Question from a pre student (Haven't started school yet)

Slip seating - you are not assigned a truck; when you park the truck to go home, another driver takes the truck to use.

Forced dispatch - The dispatcher assigns a run to you, you must take it, like it or not. If you don't, you can be fired or told to take a few days or weeks off without pay; don't call us, we'll call you.

 

I have no idea about that school but, slip seating is when you aren't assigned a specific truck which means you will get a different truck every time you go out or you share the truck with another driver. So you would want a company that doesn't have slip seating. Forced dispatch is when you are forced to take a load by your company. And yes when you are an O/O some companies make the Owner Operators rent the trailers but some don't charge rent like Schneider doesn't charge rent but Landstar does. Good luck!

 

You first year you dont want to be an o/o but do this every time you fill up your company truck write down the price of fuel every time and anytime you get anything for your truck. Keep it for a year then tally up the total and see how much it costs for you to run your own truck. also if your an o/o and you get stopped by dot your csa score will double. Meaning if they flag you for cracked rims or bad brakes then you as a driver get points then the company gets points. so as O/O you are the company so double points. Hope this helps

 

Most accredited schools are all fairly comparable. With that being said by no means are you a professional driver once you graduate. They are there to just get you your license, no more, no less. They teach you just the basics, enough to prepare you to go out with a trainer. Chances are you will learn more on day one with your trainer than the entire three weeks of school! Once you finish your stint with your trainer and are out on your own its going to take a good three to four months before you are comfortable with your day to day happenings out there and are used to the lifestyle.

As far as becoming an owner operator, I highly recommend you drive company for at least a couple of years before making that leap. While you are driving as a company driver just pretend you are an O/O and see how you do. Keep track of every single thing you do and you will know exactly where you stand. Once you are ready to become an O/O you also want to have at least a good $20,000 - $30,000 in the bank for back up AFTER you purchase your truck. This way if anything goes wrong you won't be belly up right from the get-go! Whatever you do, don't fall for the lease programs. These are designed and targeted toward inexperienced drivers who do not know any better and are just wanting a nice shiny truck to drive!

 

Unless you're going to be in a situation where you will be home every night.
You will not like/want to Slip Seat.