Starting over at middle age...

Nice post FMFS.
Just like everything in life, no matter your age or status, you get out of things what you put into them. Give it all your best. Practice, study, learn and then earn. Make the most of every situation. Surround yourself with positive like-minded people.

Plenty of folks here, myself included that will do what we can to help new guys out, but it all starts with the individual.... YOU!!!

 

Really,I am still a rookie at this trucking industry deal,certainly,I am not a Veteran,as my definition of veteran is one who knows almost all aspects of the job,which admittedly,I do not... I just want the BRAND NEW guys to know,this thing called trucking CAN be a cutthroat,dog eat dog world,a job where,at times,you will have to "juggle" between dispatching,the HOS rules,and the DOT.. There is MUCH to learn,before even being called "apprentice" and really,the EASIEST thing about trucking,IMO,is driving a truck.Through everything in with all the different companies,some bad,some good,some terrible,some are still outlaw,(will actually tell you to run over HOS)that it is a daunting task..Let me sum it up this way,before I started trucking 7 years ago,I thought I was one of the "bad guys". After dealing with some "characters" during my 7 year career so far,whether it be recruiters,brokers,dispatchers,office personnel at a company,and yes,corrupt DOT cops,I have discovered,all in all,I am not a bad guy...Now,certainly,not EVERYONE in the trucking industry is like this,but trucking has,IMO,more than its share than any other industry.. It is so important for someone just starting to,indeed,be careful,as the first year or two are crucial,and can make or break a career... Now,there are many positives to trucking,but you will find them out as you all "roll along"again,do not expect anything to be given to you,or to be easy in this industry,watch your $$ and what you sign,and for Gawd's sake,be careful..

 

Lets see...you're fat, never driven a pickup truck, and you are married and your wife does not want to be alone while you are out on the road.

You are going to fail and it will cost you thousands and you will be miserable as an indentured servant for so many months to a dirtbag company that just wants to use you as disposable labor.

Sorry to be blunt.

There are many jobs available out there to suit your background, truck driving isn't one of them.

I could radiate sunshine up your behind about how great your new "career" as a worker in a mobile sweatshop will be but that is just not the kind of guy I am. Again, sorry.

 

I too am new to semi driving. I was unemployed for over nine months. In my part of Canada things really dried up. The only jobs available were either minimum wage burger flipping, jobs requiring degrees and driving jobs. I found some funding through unemployment and got my Class ACZ (CDL) license.

I did my homework thoroughly in researching a school and same with my post graduation job search. I was one of the lucky ones. A local company hired me one week after graduating. They hire a few newbies each year from this school. The money is ok and the experience is invaluable. I am 49 years old.....closer to middle age than you I believe!!

Homework is the key and be willing to work. All the experience you get is good.

I wish you all the best!!!

 

It's all good. Trucking can be both good and bad. Mostly good and you get out of it what you put into it. As long as you can spend time away from family while at work..there should be no problems. It isn't like there is no contact at all. As far as a company goes.....there are those that deal with it and those that gripe and complain no matter what. I have found that most any company treats you good as long as you do your job.

 

What years are "middle age" and "senior" and such? I need to start planning..

 

I apologize in advance, this could be lengthy (have been known to rather wordy on past forums)

I had thought a long time about trying to get my Class A..have had CDL class B for many years and have used it at my soon to be old job. My actually researching of a particular company and leaving to go there came to me through one of my best friends brother in law. If he happens to read or post here please know anything said is not meant as an insult. I am going to use the name "Joe"..

Joe paid a LARGE sum of cash and got his CDL through a training school. He went to work for one OTR outfit and hated it, they treated him like crap. He then ended up driving for the company that he told me about. My best friend told me about Joe.."if he can do it, you sure as hell can do it" Joe would dabble in different things but never really stuck it out..he hasnt been driving for them for really long but he seems to be doing well...and all he does is tell me how decently he is treated and how as soon as he drops off a load there is another run in 10 minutes.

For myself, I am brand new to trucking. I have made deliveries, pallets of printed material, hauled scrap to the yard, fairly large machines moved, I have delivered election materials and ballots all over NYS for many years...everything I have done has been with a straight job. I am very confident I can learn to drive a tractor trailer and over time be good at it..

I think the question that Ron needs to ask himself, and I need to make sure that I also know is..can you be away from your family, hometown, comfort zone for LOOONG periods of time ? Can your family deal with you being gone? I think almost any local company you have in the area wants experience. I dont know of another way to get it.

For me, I want to drive for a year or whatever that magic number is to have the experience necessary to be able to be an asset to a local company..I could also drive for the "Northeast region" for the company I am going to join. If this is for your family, your career your existence..you better #### well be able to make the sacrifice and suck it up...it is a year or two for your future..

I know I am signing a contract that for $3500 (my training expenses) That I owe this company a year..if I leave after 6 months..I owe them $1750. I know that they understand many drivers leave to go drive local after a year or so..I get a hotel room while I train, 3 meals a day and when I am out training they will front me $200 a week for food etc. until I get my class A license and go out for 30k more miles of training I will be making at least $600 a week and can pay back that $200 per in $25 increments.

I actually think it is a mutually beneficial arrangement. It seems to me from a few other drivers I have talked to that they are trying to aquire quality drivers and run a dependable and PROFITABLE business..they are looking to grow..thats not a bad thing..

I know that they mandate MPG requirements that can only be met by driving prudently and carefully, I have heard that you are allowed time to be able to drive this way. I have heard and researched that their equipment is newer and very well maintained.

I have heard the horror stories from my own brother and law who used to drive for Tobin Packing company how they were pushed and asked to drive way too many hours and were pushed like dogs and the stress..

I dont "think" this company operates this way..I am fortunate to have a few finances from an anemic 401k to set my wife and kids up with a sum to get us through the transition..I have never served in the military, I have never attended bootcamp..I have many family members who have...I guess I will make this my Old Mans bootcamp for a year or more..and will have made out having it easier than my family members ever did..

I have had a few offers thrown my way now that people have heard I actually have left my job..I would be stupid not to check them out..but barring something steady and dependable..I will be leaving in early August.

I will miss my family more than I even know..but if it doesn't pan out..I will make it somehow ....and if I have signed on with a really crappy outfit, I will have been fooled greatly

 

Welcome to the party!