So it has begun, I passed my DOT physical yesterday, going for my permit tomorrow. Only I'm not going off to school. I'm not joining the long list of disenchanted, down hearted slaves to the industry at places like Prime, or CR, or any of the other "mill" companies. I'm doing something different.
Has anyone ever done this?
I'm going to work. Well, kinda. I'm not getting paid per-se, I am however getting something "semi-free". I am blessed with the opportunity to be riding along with, and learning from the owner of a company and one of his employees. During my ride along, and on weekends I will be given the opportunity to operate the vehicle I will be doing my testing in. Its a novel approach to the age old question of student/teacher ratio....I'm going for 1 to 1. I have always learned better when doing things hands on, and this is DEFINATELY going to give me that.
To sum it up, I will be given the instruction I need to operate the vehicle safely, the knowledge I need to pass the written tests, and the skills to do the driving portions, and a truck/trailer to do the tests in. To say I'm excited about that is an understatement. I've been lurking these forums a while, truck driving is something I've always wanted to do.
The beauty of this is? I will be running a dedicated route, home every week, and still banking about 1200. Wish me luck, next week starts the grandest adventure of all, and the first step on a path to a much happier me!
Anyone ever done this?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ratherbtruckin, Dec 9, 2010.
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I did it that way when I started in 1992.
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Sounds awesome to me and like you got it figured out.
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Thats great !
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Good luck and best wishes!
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But you are going off to school. Your going off to "old school"
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Sounds like you have found yourself a great opportunity
Best of luck to you! -
ok, this can be good no doubt... but now come the questions....are you going to be learning in a day cab or sleeper...???
here is why i ask. depending on YOUR state testing requirements, you will do a straight back, alley dock, blind-side parallel and sight-side parallel ..... make sure you practice all these maneuvers, and practice them religiously.... when doing the parallel backing, it will be VERY easy to squash the air-wings on the side of the sleeper.......now you will also be taking the truck on the road as well, this is a given, and you should do well with this. i just want for you to REALIZE, that backing practice MAY BE limited in your situation. you have a permit now, right...?? well permits expire after a while....."up here" in the state of RI (for example) the first permit expires in 90 days. so a student CAN GET a second permit, for an additional 90 days.......but guess what.....if THAT second permit expires....??? the student MUST take ALL the CDL written tests ALL OVER again, which means he has to PAY all over again...in MASS, the permit is good for 2 years....so MASS students are "better covered".....
just something for you to HIGHLY think about, and by the way......you CAN BE "let go" at ANYTIME........then what would you do.....???? you are FREE LABOR to them now, when they don't need you, like for chucking freight, you might be history.......Wargames Thanks this. -
I am actually covered in that regard as well. My permit is 1 year, although right now, both my "trainer" and his boss agree that all I need is backing time. (after 2 weeks of infrequent driving)
I am also not quite free labor, we do no touch. I'm a seat warmer!
I know it sounds too good to be true, but I feel like I kinda hit the lottery with this opportunity. -
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