and maybe have to get through a city soon, so wait until you get through that city and then do the walking after you're back out on the open road then stop in a rest area. This way the stressful city driving is behind you. At truck stops, I usually stop in the back of the parking area, this way get a longer walk to get to the main building. Little things like that add up as far as exercising.

 

REALITY CHECK: In all likelihood -- you won't make a lot of money as a first-year driver.

Consider this: part of your pay is based on experience -- & as a 1st-year driver, you basically have none.

Also -- if you later show up to your carrier for work with no endorsements (especially, no hazmat) -- this also contributes to low(er) pay, as well.

For better pay, & more potential opportunities -- load up (pun intended ) on ALL the relevant endorsements: tanker, hazmat...& doubles/triples.

Later on down the road (again, pun intended ) -- you'll be glad you did....

-- L

 

Wow in the TV and film industry and want to get out, thought that would be the most exciting place to be, I suppose after a while it would get a bit boring after all we kind of worship these celebrities when their just humans like the rest of us. 48 is not to old to start in the trucking industry as most will tell you, provided your can pass a medical check, and can learn how to tow a 53' trailer. Change gears with a Road Ranger, and reverse onto docks. Just as a side point I watched a documentary the other day about Easyjet the UK budget airline one of the most popular and they had just let a 20 year old fly an A320 Airbus yet in the US you can't even get a tractor trailer (CDL) till your 21. Cost him £ 120 000 or about US $150 000 for the training school so will spend quite a few years paying it back. Think 20 years of age is far to young to by flying a commercial jet airliner but thats the decision Easyjet have made.

 

Those questions are best given to your CDL instructor(s).

-- L