Rookie/Student Looking for Advice

WildWyatt · Mar 24, 2010

Very nice post. I have been trying to tell my fellow students some of the things I have been reading off here, but our instructor has them all puffed up on the "professional driver" scheme too. They all think its going to be easy money, ha! The truth hurts, lol.

sdelong · Mar 25, 2010

Thanks for your advice.

sdelong · Mar 25, 2010

I just wanted to give you guys an update and thank you all very much for giving a rookie good advice as I start off in the industry. I have worked as a public school teacher and in the visual communications industry for the last eight years so its a big step changing careers but I am excited so far and trying to stick with the facts and I am very thank full for your posts. I had a late start at CDL school from the original date of the first post in February. Currently March 25, 2010 I am at the end of my first week at CDL school at TTC in Lebanon Tennessee with two and half more weeks to go. The school and instructors are great. I have received my CDL permit and I am now working on my road skills, pre trip, studying for my hazmat endorsement test and driving tests. Since my first post gathering the facts about local work in the Nashville area and juggling family life. I have discovered that I am very interested in flat bedding, and going OTR or regional. "Shoots" I am still single and not married I just like to be there for my family when they need me since my father passed away a few years back. I am sure that any one can understand? My goal is to finish CDL school and go with a good company that trains its employees well, get that first year of experience and then go from there. I have received a pre hire from Werner and TMC contingent that I finish graduation from CDL school and accomplish everything else included in each pre hire letter. I am currently researching the details of these companies while still in CDL school. If any seasoned truck driver can give a rookie more advice from this point on that would be great. It also might help some one else who is new in the industry and finds this post. Thank you all again and God bless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KSSvCVplIE&feature=player_embedded

revensmj · Mar 29, 2010

great post indian rambler alot of good information more should read it for sure

RonS666 · Apr 3, 2010

Good luck from one newb to another Sdelong. I'm in GA and our area has a few starter companies hiring at the moment. Checkout AJC.com jobs (Atlanta Journal Constitution) online.

I believe we will quickly learn what we like and don't like and can decide wether to stay on, or what to look for a year or 2 down the road.

Looking forward to hearing who you go with.

sdelong · Apr 15, 2010

I just wanted to update the original post. I just graduated from TTC CDL school in Lebanon TN and passed my state CDL exams. The instructors at TTC school where all great and I would suggest the school to any one interested in obtaining there CDL in the Nashville area. Currently I am packing my bags and heading up to TMC for orientaion on April 19, 2010. Godbless.

Azeron · Jun 23, 2010

Indiana_Rambler said: ↑

Talk to actual drivers of the company and believe about half of what they say. Until you are living the job, you just can't comprehend the reality.

We all play head games and convince ourselves we make more per average hour and some do, but some don't. I tell myself I make about $12.00 an average hour OTR but I'm still running paper logs, legally, but I know how to work it. If I was honest with myself, I would get off the road ASAP and deliver pizzas. I like driving and going broke because of it. What can I say. You get hooked.

If you really, really, really, really , want to drive a tractor-trailer, you will only hear what you want to hear. It is a honorable and needed occupation but unless you have a tremendous reserve of energy, focus and the single minded desire to starve for a year or two with the goal of making it over the hump toward a long-term career, I would just forget it.

Being alone 99% of the time should also be factored into you decision along with not being home for weeks/months at a time. Finding a place to park at 11:30 pm at night is another bundle of fun no one ever talks about just as you run out of hour and your eyeballs are falling out from being tired. Yeah, that reality is a son of gun.

It's a tough "lifestyle" as they say. There good days and bad days and days you feel like a prisoner on wheels and other days you feel like a soaring eagle. If you can't take all the insane ups and downs of the trucking industry and the crappy low pay for some serious, dangerous and potentially criminal risk-work, stay home and deliver pizza's or whatever. You will get more respect delivering pizza then you ever will delivering thousands of dollars worth of cargo. Yeah, really. Your just another no face nobody delivering more freight. Big deal !

And please, please don't drink the coolaid when it comes to this "professional driver" concept. It's a nice way to show respect to an other non-respected occupation (like janitors/sanitation engineers) and yes, some are professional. But, in my book and many others, the "professional" usually comes with a nice respectful salary and treatment. I don't know many "professionals" making $6.85 and hour eating overpriced garbage on the road and not being home every night.

Am I jaded ? No, not really. I've had it good by most standards and generally I'm happy with my first year, but I promised myself to share what I know about this Economically Depressed Trucking Industry so other wannabe drivers go into this with eyes wide open. Open your ears too. Opening mouth is optional but learn before you speak.

The reality of it is not what you think it is. Remember I said this.

DISCLAIMER: Your results will vary, I guarantee it !
Click to expand...

This is a great post!

Azeron · Jun 23, 2010

sdelong said: ↑

I just wanted to update the original post. I just graduated from TTC CDL school in Lebanon TN and passed my state CDL exams. The instructors at TTC school where all great and I would suggest the school to any one interested in obtaining there CDL in the Nashville area. Currently I am packing my bags and heading up to TMC for orientaion on April 19, 2010. Godbless.
Click to expand...

TMC looked like a good choice. Keep us informed on how it works for you, please.

Azeron · Jun 23, 2010

I'm just thinking about what Indiana_Rambler was saying and wondering... I have orientation scheduled with Stevens and I am having second thoughts. I just don't know if I am making the right decision. My situation is: No kids, non-smoker, non-drinker. In many ways I feel like trucking would suit me. I just don't want to choose the wrong company. I have pre-hires with Werner, USXpress and May. Stevens training period is a lot longer than the others and while this may mean less money, I wonder if it will make me a better driver in the long run?

mogan2006 · Jun 25, 2010

Trucking is tuff but there are lots of good local jobs out there. You just have to get experience. And with the economy being the way it is, good and bad local jobs are hard to find.
I have had my CDL A since 2006 and i have never been OTR. I started out driving, delivering construction materials for 3 months. My second job i got a job at a construction company making $800 week. They have four 53' van trailers, one 53' equipment trailer, four 48' flat beds and 2 trucks. So i have gotten a very good amount of experience in the past 4 years.
The only problem im facing is i was laid off at that company and now i im delivering equipment for a rental company only make $13 per hour at 40 hrs a week.
To make a longer story short i cant find any local jobs and im prolly goin to go OTR.
IT MAY BE Your only choice for now.

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

Rookie/Student Looking for Advice

WildWyatt Bobtail Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

sdelong Bobtail Member

sdelong Bobtail Member

revensmj Light Load Member

RonS666 Light Load Member

sdelong Bobtail Member

Azeron Light Load Member

Azeron Light Load Member

Azeron Light Load Member

mogan2006 Light Load Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

Rookie/Student Looking for Advice

WildWyatt Bobtail Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

sdelong Bobtail Member

sdelong Bobtail Member

revensmj Light Load Member

RonS666 Light Load Member

sdelong Bobtail Member

Azeron Light Load Member

Azeron Light Load Member

Azeron Light Load Member

mogan2006 Light Load Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!