Prospective Driver/Team - Questions and Concerns

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BigCB, Apr 27, 2010.

  1. BigCB

    BigCB Bobtail Member

    9
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    Apr 27, 2010
    Massachusetts
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    So right now I am living in Massachusetts and my wife and I are both considering becoming OTR drivers for a few years to get our fiances in order and build experience. I am 25 and she is 24, and we feel that this industry could help us with putting our roots down in the future.

    Right now I am unemployed, and not on unemployment. Great references and all, but can't seem to find /anything/ hiring locally. The last job I worked for was Loomis as an Armored Car Messenger and Driver, so I feel as though I have somewhat of an idea of what I am getting into. I used to work on the TT as well; as the second guy, helping with unloading/loading coin and currency.

    I cannot afford to go to a community college driving school. I've applied a NETTTS (New England Tractor Trailer Training School) and was denied financial aid because my credit is not stellar.

    Both of us have clean driving records and great work histories. So that's not an issue at all.

    Right now I'm trying to find a company that will hire us and provide training for us to get our CDL licenses. Also the ability for us to work as a team in the future. I know it's not the best option, but it's a much better option than no option in my opinion.

    I have been dealing with Stevens Transport, and sending them my application in the mail today.

    It seems that most companies will not hire out of Massachusetts for whatever reason. We have a place to store our furniture, and really don't plan on having a "home" persay until we save enough money for a house in the future. But just being from MA itself seems to hinder a lot of these companies.

    I've tried Swift, C.R. England, Werner. Stevens is the only one that has gotten back to me about being able to hire us/train us.

    I understand there is always risk involved with going with one of these bigger carriers. I want to have us earn some OTR experience for 1-3 years, and then make a decision from where we want to go from there. Be it staying with the company or going elsewhere, we want to have experience under our belts before we make any decision.

    It's also one of the reasons why I'm okay dealing with one of these big companies. I realize that getting the experience is first on my list, and then paying off whatever loan I have from the school. Doing this for a couple years will let me know the industry a bit better, and it's a hell of a lot more money than I've been making anywhere else, even including expenses.

    Does anyone have any other suggestions for companies that pay for training and actually hire out of Massachusetts?

    We really don't care as long as we get to work together in the end, make enough money to live off of, and that's pretty much it. Our financial situation at the moment is not great, and so that's what is making us take such a big move.

    Honestly I've wanted to do this for a long time, but my wife just told me she was interested as well. The only reason I have not done this in the past is because she didn't want me to, but for her to join me? Perfect solution.

    Right now Stevens is sounding great to me. I realize that pay starts at .26 at first, but it moves up to .30 by the end of the first year, which seems like a bit more than most other companies with paid training are offering.

    So thank you ahead of time for comments and concerns. Hopefully you guys can help point me in the right direction :)

    (And I guess it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to invest in a laptop in the future as well :p)
     
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  3. maxwelltie

    maxwelltie Medium Load Member

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    Mar 13, 2010
    Brookings, OR
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    If there is ANY way to finance your way thru school, then do it. Every company that trains and helps you get your CDL owns your soul. This forum is replete with horror stories of good intentioned, hard working people that went to [fill in the company name here] to get a CDL and ended up either not getting the license or not getting hired, but owing HUGE $$ for that school. Also, companies usually don't get you all the endorsements, just the ones they need. For less money usually, a private school will get you all the endorsements which makes you more attractive to prospective employers, especially after a year or so in the business.
    I work for Stevens and am very happy here, however there are a lot of people that have formerly worked here and definitely NOT happy.
    Remember: If you finance your school, many employers will reimburse your monthly payment if they hire you.
    If need be, look at relocating for the sake of a company that can finance you. If you're going OTR and are young, you probably don't need to live where you are. This may open up a lot more opportunities as to who will employ you.
     
  4. BigCB

    BigCB Bobtail Member

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    Apr 27, 2010
    Massachusetts
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    I guess I'd also like to add that I really was interested in this from talking with a driver from Swift, who said he was really enjoying himself and making some good money. It sounded like he was in a similar spot as I am now (minus he did not have a wife to worry about).

    Also while working at Loomis, a few of the guys there used to be OTR drivers, and they stopped basically because of age. (I swear the average age there had to be 65). Also getting experience in the tractor there and working with the guy who drove it made me think, I could do this, and I could do it well.

    @max:

    I agree with you honestly. If I could finance myself I would, but I've tried every option that I know of and have been turned down left and right. It's just not an option at this point. Glad to hear you are happy with Stevens though. I hear things both ways about all these companies, and the only thing I can think of is to toss myself into the grinder and hope I come out okay in the end.
     
  5. Braazooka

    Braazooka Light Load Member

    70
    11
    Jul 1, 2009
    Orlando FL
    0

    I've been a h/W team driver for the last 1.5 months. Well, it's a VERY HARD life, you can't get decent sleep while tractor is moving (and hopefully it will move 24hrs), if you get short loads, it's worst because the "night" driver or who ever will be in the bunker will have a hard time to sleep while loading/unloading, city driving and MUST BE READY after his/her 10hrs break (u will learn what is those terminology in the school).
    But, i made money and you will do as well. U just need to find a way to get your CDL.
    BEST COMPANY FOR TEAMS? Con-way truckload.
    They have the longest/better paid miles in this industry for teams.
    Yes they take students, just check them...Best company to start up and stay for while....they pay .44 Cents per mile and give you cross crountry loads, not those bull #### loads that Stevens, CR and other will make you do...Be aware that those companys love teams not because they have team freight (definition of a team freight: 1500 or + miles loads in one direction) they love teams because we are robots with 24hrs available to to what ever crap they have to be done, like re-power drivers without hours to drive, shuttle trailers (werner loved to do this with me in Los Angeles); take multi stops loads # 15 per stop that take you 7/8 hours to be done...keep something in mind : YOU NEED TEAM FREIGHT; LA to NJ, Boston to CA...OH to CA, anything with less than 1.5k miles is BULLsh...
    You will be a ghost trying to get some sleep and.... Refer pays better but requires u more time in loading and unloading..

    If you can't get approved with Con-way truckload try Prime Inc..they at least offer you an opportunity of getting more money as Lease Operator (many won't like it) but i've seen many teams happy with great mile cross country with them...Prime also take students...

    Another company that is begging for teams is US xpress...they pay .48 cpm !!! (too good to believe, but i called they confirmed .48 and 6k week...i doubt...) but i doubt they will move you like Conway...even prime...
    One company that run teams is CRST,it is a team-only lanes they pay #### but get u started...They also move CA to East a lot as long as i know (never worked for them, just talk) i think they will finance u or get you in their own school (not sure if they still have one) I think CR England had its one school that u don't need to pay nothing up front, but them you sold your soul to them...not recomended.
    Try to avoid Werner, Swift, JB Hunt, CR England, Stevens (all this company that put recruiters in the school locations)...but i know how hard can be started in this business..i f you really want to and found no way...what to do? Hug the evil.

    i just don't want u to suffer what i did with Werner Enterprises (the biggest jerk in this planet)...
    My recomendations:
    1- Conway
    2- Prime, USX. Marten....
    3- CRST, Swift, CR England.

    Most of the companys will take students, they are intersted in government money in form of tax breaks to "qualify" you as a professional truck driver.

    This is a very important moment that you have something to offer to them: you Social Security # for them to deduct from their taxes (some say about 5k per student in tax breaks...)...so selecting a better the company that you are jumping with is very important, because once there you will need at least, 6 months of experience to think about changing company. After you get trainned ,you will not be a good deal for any other company until you get some experience under your belt.
    Why?
    1- Limited experience driving alone, no benefit 4 the carrier../
    2- They won't be able to claim tax breaks on u since your last employer already got it, so i can't be trainned twice...
    3- Insurance propouses.. (big thing, when you have less than 1 year or sometimes less the 2 years depending the size of the carrier...)

    So feel free to ask me anything related to your search...i dont know much, but the bit that i know will be a pleasure share with you..
    Thanks
     
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  6. BigCB

    BigCB Bobtail Member

    9
    0
    Apr 27, 2010
    Massachusetts
    0
    I just got off the phone with a lady down at Conway Truckload.

    Looks like it is $1800 up front for each of us for the school there, Crowder College in Neosho Missouri. And after that we would be hired for working with Conway Truckload.

    I didn't spend a long time on the phone, just enough to get basic information to share with my wife. But if we can manage the funds, it's worth looking into.

    We'd want to do long haul more than anything else, and just pump out the miles, so that definitely sounds like an option worth looking into if we can.


    I also just contacted the NETTTS again, which is my local trucking school. To earn the class A through them would be $5295 EACH. I still am having a recruiter come to our home this Thursday, just to discuss it with them, but this honestly seems really expensive compared to even the companies that do training in house.

    Basically I've decided I want to do this, my wife wants to join me in it, and it's just a matter of figuring out how to get there.
     
  7. BigCB

    BigCB Bobtail Member

    9
    0
    Apr 27, 2010
    Massachusetts
    0
    I guess another thing to add is that we DO NOT want to lease right out of the gate. We've talked about it, discussed it, and it's something that we want to be driving someone else's rig for a bit while we are still learning.

    In 3-5 years once I have a better understanding of the industry and companies on the whole, it's a definite idea. But until then, I just want to play it safe so that we don't get stabbed with a bad deal out of the gate.
     
  8. Braazooka

    Braazooka Light Load Member

    70
    11
    Jul 1, 2009
    Orlando FL
    0

    Trust me, 6k for a CDL is a ripoff...my advice? I've seen many drivers getting their CDL thru their work force programs, PAID IN FULL, zero down, zero later....check your workforce office if they can offer something like that to you...
    And trust me; 1800 # conway will turn 40k back to you in the firs 6months. It's a awesome investment if you can afford. Also, Conway doesn't take people with tickets or accidents (reason that i was turned down there, unfortunatly) but i read that you both have clean records, just go with the right company...i'll thank me for the rest of your driving life, believe me....
     
  9. Braazooka

    Braazooka Light Load Member

    70
    11
    Jul 1, 2009
    Orlando FL
    0
    Perfect...very solid plan, very good. This is the way the things need to be...so also, i've made some calculations, witha good wage and decent enviroment, as a team, you can get almost the same money that a lease operator get on those average companys, to don't mention the ripoff they do...
    Keep your mind in the right way and you won't regret...
    THANKS good lucky out there...
     
  10. BigCB

    BigCB Bobtail Member

    9
    0
    Apr 27, 2010
    Massachusetts
    0
    Thanks for all the advice guys. Really been working at this trying to find all the information I can, and have been reading the forums this evening (just found them this afternoon).

    I have my list made out of people to call, and am also going to have this list handy that you guys had up here:
    http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr.../9517-ever-wonder-what-questions-ask-new.html

    It makes a lot of sense.

    My wife and I do want to do /something/ soon, and I need to get something sooner rather than later. I may talk to family for the loan for Conway's school if that becomes a solid option, because I am hearing a lot of good things about the company on the whole.

    I am going to look into the local trucking school still and see if I can get financing. I've talked to people in the area, and they say it is a legit good program to learn with. But I do realize it would be important to get a good reimbersment program if I did so.

    Tomorrow my to-do list is calling these companies:

    Conway Truckload
    Covenant Transport
    Prime
    C.R. England
    Swift

    Like I said before, we have our applications in with Stevens at the moment. I will probably give them a call again as well and run down the list of questions to make sure I have my information straight. We'd rather do long-haul dry goods runs than reefer runs, but it won't turn us away totally.

    If anyone has any other suggestions for companies with potential paid CDL training, or a good reimbursement program please let me know. I plan on talking to all of these companies before I make a solid decision.

    I also do plan on calling my local jobforce/workforce tomorrow as well. I had not thought of it and it sound like it could really help if I'm able to get into a CDL program through them.
     
  11. The Bully

    The Bully Bobtail Member

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    13
    May 4, 2009
    Sterling Heights,Michigan
    0
    i have been driving as a husband and wife team for 3.5 years now and really enjoying it. My advise is to pay for your cdl yourself!!! Do what ever you can to do this. As far as earnings go. You should bring home somewhere near 75k to 80k a year together. Being as young as both of you are teaming up is a great way to save a sizable chunk of change pretty quickly. But its a hard life. My wife and I have average 300 days on the road per year over the last 3 years. And sleeping in the truck while its moving isnt easy. But with a little sacrafice I'm sure it will pay off in a few years. Good luck to both of you.
     
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