Really Good Advice For Your First Job In Trucking

Great advice!!!!!!!!! I had to just bug drivers on here about there companies. This site helped out the most in my choices.

 

I did the same when starting out but got mixed reviews from most of the starter companies so i knew I just needed to get my experience and then move on to a better company

 

If I could go back, I would do it all over again, but I'd stay put for at least a year, I would right now be making 20% more then I am had I not jumped around starting at my 6 month mark!
Driver get on with a company and chew a hole in your bottom lip for at least a year, don't move don't complain just bit your lip, once you get that year in with that first company, then you can let up on the lip and start looking around, But like I say get at least a year in at a bottom feeder before you go up from there. That will look much better then you jumping around the first while. Be safe Drivers!

 

yeah companies dont want to see you with a lot of jobs since then it just makes them think you will up and leave them as well for another in a short time.

 

If an OTR truck driver, starting out at his or her first company, (mega carrier or bottom feeder company), stays on for 5 or more years, would that make an excellent impression on prospective future trucking companies? Also, would it earn that particular truck driver respect from other OTR or local truck drivers?

 

respect you`ll never get till ya pass the 20 year mark, and then you might not even see that. it is good these days to stay with a co. as long as you can. one of the biggest concerns a co. looks at today is accidents, tickets, because they have too pay for insurance on you too drive thier equipment. if your a risk, and cost a lot of muney too insure they wont hire you.

 

if i could do it all over again, i would be a carpenter, electrician, pipe fitter, plumber, and stay , in these trades, great money, real good money, for life. someone will always need ya.

 

i changed jobs my first three years with three different companies, all were megas, all were leasing/fleecing deals and i learned a lot by moving on, rather than staying with one for five years

it broadened my view of the various perspectives of companies and trucking. two were mileage pay, one was percentage, and i learned a lot

also, the cb was a great place to hear the oldheads discuss things on those long late night drives (when guys actually had conversations on the radio)

i shudder to think about staying at any mega longer than a year

 

You say that now, but as someone who has been a carpenter for 28 years...the grass isnt always greener.... It was good money till about 8 years ago. The recession, immigration, and regulation is killing it. Turning the Trades into unskilled, underpaid workers. I make less now than I did 10 years ago. Every estimate I do there is some jackleg underbidding you by 40-50%. Insurance is crazy high. Inspectors, EPA regs ect......Dealing with a 'get the best deal' public makes you want to pull your hair out... Sore knees, shoulders, back. Being out in the 95 degree heat and humidity working on roofs and in crawl spaces.... I ready for something new!!
Not saying trucking is better... but the current times has affected more than the trucking industry. IMO

I have 25 years left to earn, I dont want to do it on a 40' ladder!