Starting out for rookies

NIC -

Yeah but I know their are some "local" routes, 3 of the last sessions students got placed in local or at least interstate companies here in N. Cali.

BUT I am totally prepared and accept the fact that 1- 2 years OTR is probably what I am going to have to do, and to be blunt I kinda like the idea....

American Trucker -

Yeah I am hearing a LOT of good things about May Trucking their on my list, I will give Watkins-Shepard a call also.

Thanks a lot for all the feedback.

John aka Mrktwiz

 

Ok, so here is my dilema....
I have always wanted to be a Truck Driver. I love the open road, seeing the country, meeting new people, going to new places. i love roadtrips, stopping at truck stops, rest areas, and just seeing the big trucks parked. I realize its not a glamourous lifestyle, which is good b/c im not cut out for the glamour crap anywhays!
I have almost 10 yrs in the military, and countless trips to places i never want to return to again...(ie, Iraq, Afghan,Kuwait...Qatar was cool)...
I am a hard worker, love to get my hands dirty, i love driving, LOVE it! I have moved cross country several times, and all while driving that U-haul to destination X, loved every sec. of it.
I have a wife and kid, being away from them, nothing new, my wife not seeing me for months on end b/c of a deployment, again, nothing new. So being out on the road wouldnt be THAT big of a change for us. And i have always been a loner type of person since i was a kid.....i am my own best friend...still today, minus the wife!

I am doing research after research about company paid training to obtain your CDL. So far this DRIVERS SOLUTIONS website seems to be the most appealing. You get trained and either drive for USA or PAM, for at least a year then go from there. I really want to obtain my CDL, with as little cost out of my own pocket for the training, drive OTR for a year, get my feet wet, learn as much as possible/gain as much experience as possible, then make the determination after that year to either stay, move on to something else, or find another job/career completely. Giving a year to some company for training doesnt bother me.....i did the military 6 yr sign on thing.....almost 10 yrs ago!
But being in the military, i didnt join to become rich......
Thats kinda my draw towards trucking..i know i wont get rich, but will it be enough to pay my bills, put food on the table, all while ENJOYING the job of trucking?

Being gone for weeks at a time...EASY..Been there done that..in other COUNTRIES!
Showering once every 2/3 days..Easy...Try doing it in the desert for 7 mos straight!
Sleeping in your truck every night.....Try falling asleep with a C-17/C-5 idling for 5hrs right outside your TENT!
Trip planning........that will probably be my downfall....but i love a challenge and love learning new things
H.O.S.-im sure with anything, your taught it and simply just make it a daily routine
Qualcomm-seems simple enough
GPS vs Atlas-after house hunting a time or two in small towns....ATLAS 1st..GPS if i have too!
Packing lightly to go out on the road in some elses truck for training.....i can live out of a duffel bag for 6 months and eat on the extremely cheap! Its called MRE's!

My question is, is there enough PROS than CONS in becoming a truck driver?
Any help on this matter would help greatly on my decision making of all of this!

 

That's a good attitude to have when i stated out i went with Warner Ent. they paid horrible but after 4 months with them i took another job with a pay increase of 20000 a year.

 

Hi Everyone:
I am 45...5 ft 11 Female that finally has the freedom to do something I want to do. I start school 3-1-11.

What do you think my chances are for getting hired being a woman in this industry. I want to do OTR...any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Great Post..I would like to know the same thing...I'm in the same boat as you...hope you get some good answers

 

I'm a woman - 49 - starting school on 1/31 - I've also read quite a few women that drive on this board. I think there is a very good possibility of being hired... however being hired and 'living' the OTR 'lifestyle' are two different things. If you have family/kids that you want to see more than once a month - you might want to rethink things. My daughter is 26 and married - I'm also going to be teaming w/my husband. So besides visiting the Grandkid/Daughter/SIL - there is nothing keeping me from running. One of the best things I found is reading here - take the information and think about it. There will be many different points of view - some good, some bad. A lot (I think) tends to be the attitude you bring to this. Good luck to you which ever you decide

 

I agree with what Lady K wrote. The only thing I would add is an encouragement to consider your training when you do get hired. Will you be comfortable riding alone for several weeks with a male trainer if a female trainer is unavailable? There are certain risks to consider.

I have read several posts where male trainers have said that they will not train a woman. What will happen if the available trainers refuse to train a woman or for whatever reason you refuse to be trained by them? Will you be expected to wait without pay until a female trainer is available, and if so, how long will that be?

You might want to consider hiring on with a training company that has female trainers. I'm sure there are some folks on this forum that could direct you to some training companies like that.

 

That is one of the issues I had concerns about... where I'm going there are female trainers available - but I'm not as concerned about male/female trainer - I just want a trainer that will TRAIN me!! I'm old enough, and I think any trainer would be smart enough, not to push the limits of the male/female thing (and who knows - a female/female thing??). We would be talking their job as well as mine. 'Professional' driver - that's what I'm trying to become, and they already are. So I'm figuring it will be like rooming w/a co-worker (because that's what it is) in THEIR space. At least that's my point of view

 

Well, that's just it..the family thing is not an issue. No significant other, daughter grown and in college and thankfully no grand kids yet..I will not mind one bit coming home once a month..My daughter and I live with my Mom (since June of 2010) So believe me when I say...It will work out in that area. I've always been a bit of a loner anyway and really think this lifestyle is a perfect fit for me.

 

Yes..this is a concern for me...probably one of my only concerns..I don't think I would want to live out of a truck with a man I don't know for months...I will just have to see what happens. Hopefully I can get a woman trainer.

Does anything know anything about the Asheville, NC area as far as trucking jobs?