Advice for new drivers from a new driver

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by 5.56, Dec 21, 2013.

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  1. Dec 21, 2013 #1
    5.56

    5.56 Light Load Member

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    Ok , so I've held the CDL for about 17 months now but only have about 7-8,000 miles under my belt which still makes me a new driver .

    A dirty little secret nobody told me ( probably a lot of you) is that most companies out there that are worth working for WILL NOT HIRE A NEW GUY without the magic 1 year's experience .

    Sure , there are quite a few LTL companies that'll hire you but even though they may not be union , they'll act like it .

    Meaning , you as the FNG will get the last of what's left , after it's been picked over by the more experienced folks and it will SUCK .

    No grudges here though , they've put the time in so it's only right that they get the cush gigs and make the money .
    It's not the other drivers it's the way the trucking industry is ran in general , it's a meat grinder .

    Your not an actual person with a life , your a means to get the freight moved and they don't care ( for the most part ) about what you'd like to do outside of work .

    You'll kinda be on call waiting for them to say your loads are ready , you'll be the last to leave and come home , you'll give away A LOT of your time working for free doing a lot of things that benefit the carrier and once it's all figured up , you might just make a little more than minimum wage .

    So you've signed your life away , ruined your credit and now can't find a decent job worth taking . Don't worry , if you can hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel and you might just find something you love doing .

    Look outside the "normal " box at jobs like tank driving , fuel , water and sand hauling .

    I've been working for a petroleum supply company driving a " squirt truck " , a 2,800 gallon baby tanker around town .

    I make pretty good wages for a new guy ( OT after 40 ) , will make better money after I've got a good handle on what I'm doing , will get trained to drive the big tanks ( and make more money ) , will have good insurance and benefits ( when I'm eligible) , I like what I'm doing and the best part , I'M HOME EVERY DAY in my bed .

    The catch ??? Well the catch is simple , you have to have a clean ( not spotless ) license with the right endorsements so get them all . It'll only make you more employable .

    Not every job / company in the trucking industry sucks , you just have to knock on enough doors and don't be afraid to apply for the jobs you want , all they can do is say no until they're busy enough to give you a chance .

    Good luck and keep trucking .
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2013
    5.56, Dec 21, 2013
    5.56, Dec 21, 2013
    #1
    Y2K, MZdanowicz, SheepDog and 9 others Thank this.
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  3. Dec 21, 2013 #2
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    You're pretty smart for a newbie.
     
    pattyj, Dec 21, 2013
    pattyj, Dec 21, 2013
    #2
    SheepDog and Skydivedavec Thank this.
  4. Dec 21, 2013 #3
    SheepDog

    SheepDog Road Train Member

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    Good thread 5.56, good advice, good ammo and good luck...
     
    SheepDog, Dec 21, 2013
    SheepDog, Dec 21, 2013
    #3
    rocknroll81, Puppage and MZdanowicz Thank this.
  5. Dec 21, 2013 #4
    91B20H8

    91B20H8 Road Train Member

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    Advice is good, ammo leaves a lot to be desired, you can accomplish so much more with 7.62 lol
    Glad you found your nitch 5.56,keep up the postings
     
    91B20H8, Dec 21, 2013
    91B20H8, Dec 21, 2013
    #4
    SheepDog and rocknroll81 Thank this.
  7. Dec 21, 2013 #5
    SheepDog

    SheepDog Road Train Member

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    What about 6.8,, 5.56 is fun, 7.62 does more damage but, 6.8 is right there in the middle..lol
     
    SheepDog, Dec 21, 2013
    SheepDog, Dec 21, 2013
    #5
    MZdanowicz and rocknroll81 Thank this.
  8. Dec 21, 2013 #6
    91B20H8

    91B20H8 Road Train Member

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    the new spec ops round huh? Heard rumors but never laid fingers on
     
    91B20H8, Dec 21, 2013
    91B20H8, Dec 21, 2013
    #6
    SheepDog Thanks this.
  9. Dec 21, 2013 #7
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    You learned the hard way just like I did.
    With research and motivation there is very little reason for a new driver to start with poverty wages. As many of us older drivers preach, get all the endorsements and stay away from the "usual suspects."
     
    Chinatown, Dec 21, 2013
    Chinatown, Dec 21, 2013
    #7
    Tonythetruckerdude, Skydivedavec and SheepDog Thank this.
  10. Dec 21, 2013 #8
    cabwrecker

    cabwrecker The clutch wrecker

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    Mar 23, 2012
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    Know more than other. Work harder than other. Expect less than other.

    You will become a success if you follow those rules.

    I know, because I did;

    I worked harder than my fellow OTR drivers at FFE (atleast the guys with the same amount of experience), I knew more and spoke with other drivers about more; while they were laying in their bunks I was in a driver lounge trying to squeeze information out of drivers, and I sure as hell expected a whole lot less than them!

    at its core, the secret to this industry is hard work and good business sense.

    I'm proud to say that I made it, can continue making it (for the foreseeable future) and what's more, I'm glad I did things the hard way and became a trucker!
     
    cabwrecker, Dec 21, 2013
    cabwrecker, Dec 21, 2013
    #8
  11. Dec 21, 2013 #9
    Tonythetruckerdude

    Tonythetruckerdude Crusty Deer Slayer

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    This hand REALLY GETS IT! Somebody look him up in 30 years...guaranteed he'll be looking to retire very comfortably...keep that mind-set 5.56...you'll go far!
     
    Tonythetruckerdude, Dec 21, 2013
    Tonythetruckerdude, Dec 21, 2013
    #9
  12. Dec 21, 2013 #10
    Steve D

    Steve D Light Load Member

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    Dec 14, 2012
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    I'm convinced that the mega carriers are in bed with the insurance companies, guaranteeing that you won't get a decent job without the requisite one year of purgatory with the mega carriers. Further evidence of this is that they are even locking out thousands of experienced drivers who have been away from driving for a few years. Even they find it hard to get a decent job unless they have the "1 years experience within the last three" qualification. So I, who had 7 years of accident free, ticket free driving experience and had served as our company trainer for most of those years, had to scrounge like crazy until I found a company that is part of a self-insured consortium and had the freedom of judgment and action to hire me. Anyway...you seem like a smart guy. You'll eventually find a job you can live with.
     
    Steve D, Dec 21, 2013
    Steve D, Dec 21, 2013
    #10
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