Newbie FAQ

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by tjgosurf, Jul 12, 2007.

  1. Ford L8000

    Ford L8000 Medium Load Member

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    Oct 9, 2013
    Blacksburg, VA
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    What companies pick up and deliver in Montana? I'm considering moving there, would like an idea whether it would be a good place for me to live as a trucker.
     
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  3. DublinVince

    DublinVince Bobtail Member

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    Dec 21, 2013
    Massachusetts
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    Great advice!
    Thank you.
    :smt006
     
  4. passingtrucker

    passingtrucker Light Load Member

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    Nov 16, 2007
    Diamond Bar, California
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    Truck traffic to an area is proportional to population and/or the number of manufacturing plants in the area. A regional area (city for example) with a high population density will have a higher demand for goods (food & retail merchandise) and services than a small town. If you're attracted to a small town because of cheaper housing, reside as close as possible to a city, where there are warehouses that will generate a demand for inbound freight to replenish their inventory. If you reside in a small town that's too far from a city with a high demand for freight traffic, you'll end up in a situation of stopping by for quickie s*x with your wife/GF, then you're back on the road to meet delivery deadline. If you're close to the city, then you drop the trailer and boptail home or take the tractor-trailer home for much needed time off while you wait for your next available load. Being close to the city means you're not far from the shipper to pickup your next load. Even better, work for a company with a terminal near your residence. Research how many companies have terminals in Montana, then target those as your next employer.
     
    charlie's angel and jimo Thank this.
  5. passingtrucker

    passingtrucker Light Load Member

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    Nov 16, 2007
    Diamond Bar, California
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    Addendum to my reply to Jameshill, I stress the importance of home time with family. In 25 years of trucking, the saddest COMMON situation I hear is when OTR drivers neglect spending quality time with wife, GF, &/or children; then their absence and lack of spending quality time takes its toll. They come home to find divorce papers waiting for their signature, GF has called it quits because she met a new BF who works locally and can spend quality time with her more often, and the kids had begun to hang out with the wrong crowd and are now into drugs, alcohol, and no longer believe school and education is the key to a good future. You became a trucker to be a better provider, but your most important DUTY is being a moral provider as husband, father, or significant other. Take time off to make her feel she's important to you. Take her out to a movie, dancing, shopping, a picnic at the park, etc... Create memorable moments that family members will remember you after you're gone.
    Remember Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) after the ghost of Christmas future revealed to him that people in the future will forget him because he was wicked? He realized that spending quality time now will mean people will honor and commemorate him after he's gone if he lives up to his moral DUTY to do what is right.
    Don't make the same mistake I made. I was married to my job, didn't spend enough quality time with my GF, and now I'm too old to marry and start a family while she left me for another guy who made her feel she's important in his life. The best I can do is to warn newbies like you not to make the same mistake I made, which was being married to my job as an OTR trucker. In the end, the people I worked so hard for to make them richer betrayed me. I was once an owner operator. When diesel price went up in the early 2000s, companies across the USA refused to pay the diesel fuel surcharge on their freight bill, and hundreds of owner operators across the country went broke. This is how Corporate America says "thank you Mr. OTR trucker for making us rich, while you never get ahead in life because your pay doesn't keep up with inflation." These college educated business managers and business administrators will eventually stab you in the back. I'm a college graduate student now, majoring in "logistics & supply chain management," a special study under Business Administration major. I now realize you can only maximize profit and productivity in business by compromising moral values. You don't do what is morally right, but what is profitable and the law allows you to get away with it.
    For example, observe the number of illegal aliens who work the warehouses loading/unloading the trucks. These people will waive their labor law rights (less rest breaks &/or no meal breaks) to meet productivity quotas. Illegal aliens are gaining political support (Immigration Reform) because the American voters are oblivious to the fact that both Republicans and Democrats are supportive of granting legal status for illegal aliens to replace Americans. Until voters elect a 3rd party that STOPS Immigration Reform (Legal status to illegal aliens), I have to learn Spanish so I can supervise non-English speaking Hispanics. Contrary to what anyone might say, hiring illegals is allowable by law. They only need to show FAKE social security cards, FAKE documents, and must check "Yes, I have the legal right to work in USA." If they have the proper FAKE documents and lie on their application, then its OK to hire them legally. IMO, Immigration Reform can't be stopped because voters believe propaganda that its morally right to replace Americans with illegal aliens. Stop and ANALYZE who's paying for all these ads that says illegal aliens pay their fare share in taxes, and therefor deserve legal status? Maybe the businesses who rely on illegal aliens, like the warehouses who load/unload your trucks? Do these ads mention the amount of $$$ sent to Mexico and Latin nations, money that is not funding to support the USA economy? When Americans earn $$ they spend that back into the USA economy. Illegal aliens send 25% to 40% of it back to their native countries, and that hurts the USA economy.
    Currently, I'm a volunteer intern to learn the ropes in warehouse management and logistics (replenishing inventory). If my superiors learn my true feelings against illegal aliens (our entire warehouse staff), I'm going to be soooo fired. Thank god most of them believe OTR truckers are too dumb and stupid to get a college education. Eventually, I'll apply for law school and study to prepare to take the BAR exam. I'm studying warehouse operation and management psyche as part of my legal research to build a case against these MFs who never gave me time to eat and sleep for 25 years of trucking, then refuse to pay the diesel surcharge on their freight bill and ruined my trucking business. Revenge is a dish that is best served cold, which means multi-million $$$ lawsuit. I'll equip myself with hidden video cameras on me to catch the expression on their face when they realize I'm the Judas :biggrin_2555:who walked among them as a good friend and trusted loyal coworker.
     
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  6. ed2057

    ed2057 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 18, 2013
    Las Vegas, Nevada
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    I want to get my CDL Class A License and start with a starter company. Is it a requirement to have your regular drivers license for a period of time? I am 25 and have only had my license since May of 2012.
     
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  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Call Southwest Truck Driving School in Las Vegas and talk to them about this.
     
  8. buckeyeguy85

    buckeyeguy85 Bobtail Member

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    Nov 6, 2013
    Columbus,Ohio
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  9. mcubstead

    mcubstead Bobtail Member

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    Nov 25, 2013
    Houston,tx
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    Cool, After I worked for a major mechanical contractor I realized that the BOTH parties only lip service immigration to attract a small group of voters. disgruntled X-union workers on the Republican side, and immigrant's relatives on the Democratic side. But in truth neither side want, or will allow, the issue to be resolved. I tell people to think about, who hires them? REPUBLICANS, they clean the office building, mow the yards and are the nannies. Democrats, one of their biggest core groups and money backers are the unions, and legal immigration would break them.

    To your comment about it being legal to hire an illegal if they say they are legal. The IRS issues a special TIN's (tax payer Id numbers) that starts with a 9, to persons who are not citizens or aliens, so a foreigner can pay taxes on investment income. This allows them to have bank accounts and direct deposit and to get a tax refund. Yet the IRS told us that if some one submits an SSN starting with a 9, we have to accept it, report the income, and can not challenge their right to work, even though these numbers are only issued to foreigners who do not have an immigration status. How messed up is that?.

    Personally I disagree with most people , I believe we should make immigration from allied counties unlimited. WHY? Because once they can no longer be threated with deportation if they do not work below minimum wage, and with no overtime, let them selves be treated like dirt,etc., they will stop. Once the cheap (slave like) labor ride is over , the demand to hire them will be gone.

    Ok done with my rant
     
  10. JustDoc

    JustDoc Bobtail Member

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    Nov 26, 2012
    Las Vegas, Nevada
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    Years ago I was going to attend CDL school with Watkins-Sheppard out of Missoula, Montana (they had a $1600 cash option). I don't think they have a school anymore, but I know they still operate as a carrier as I have seen post on this forum about them. They have an active website as well (wksh).

    Best wishes.
     
  11. Ford L8000

    Ford L8000 Medium Load Member

    390
    84
    Oct 9, 2013
    Blacksburg, VA
    0
    What's the best CB radio for the money?
     
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