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Will experience driving a 20ft box van help?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011.

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  1. Apr 9, 2011 #1
    runfrombears

    runfrombears Bobtail Member

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    Mar 7, 2010
    Dallas, OR
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    For about a year i've been running deliveries for a local company getting paid $10 an hour. Quite a bit of 500 mile runs, and lots of freeway driving on the I-5 Corridor. Now I realize driving one of these vans is extremely easy compared to a real truck. But will a future CDL employer count any of it as experience?

    I am just now become comfortable backing this thing into tight spots haha, I don't know how you guys do it with a trailer!!!

    I have seen a lot and learned so much just in this short amount of time. I love driving for this company but it's only 1 or 2 days a week, and I want to drive all the time, I just love it. However I don't know if I could handle OTR, being newly married, it just would not work for me.

    I am considering 2 options. Go to trucking school (almost 5k!!) and hope to land a lucky local job. OR become a school bus driver (way less hours, but that doesn't matter to me, I actually prefer it)

    Hmmm.....
     
    runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011
    runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011
    #1
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  3. Apr 9, 2011 #2
    cruisecontrol

    cruisecontrol Medium Load Member

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    Apr 13, 2010
    Rockingham, NC
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    I don't see much point in wasting 5grand on school if you prefer the shorter hours, and also if your new wife isn't 100 percent with you on going over the road. Experience from a straight truck, I doubt it. Most companies count tractor trailer experience. 1 or 2 days is not considered OTR.
     
    cruisecontrol, Apr 9, 2011
    cruisecontrol, Apr 9, 2011
    #2
  4. Apr 9, 2011 #3
    Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Sorrento, Louisiana
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    ALL experience is helpful and guess what? Not everybody in the trucking industry drives an 18 wheeler. Quite often there are folks doing local P and D making a veddy comfortable living with a straight truck.

    That's the beauty of this industry. There's a niche for just about everybody. This is what I tell new folks. Keep your eyes and ears open and don't limit yourselves.
     
    Kittyfoot, Apr 9, 2011
    Kittyfoot, Apr 9, 2011
    #3
  5. Apr 9, 2011 #4
    Freebird135

    Freebird135 Road Train Member

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    May 7, 2009
    In the air conditioning
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    call me crazy, but i honestly think driving a tractor trailer is easier then driving a straight truck....they use to send me out in a straight truck every once in a while and i was used to pulling 48s and 53s.....i dont know what it is but i hate those #### straight trucks
     
    Freebird135, Apr 9, 2011
    Freebird135, Apr 9, 2011
    #4
  7. Apr 9, 2011 #5
    Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Sorrento, Louisiana
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    OK, you're crazy.:biggrin_25522: Happy now?:biggrin_2559:
    Years ago I started out with a cargo van doing local peddle, progressed to a straight job, on to a 10 wheeler, day cab pulling trailers local and finally to a full blown 18. This was quite common and I learned stuff on each one of them. Shoot, I was about 6 yrs in before I got something with a bunk onnit (Chev Astro) and I was in tall cotton. Being 6 ft 4 in, sleeping on the seats was an experience never to be forgotten.
     
    Kittyfoot, Apr 9, 2011
    Kittyfoot, Apr 9, 2011
    #5
  8. Apr 9, 2011 #6
    ac120

    ac120 Road Train Member

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    In my experience, cargo that doesn't talk, spit, or cut seats with razors is preferable. Also, school bus driving is usually part-time, split-shift work (take 'em to school in the morning, take 'em home in the afternoon; in between, there's no work and no pay) that doesn't pay enough to live on.

    What Kittyfoot said.

    It's more fun too!
     
    ac120, Apr 9, 2011
    ac120, Apr 9, 2011
    #6
  9. Apr 9, 2011 #7
    Ranger_309

    Ranger_309 Medium Load Member

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    Sep 26, 2010
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    Maybe in the past. Not now however. OTR and new marriages don't mix well. Chances on getting a local class A job with no experience right now is almost zero.
     
    Ranger_309, Apr 9, 2011
    Ranger_309, Apr 9, 2011
    #7
  10. Apr 9, 2011 #8
    runfrombears

    runfrombears Bobtail Member

    5
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    Mar 7, 2010
    Dallas, OR
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    Yes I am almost certain i'm going to apply for a bus driver position. They seem to always be hiring, I wonder why that is HAH. Money doesn't matter to me, we live very modestly.
     
    runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011
    runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011
    #8
  11. Apr 9, 2011 #9
    ac120

    ac120 Road Train Member

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    Don't be like that TriMet guy they fired a couple of months ago for reading while driving through the Terwilliger curves. :)

    Three words: Oak Harbor Freight.
     
    ac120, Apr 9, 2011
    ac120, Apr 9, 2011
    #9
  12. Apr 9, 2011 #10
    runfrombears

    runfrombears Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    Mar 7, 2010
    Dallas, OR
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    It would be a school bus. What am I thinking?!?!
     
    runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011
    runfrombears, Apr 9, 2011
    #10
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