What a flippin let down, is it really about who you know????

Best of luck to you, Nightwind. But just a word about learning patience? As a driver, you will need to have all the patience you can learn, earn or borrow! It can be a frustrating job for someone who is impatient. Voice of experience there. . .

 

I'll emphatically second what don says. That impatient streak a mile wide sure has to transition into a patient streak 10 miles wide.

Do a search for Epes transport. Go to page 198, post #1980. It's a must read for someone like yourself who hasn't gotten out here yet. Especially with a self admitted impatient streak lol. It's about my day Monday and how an easy smooth 550 miles day went to hell in the last 1/2 mile. Many teachable moments there and some real world pointers to guide you once you're out here. If it doesn't scare you off, you'll do fine out here hehehe

it isn't always straight road and pretty sunsets out here lol

 

If you are going OTR, I believe the entire life style change is the most challenging. You are going out of your "home area," quite possibly out of your "comfort zone." You will be miles from home and loved ones, knowing you can't just turn around and "run home" if there is a problem there. You won't be eating your meals at your kitchen counter or dining room table, you won't be sleeping in your own bed.

Once you get used to it, if in fact you stay with it long enough for that to happen, it won't bother you a bit. But I think that is the thing that most new drivers have the biggest problem with.

 

Me too but IBM electric typewriters just come out. I took that class to be around the girls!

I got up to a whoppin' 32 wpm. I can still type that way but prefer 2 fingers now.

I finally mastered the number pad. That only took me 50 years, lol.


aaa bbb ccc ddd eee .....

 

I'll second that. It's a common misperception that a new driver has to go OTR and "pay his dues" before getting into a good local job. That might be the fastest way into a truck, but for a lot of folks it's a fast way out as well. You could always consider working the dock for a company, or be a yard hostler. They see you every day, and presumably you would impress them with a positive attitude and good work ethic. Make it known you have a cdl in your pocket and you might be surprised how fast you get an opportunity.

That's how I got my start. I worked in my company's shipping department loading flatbeds. They needed a backup driver and made me the guy. Even though I was a backup, I drove more than anything else. Someone's always sick or on vacation, or a surprise load will pop up when everyone else is under dispatch. And as soon as the next driver retired I moved to driving my own route full time. Meanwhile, my nephew went the OTR route with a bottom feeder. Always broke from low pay (and admittedly his own poor money habits), he jumped from one mega carrier to the next hoping for something better. Now even though he's got a clean MVR, no local company will touch him because of his work history. He delivers pizzas now.

I'm not saying anyone has to do it that way or even that it is a better way. Just saying that you don't have to go in the front door. If you're willing to put in a little effort you can go in the back.

 

If you want to be 1099ed, have zero benefits, and ran to death go for it. The only plus I can think of is you'll make more money at the immigrant outfits than the huge bottom feeders. But there is a heavy price to pay for it.