Excited!

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by Spud Locker, Mar 13, 2014.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Mar 13, 2014 #1
    Spud Locker

    Spud Locker Bobtail Member

    4
    4
    Mar 13, 2014
    0
    Hello all--- After 26 years in the US Navy, I finally retired and decided to begin a new adventure as a truck driver. This would be a total career change for me and I am looking forward to the challenges and adventures of being a trucker. I have been lurking at truckers Report and I appreciate all the comments and insights that I have read so far. They are giving a lot of information and ideas, and getting used to some of the terminologies and linggo associated with this career. It also gave me some feel on what it is like out there. I already got my CDL permit here in Virginia and I am currently enrolled at a private CDL school so I can get my CDL license. So far things are going very well. I am looking forward to reading more of your blogs and learning from everyone. Hopefully, I will see you all someday over the road. Have a great day!

    Frank-
     
    Spud Locker, Mar 13, 2014
    Spud Locker, Mar 13, 2014
    #1
    pattyj, Chinatown and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Mar 13, 2014 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,753
    184,576
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Were you a cook? Spud Locker is a good CB radio handle.

    I've been out a long time. USS New Jersey (BB-62)
     
    Chinatown, Mar 13, 2014
    Chinatown, Mar 13, 2014
    #2
    fireman5523 Thanks this.
  4. Mar 13, 2014 #3
    fireman5523

    fireman5523 Light Load Member

    141
    106
    Feb 12, 2012
    Little Rock, Arkansas
    0
    Best of luck to you!
     
    fireman5523, Mar 13, 2014
    fireman5523, Mar 13, 2014
    #3
  5. Mar 14, 2014 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,753
    184,576
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Start the application process as soon as classes start. If you want in the $55K - $65K pay range, go tanker/hazmat. Superior Carriers is one of the best.

    Also:

    SVTN
    CTL Transportation
    Trimac
    Schneider Bulk
     
    Chinatown, Mar 14, 2014
    Chinatown, Mar 14, 2014
    #4
    XtremeFitness Thanks this.
  7. Mar 14, 2014 #5
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

    22,474
    20,137
    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
    0
    Welcome to the forum and the trucking industry Spud.
     
    pattyj, Mar 14, 2014
    pattyj, Mar 14, 2014
    #5
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  8. Mar 14, 2014 #6
    Spud Locker

    Spud Locker Bobtail Member

    4
    4
    Mar 13, 2014
    0
    Chinatown, yes I was an MS, now CS, a carrier sailor. I put in applications and got invitations from Werner, Melton, USX, and Prime. So far Prime got the best offer in my opinion. Paid orientation, 10 weeks of training 500/600 per week and starts at .42 CPM when assigned to truck. I requested for tanker since I already got my endorsement but they have not commited. If I go that route, I will be doing reefer. I am still keeping my options open as I talk to more companies. I still have a little bit of a time. I will definitely check Superior if they are hiring out of Virginia. Thanks all.
     
    Spud Locker, Mar 14, 2014
    Spud Locker, Mar 14, 2014
    #6
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  9. Mar 15, 2014 #7
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,753
    184,576
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    I would recommend a private or community college CDL school. The GI Bill will pay for it. Prime is an OK company, but stuck in a truck with a stranger for 10 weeks is not something most people will do if they don't have to; much more privacy in a ships berthing compartment. You mentioned Melton, that's a good choice also. I'm sure Superior, Trimac, Schneider Bulk hire out of VA, but not sure about SVTN or CTL. A retired chief in Jacksonville posted he went with CTL after CDL school. I was tanker/hazmat making $65K and some of the drivers where I worked were making $72k. I only worked about 11 months a year, taking the other month to bum around the Orient. Prime is food grade, not hazmat, so I doubt if you will come close to that annual pay.
     
    Chinatown, Mar 15, 2014
    Chinatown, Mar 15, 2014
    #7
  10. Mar 16, 2014 #8
    BrenYoda883

    BrenYoda883 Road Train Member

    1,248
    1,422
    Sep 18, 2013
    0
    Good luck to you... One important thing to keep in mind.. is it is not just about CPM, you also want to look at the various accessorie pay... for example, I am witn Werner and on a dedicated account, on the surface I only get paid .34cpm.. for loaded and deadhead.. that is good, sometimes companies pay .34cpm loaded and less for deadhead.. I also get on time delivery bonus, stop pay, layover pay, safety pay, mpg bonus, performance bonus.. so, for examp, e last week, I actually made 1.08cpm, the week before I did really good and made 1.67cpm.


    So, when comparing companies look at the whole picture, not just cpm...
     
    BrenYoda883, Mar 16, 2014
    BrenYoda883, Mar 16, 2014
    #8
    Ga Dawg141 and Chinatown Thank this.
  11. Mar 16, 2014 #9
    Spud Locker

    Spud Locker Bobtail Member

    4
    4
    Mar 13, 2014
    0
    Thanks all for the valuable information. Werner came to school last week and gave a good presentation. They are also on my list. Does anyone have any insights on Conwat Truckload? I talked to their recruiter very briefly.
     
    Spud Locker, Mar 16, 2014
    Spud Locker, Mar 16, 2014
    #9
  12. Mar 17, 2014 #10
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,933
    76,592
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    What on earth are you talking about?

    In another thread you said you brought home $1200 a week, and had weekends off. I ran that math and as a company driver, figured you'd need to be on 50cpm to validate those 2 claims.

    Now here, you're talking .34 cpm, $1.08, $ 1.67 . . .

    Forgive me but I'm totally confused. And I think you're probably confusing new folks on here too.

    If you're a lease purchase operator, your figures are all over the place.

    If you're a company driver, you have to be either misled, or a liar.

    Can you please clarify?

    Lease or company. Rate per mile, truck payment, withholding, miles driven, days off etc etc.
     
    blairandgretchen, Mar 17, 2014
    blairandgretchen, Mar 17, 2014
    #10
    Chinatown and TruckDuo Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 2