Thinking of becoming a truck driver..please help !!

I don't know anything about Prime other than their trucks are really really slow. You could almost walk faster than the truck can go. They must get paid good cpm. As far as a lease, get ready to bend over and spell R-U-N. Stay away from that.

Tankers are not for everyone but I would highly recommend researching that avenue as well. Better pay and not real hard work. Probably better home time as well. I have been at this a year now and don't have any regrets. Started when I was 43.

Just do your research really really well before making a decision. Don't get dead set on just one company. Make a list of companies you are interested in and research them and talk to drivers that work for them. Make sure you can live off what they pay. Also make sure they have good health insurance.

Just my two cents. Good luck.

 

You briefly mention the fact that other companies are undercutting each-other. This is one of the major concerns that I have if I were to fully transition into the trucking profession. There is so much emphasis on competition with other carriers its seems there is a steady shift towards absolute labor-cost cutting. Still, because there is so much freight out there I think that the wages will stay the same for the next 25 to 30 years. But as soon as automation and partially automated trucks become the reality in several decades, I fear it will drive down wages even more.more.

 

http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/05/robots-artificial-intelligence-jobs-automation

 

That's why in ten more yrs nobody in his/her right mind will want to be a truck driver, it won't be worth it ...so they better hurry up with the Google car cause who is gonna haul the freight?

 

Don't do it. All you will have is heartburn and cheap women.

 

I knew a driver that was on a food grade contract with Quality Carriers in Chattanooga . They lost the contract when PRIME came in and underbid them . The driver said the affiliate owner didn't mind losing it . The rate was too low to start with but the corporate office had forced the affiliate to take it .
Drivers eat a lot of rising costs . No pay increases and more expensive health insurance with higher deductibles .
Some EOBR's are paired to smartphones . I see Quality Carriers is among carriers requiring drivers to buy the smartphones .

 

It's simple it's all in how you and your family make it there will be long hours and long periods of time away from loved ones I was 21 married with 2 kids and 1 of them has special needs it was the hardest thing I have ever done and even harder on my wife being alone to handle the everyday life at home but with a good mind set and somewhat of a plan anyone can make it it's really something that you want to try then I recommend sitting down with the family and talking about it and working together thru the tough transition to being away a lot

 

Brave New World of Trucking or Sweat Shop on Wheels?

 

Yes, I hate that heartburn.

 

I'm in same boat...I'm 42 and a female and am thinking about getting into it...everyone is telling me to go for it. But as a female is a hard choice.My kids r grown and my guy works for Maverick and is pushing for me to get my cdl.... along with my sister ( who is in prossess of getting hers) and her husband. I'm in a dead end job and have always had in intrest in it.... my brother and his dad r drivers. but which is better doing on own,trying for a school, or going with a company? Is knight a decent one?