New truck drivers

ROTFLMAO ..... when the schools are pumping out literally thousands a month? Yeah right.


....... Jim

 

Maybe this thread needs to be in a new "soapbox" section?

I for one am happy to see this wealth of information - negative and otherwise, coming out after years of being lost in CB chatter.

With the help of this site and others like it, hopefully people will be able to make "informed" decisions about companies.

 

Newbs will never make "informed" decisions regarding the mills they wind up in.

 

Really? The OP comes across as a poorly educated and inexperienced 'drone'.

Common sense.

Unless you know one or more people who have had experience with a particular employer, you'll find out the hard way. Most people find out about forums such as this one after the fact.

A meaningless generalization.

You're in a distinct minority if true.

Where were you when Arrow Trucking Co. needed a recruiter?

Sound advice. Also, talk to as many current and ex truckers as possible along with anyone you know who is related to a current or ex trucker for a good overall 'view' of the industry.

Everyone prefers clean employment, driving and credit histories. I've attended two driving schools since I began driving commercial trucks in 1974. The first was in 1980, at the beginning of the recession that speeded 'deregulation'. I was hoping to land something better than the mostly chicken ##### jobs I had up until that time.

The 2nd was in 1988, required by my prospective employer since I had no real OTR experience. Both 'experiences' were worth every penny I or my employer spent.

I would recommend to new drivers to NOT pay for a school but take advantage of so-called 'free training' offered by many employers and honor your 'time commitment' afterwards.

Too many people are turning to trucking due to the 'myths' about 'quick and easy money' while 'seeing North America'. In my current unionized position, steady income is sporadic at best for obvious reasons.

This is only true in selective cases. We have to be bonded and are supposed to be able to qualify for and obtain a passport, TWIC and FastPass cards. I can't tell you how many that don't but its a sizeable minority.

To people thinking about getting into the trucking industry: Don't buy the hype. The industry is laden with 'minefields'. I recommend OTR trucking only to unmarried people as one can't run a household while away from home for days and, often weeks at a time.

The upside? A current CDL holder with a current medical card has NO REASON to ever be unemployed. If one is, it's through their own choice.

 

Another spineless fish that bends over and takes whatever garbage is handed to him.

 

Polarbear, you sound like a pretty reasonable person with experience, i.e. 16 years. I'm recently out of a desk job and want to get into trucking, been thinking about it for a couple of years. I'm considering the Swift training school in Lewiston Id. What's your take on Swift and going through their training? If you were starting out again fresh how would you do it?

 

LOL!!! Famous first post....

 

not another one!

 

ttucker I have a very close friend of the family who has been with swift for 20 plus years so what does that tell you

 

I don't know if it's low self-esteem, a lack of education and skills, or a combination of those things but there are always going to be those that will defend all that is wrong with the trucking industry no matter how bad things get.

I get sick of hearing these people (a minority of drivers) that say stop complaining and love it, or stop crying, or my favorite is the trucking ain't for sissies. Someone that cares about trucking and the plight of truck drivers would never say those things. Trucking has always been one of the most deadliest jobs in America, it has one of the highest turnover rates of any industry, no other occupation has to work so hard for so little and tolerate such harsh working conditions as truckers do. Some think that is fine with them, they don't give a #### about the rest of you.

To those that wear the blinders you are part of the problem not the solution. For those of you that think about the occupation as a whole and not just about yourself I say thank for having a backbone and don't give in to the company shills that will not stand up for themselves or their dependents that are also affected by the industry pay scales, time away from home and other abuses....think about your family too.

Also for the lowlife trucking recruiters that post on here pretending to be truckers think that truck drivers are stupid we know who you are, even a driver that has been on the job for a short time could spot your industry apologist posts a mile away.

Some people poke fun at retail and fast food jobs but the people I know in those occupations would not want to drive a truck either, and the way trucking is gone to hell since deregulation I would rather shovel sh** on a farm than drive a OTR anyway.