Starting out for rookies

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by MACK E-6, Jan 18, 2007.

  1. Clipboard

    Clipboard Light Load Member

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    Nov 25, 2007
    Fort Worth, Texas
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    I get fired all the time. Then I take a few weeks off.

    Sitting at home right now. Life is good
     
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  3. AfterShock

    AfterShock Road Train Member

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    Sep 19, 2007
    Inland Empire, California
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    Whom are you trying to convince? :biggrin_25524:
     
  4. truckincanuck

    truckincanuck Bobtail Member

    Everyone is right by saying you have to look around. You have to decide if you want local home every night. Short haul home every other night, or long haul home whenever.

    If you have some time, hang out at a local truck stop and ask drivers from various companies. I'm sure that if you are just starting out any CDL job will pay more than what your getting now. I found a company that trained me local for six months then put me on short haul. since I have a family I will only do local or short haul, home every other night and weekends off.

    My trainer told me one day that if a trucking job doesn't pay you $200 a day, don't even get in the truck. For some reason that sticks in my head. The only other useful advice I can give is ask lots of questions. It is the only way you learn in this profession.
     
  5. Carolina_Beaver_Teaser

    Carolina_Beaver_Teaser Light Load Member

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    Apr 8, 2007
    Mooresville , NC
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    I agree with your trainer, if it's not paying you $200 per day ti be gone to hell with it. Now, for local, I had always set my break point at $160 per day no less.But that was back in the day as a company driver, go anywhere do anything, as long as it met my predetermined minimum.
     
  6. Eon

    Eon Bobtail Member

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    Apr 8, 2008
    Kirksville
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    You will be running your arse off with the beer companys! Most of them run 35 foot trailers witch does not tend to be considered OTR experiance.
    She is right that most will help you get you CDL A.
    and that city manuvering is invaluble.
    :biggrin_255:
     
  7. Kagetsu

    Kagetsu Bobtail Member

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    Sep 24, 2007
    Maryland
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    I know how and where I can go to submit to a truckers life. My problem is that Ive been around "supervisors" at work, and know that I can only take a few hours of listening to people before they are going to have to hear my real thoughts. Most won't consider me at all. This is physically dangerous to them if they don't give a point I can walk away. There is no way I can believe I can live with someone 24/5 in a 6 by 8 foot space.
     
  8. Hitman

    Hitman Mr. Gamer

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    Sep 5, 2006
    Tioga, PA
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    Make that 24/7 for weeks straight OTR. You don't have any chioce. They just don't hand you the keys after you complete school, you have to go out with a trainer, probably for a minimum of 6 weeks, depending upon how quick you catch on.
     
  9. AfterShock

    AfterShock Road Train Member

    6,645
    10,108
    Sep 19, 2007
    Inland Empire, California
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    Can you live with yourself? :biggrin_25525:
     
    Spaces1965 Thanks this.
  10. Kagetsu

    Kagetsu Bobtail Member

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    Sep 24, 2007
    Maryland
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    With access to wireless internet, a laptop with a good set of shows, a decent stereo, and climate control,,, usually. My longest term job was traveling service repair. I got my jobs in the morning and ran my schedule efficiently for me. Great job until the office decided I was to free and that if I checked in by phone leaving and arriving they would be able to say "work faster" on a more regular basis. Claiming they could prepare other work for me to pick up through the day. My ignored argument that my schedule was already set as a normal 9 hour day and when I would explain my time estimations for travel and time with the customers, the addons they proposed were not going to happen unless they wanted to reschedule what I already had. Their retort was "you have to". I find people that don't follow logic very tiring emotionally, and people get mad at me quickly when I stop being the one that compromises and ignore their sillyass ideas ("No, I don't feel like working through break just to make you look better". "No I don't want to do things your way just because you always have and my way works") and do things the way I want within law/rules and company policy. Try to intimidate me in any way and I'll be considering my advantage if I simply permanently injure you with a first strike. I drive because I like making my own decisions and I like the complexity of operation. I've now added Passenger/School and have a school bus driver job. I'm hoping this will give me experience as I try to move up through larger and larger vehicles. And I've become intimidated by the risk of jumping right into a TT and driving constantly. I know to move up to TT, I'll have a trainer just like with the school bus, but hopefully not three states away.
     
  11. Hitman

    Hitman Mr. Gamer

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    Sep 5, 2006
    Tioga, PA
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    What the heck does &quot mean?
     
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