Career Change ... Hitting the Road

Prostars and Cascadias are more the norm now for Central don't know why for sure. Fuel mileage has something to do with it as they are getting away from any of the big nose trucks. The road is where you learn for sure. Your trainer (if he/she is good) will expand on the basics you learned in school. When you get out on your own you learn more and quickly. Comunication is the key. Ask all the "stupid" questions over and over again 3-6 months down the road you will be glad you did.

 

Reyndog6, I been following your posts, and just wanted to drop you a note and say good luck. Like you, a fomer executive, being 56 no one wants to talk to us old dogs anymore, so I'm considering a new career in Trucking as well. Worked around them my entire career, always admired their profession and commitment. Your going to do a great job, best of luck to you.

 

As far as requesting a trainer goes they tell you that you can not request a trainer, unless they recruted you, for example a guy in my class has a dad who drives for central and he will be training with him. There are a few ways you might be able to "request" a trainer, for example women can request a female trainer, and you can request a non-smoker, there are also some who need inverters for c-pac machines, so if you knew a non-smoker with a c-pac, you could request that and hope to get them, but no guarentee.

For home time I stay out 4-6 weeks and stay home for 3-4 days, Central does not like you to sit for more than 4 days. I stayed out for 2 months and requested a week off, my DM told me I would have to turn the truck in and get home from SLC on my own. Needless to say I only took 4 days off.

As far as money goes I average $600-$800/week with a few $300 weeks tossed in when I go on home time. What Bigrigg says about being on time and is true. I had a load that I was going to drop at SLC that routed 20mi from my home. I had no appointment time to be at the yard just a date, so I stoped and had lunch and went to the park with my family, I got back in the truck and had a msg asking where I was and when I would be at SLC, when I told them 2300, I got pulled from my 1100mi load and told I had to deliver, which I did not have time to do, because I pissed my 14 away. Needless to say since then I have been getting 300-600mi loads. I may go o/o just so I can get the short haul bonus. I know they are "punishing" me, but the time with my family was worth it and I get ontime bonuses and had a 600mi run with 7 stops with stops 2-6 paying an additional $25 I think I may be making out better.
Just some thoughts