Try the local to you beverage companies...didn't you post that you did that at one time. Go back and use that experience and from there you can go on to food service , and maybe LTL , both of which pay much better. Plus try and get your Haz-Mat endorsement and hit the gas haulers for a job..great money there too and home everyday or night depending on the shift you get.....You have lots of other choices than just OTR.
Should I start in trucking business? It seems to be not worth it....
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by garciaman, May 29, 2013.
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Chinatown and Lone Ranger 13 Thank this.
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You said you talked to Schneider; ask them about their tanker division. Tanker/hazmat local or OTR is where the money is these days. Also, ask companies if they accept the particular refresher you plan to take. Not wanting to go OTR, there should be some good logistics or dedicated accounts or tanker work, that will keep you closer to home. Check Careerbuilder website also. Greatwide also has some good paying logistics accounts where you may be home most every night. Check their website.
scythe08 Thanks this. -
Before you spend the money on a refresher course. Call Some the training companies. Since you already have a cdl, they may let you just head on with a trainer for a bit. I was out of the truck for 4 years and SWIFT sent me out with a trainer until She cleared me to drive. It took 4 days. Just do what you can to get your foot in the door and stay there for a year or two and then you're gold to head out and explore. But I would second talking to Schneider Tanker. The highest paying gigs around here are almost all tanker jobs.
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Over the road trucking has gotten worse. And you said you don't wanna do it anyway. Like somebody else said , you might be able to find something local or regional where you could stay close to home. Government keeps tightening the screws. Getting less pleasant all the time. And the wages seem lower than 10 years ago when you consider inflation. But you gotta make a living. You'll be lucky to make $40 k probably. Good luck.And don't be surprised if you work 60 hours per week. Or more.
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I truck because it was on my 'bucket list'. Also, with a small investment (say $50K cash), you actually can start earning a living immediately. It's hard to 'buy' yourself a job any cheaper. Trucking is fun if you enjoy the lifestyle. If you don't, you'll be miserable.
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Some of the things that have changed in the past 10 years;
Idle restrictions in practically every state you travel through now.
Limited to driving 11 hours within a 14 hour time frame.
Mandatory 10 hour break after 14 hours.
Beginning July 1st we have to take a mandatory 30 minute break within the first 8 hours of a shift.
Higher speed limits for trucks in many states.
Split sleeper berth provision is limited to a 2-8 split (the 8 hours in the sleeper berth).
CSA has created a points system to measure drivers and carrier violations (even warning tickets).
There are many other "changes" in the past 10 years but the above are the things that come to mind first. -
Being over the road means you have to give up 100% of the time you get in a week which is 168 hours. They only pay you for your work and they pay between .35 c to .60 c a mile with the regulations you only have 11 hours of work a day. With the traffic and governors on trucks nowadays you'll be lucky to maintain 60 mph so best case scenario you make .60c a mile and drive 660 miles a day for 6 days because of the 34 hour reset. That's 2300 in a week but divide it by the 168 hours you're dedicating a week and you are making $14 an hour to give away your health and risk your life. My advice is find a good local job
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