Just out of curiosity, what was the final trigger that made you guys sign on the dotted line?
It was a long time ago for me, but I remember a friend of mine and his dad were driving for Mayflower and one day at a bbq I got to talking to them about it and it sparked my interest! I asked them what it was like to drive those big trucks and they compared it to sitting on the roof of your house using the trash can lid as a steering wheel!
The very next week at the trucking school in my neck of the woods was having a truck fair. This is where they invite drivers from companies to bring their trucks to the schools for potential newbies to look at and sit in. They also talk about the industry and what life is like out there. I got to sit in a drivers truck from Honey Transport. Freightliner FLD. I looked in the mirror and was instantly hooked!
The following Monday I was in the recruiters office signing up for the best decision in my life!
I had just turned 21 and really hadn't put much thought or any kind of research into it but it worked out for the best. After completing school I flew up to Indiana to drive for Mayflower. At the time Mayflower had an electronic/tradeshow division so I wasn't going to be bed buggin it! I went through about 2 weeks of training at their school since Mayflower didn't send you out with a trainer. There is where I made my mistake! Though it wasn't rocket science, there was a lot more to it then I anticipated! Having someone there with me would have been the wise choice but I battled my way through it. Unfortunately I spent my time trying to figure it all out instead of running hard and making money. Well after about 8 months or so due to problems at home I had to come off the road for a bit until things settled down at home and I was able to get back out.
Well my next venture out I signed up with a floral carrier, Stansell Trucking (trucking for Jesus). There are no longer in business but they were the same operation as Armellini. Teams only! Wasn't sure how that was going to play out but I gave it a shot. They teamed me up with one of the senior drivers of the company and I gotta say it was a world of difference! I learned more in the first few hours then I did in three months! Not to mention I was shown how to shift without a clutch and that was a God send!
Pretty much the rest is minor details and history but that's the sum of it.
So just wondering what made you new guys take the plunge?
What finally made you new guys take the leap?
Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by chompi, Aug 21, 2011.
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well after band camp one day, i was on my way home in my hot pink mazda miata and a CRST truck cut me off and the big 'ol sign on the back said "Follow the Gold Rush" "make $50,000k a Year"
So i hurried some and signed up for school!
Just Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
American Trucker -
on a more serious note.....
The Saga of A-T
Well I've been on my own for a long time, and when i was 18 I was given 72 hour notice to vacate where i was living for no reason....so I had to move.
And unforunatly for me I had spent the last 6 months looking for a better place to live anyway, and I couldnt afford ANYTHING better. I was working as a Mechanic back then so with hourly pay + commision i would make between $15-$20/hr but living in VT is VERY exspensive, and being that it's not a SET pay rate (slow day = low pay day) No one would sign a lease with me because i couldnt show that i would always make X amount every week.
Anyway so I packed up my tools into my 2dr honda civic and clothes and what ever other stuff i could fit (not much) and threw EVERYTHING else out, and drove to NC, and moved in with my dad.....
I got a job as a mechanic down there, and QUICKLY found out how little Machanics make in NC
. So I had two options I could keep working as a mechanic and live in my dads guest room forever 
(my dad who i had seen a handfull of times since birth before this) OR Find something else to do......
And Being A Truck Driver was ALWAYs something i had wanted to do, but since you have to be 18/21 to do it i had put it in the back of my mind till i got older.
Well at the Time 01/08 in NC there was allot of construction going on and had a few companies agree to hire me to drive a Dump truck apon getting my CDL.
So I told the Garage I was working at to SHUV there $7.25/hr up there arses and went to Truck Driving School!
And well y'all know where and what i'm doing today!
American Trucker -
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For me I always like the big rigs.But as a kid I used to see them and always though driving a truck was a fun career,boy I was wrong,well trucking is fun as long you drive for the right company,lol..
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well, since you asked....
In my family you were pretty much a trucker (stick haulers mostly) or a cat skinner (earth mover) most of us can do both, push dirt around or truck...That started with my grandfather and uncles right on down the line..
Back when I started driving the game was if you wanted to go long haul trucking (which I did) you needed company training or go to an accredited school....
I went to NTTS and the rest is history.... -
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