looking to get in the trucking industry

What type of trucking interest you? Ether place you live is good for driving but you have 2 want 2 do this to b successful. I drove trucks in the ARMY for almost 10 years b-4 driving for more than 21yrs on the outside. Its in my blood so i take pride in being safe and professional but those who really don't want to drive but do it because they need a JOB ARE DANGEROUS.

 

Ok listen, all the mega-carriers and any carrier that take inexperienced drivers is going to have a little bit of a bad rap.

1) Most of the companies lie about how much money their drivers make. No one is making at their company $90,000 a year much less a new driver.

2) Most companies lie about how many miles you will get. You will not be driving 3200-3500 miles a week, you be driving averaging 2750 miles a week if you are lucky.

3) Most companies make misleading advertisements or statements. Like we pay 100% for lumpers, what they really mean is they will pay for lumpers when and where there are lumpers and if the lumpers are willing to agree to the companies terms. 90% of all business in the U.S. are small business and they don't have lumpers sitting on the curb, which means you are the lumper and they are going to pay you about half of what they would have paid a lumper.

4) Most drivers come into the industry with this false information and romantic ideas of what trucking is all about. These ideas and misconceptions are quickly crushed in the first 6-9 months in the industry.

This all adds up to some pretty made drivers and the easiest place to place blame is on the first company they worked for and that is why you see so many negative things about these companies.

As you get more experience you will find companies better suited to your personality and needs. There are over 200,000 trucking companies in the U.S. so don't jump at the first one you see or that has nicest looking trucks in their ads.

In my experience I found trucking companies with terminals or drop yards near my home were better as they had fright moving thru my area and that made it easy to get loads and to get home.

Good Luck and do NOT attend school at a trucking company!

 

I know a LOT of unhappy people in this industry, a lot of them blame the company for their screw ups or not living up to their needs while forgetting that this is a business and everyone needs to understand that it isn't like a family or something that is always friendly towards people. You have to get used to the way things are done, it ain't going to change for you and never will. Forget the idea of easy money that is made quickly, this all takes a lot of work, especially if you are not ready for it. Be prepared to face dangers that are not normally considered avoidable - like someone crossing over the medium and hitting your truck.

companies are there to make money, recruiters are there to sell you with the idea that they need you when they need a body, so arm yourself with the right questions, have a clue what you want to get out of it, and be prepared to get used to being treated a little less than a hamburger flipper because you can be treated like a commodity or learn how to be part of the system. Most are just commodities and eventually end up being mad at the company and jumping from one company to another trying to find some sort of place for them that they feel they control the situation. others, the latter in that group learn and keep learning, they don't really kiss butt but rather learn how to benefit the company and the customer just the same. I read some posts about how bad big companies are to the drivers but some of that comes from those who think they are owed a living.

The truth is you make it what it is. Everyone has to start somewhere and work up the ladder to something that works for them.

 

If you can afford a private or community college CDL school, you will have more options as to various trucking companies. Prime Inc. and Central Refrigerated have their own school and you don't need any money up front with those two. Prime has tanker,flatbed and reefer to choose from. Sometimes JBS Carriers will front you the money for a CDL school.

The best money annually will be with tanker, then flatbed. To be fully prepared, consider getting a passport and TWIC. Start studying now for the tanker/hazmat endorsements. There are practice tests on the opening page of this website.

Best wishes.

 

Living in VA I think Watkins Shepard would be a good fit for your first job. There are several good threads on here to read. Get your CDL then go thru their 10-day training (probably at their Conover, NC terminal) and you will be on your own. The starting pay is no great shakes, but you shouldn't have any trouble making $7-800/wk from day one and NO TRAINER. I went thru their 30-day training in Missoula and the 10-day guys all said that they learned more in those 10 days than they did at CDL school. I left Watkins a couple of years ago, but they were #### fine people and I feel fortunate to have started out with them.

 

It varies, school to school. Someone posted on here a while back they paid $1500.00 but I don't remember the school or state.

 

I am also about to go for my CDL-A in Texas. I am trying to decide whether to go with Sage Driving School, or Del Mar College, a good JC with a CDL program. Sage is much more expensive, over $5000, but the training is five weeks, and you are given more one one one instruction. Del Mar College tuition for the training is $3500, and three weeks, and I believe most JC's are going to be in that ball park roughly. At the colleges, you might qualify for a grant, loan or other form of tuition assistance, especially if you are unemployed. Fortunately I'm a vet, and will have my training at the college paid in full under the Hazelwood exemption. I am not sure how much yet the VA will cover if I go to Sage. I agree with the others that say don't go to a company school if you can avoid it. You will have more placement options and no long contract to possibly suffer through. I would only go with a company training academy as a last resort and only if I am certain I have exhausted all other options.

 

One advantage you have is your location. There are many trucking companies in your area to choose from so get England and the other mega-carriers out of your head! If you are serious about becoming a professional driver then these are the companies you want to avoid. Try and find a good, smaller outfit in your area. Like I said, there are thousands of them. Problem is they don't spend millions of dollars in advertising so that is why you don't hear about them.

Take the time to do your homework. It will be well worth it.