What is the most expensive mistake a beginner can make?

Not getting enough training or not getting quality training. The way training is today, it is just teaming and learning on the fly. Hope that you get a great trainer and if not you need to do as much as you can to make sure that you get adequate training so that you feel comfortable operating the tractor and trailer, backing the tractor and trailer, coupling/uncoupling, proper pretrip inspections, knowing company policy, knowing how to complete paperwork with shippers and receivers, knowing how to stop properly on scales or how to follow directions at a weigh stations, being comfortable with driving up/down mountains, being prepared to drive in any weather, etc.....

 

Many companies say they require experience, but still hire new drivers. The best way to land one of those good jobs is to just apply either in person or online & ignore the "experience required." The hazmat/tanker company I worked for "required" 3 yrs. tanker experience, but they hired me with only reefer & flatbed experience & hired 2 more drivers right out of CDL school. Sometimes, just walk in, real neat & clean, and apply. You should be able to make $60K + per year with those jobs.

 

yeah I will look into it for sure, maybe this week I will start studying for my tanker and hazmat endorsement and take the test next month when I take home time again.

 

As post#3 said,don't quit and leave your trk/trl just anywhere.That is called abandonment.It cost companies lots of money and time to retrieve it.Any company that uses Dac which is just about all of them does not hire with abandonment on your record.

 

But fact is that many companies lie and report abandonment as standard procedure so no one else will hire you. DAC reports withou any proof or details. It happened to me as a leased O/O and that is when I decided to go independant. This industry is sleazy and slimey.

 

It did?I don't know how companies can get away with it.But then again companies get away with too much and nothing ever gets done about it.

 

TESTING POSITIVE FOR DRUGS will end your career forever!

 

Rolling your truck, abandoning your load, getting into an accident and killing someone, getting into an accident and killing someone while you are drunk, not making sure your trailer is properly latched and losing your trailer, running over someone, lying on your logs and getting caught and the list goes on...

 

Transporting illegal aliens is a no-no

 

Getting involved in this business at all these days is expensive...