Living OTR

Watch out for 'black dog' if you plan on running the road that long

Good luck to you.

 

I am currently driving locally. I would love to try OTR (over the road) but with the current shape of this economy I think it best that I wait. Man that hurts to even type it. This economy cannot last in the dump forever even if it seems that it will last forever. Meanwhile, I sit and grind my teeth while I wait for improvement. Save up as much money as you can. With cash money, you have options and the means to finance them.

 

You won't have many problems because you "want" to go into trucking and don't "have" to. The otr life is great. I don't think i would leave it.

 

Right now I'm reading the DMV manual over and over for my permit waiting to get my W2 for my tax return so I can get some money for everything. Not sure how it is elsewhere, but in PA it's gonna cost me around $150 for the permit after adding all the endorsements and having to renew my license. After that, I have a friend who drove OTR for about 5 years who's gonna teach me to drive and in the mean time, try to put some feelers out to get me a job. If that doesn't work, I figure I'm going to contact Prime. I know I'll probably have to go through their training program even though I'll have my CDL but that's fine with me. When you're a greenhorn, you can never learn enough or have enough training![/QUOTE]

Hellbilly, it is interesting that in PA one can still get a CDL just by taking a the test. Here in WA, new drivers must complete formal truck training from a certified school to even be allowed test for a CDL.
Anyway, sounds like a great plan and you have done your research. Good luck to ya! Let us know how it all goes.

 

Hellbilly, I am not a trucker (yet) but i will be soon,(24) I'm going to Roehl's training in WI this spring, I am in the exact position your in, I had a job cleaning A/C in hotels in 45 states in a 4 wheeler pontiac for 5 years(probably drove behind 1/2 the people on this board), I drove and worked hard carrying 80LB A/C's down flights of stairs to get powerwashed in the parking lot I just quit this fall because i wouldn't get any higher on the chain and didn't enjoy my life, I'm helping my old man bulldoze at home and i can't wait to get truckin I'll be happy to be gone for 20-30 days at a time,-I wish you nothing but the best and may lady luck be with you

 

you keep that dream and drive going Hellbilly... If only a quarter of the new drivers had your drive and want for this type of lifestyle trucking would be better off.... I have a college degree in business and look 40 yrs later im still running the highways and driving race cars... i never gave up even when it looked like us O/O were becoming a dying breed..You will have to keep us updated on how well your doing....Catch ya...