Advise for all newbies from a newbie

Oh? I've read a lot more here than negative comments, and as on any site such as this, the negative comments are going to outnumber the good. That's life. In any given situation, you will hear more bad about something than good.

To state that everything here is BS is over the top. In my short time here, I've learned a TON of info that will help me in my new career. The wealth of knowledge here is priceless. You just have to know what applies and what doesn't.

 

Bad news can circle the globe before good news can even get it's boots on! That applies to most all things, not just trucking. But he makes a good point. That is; Take what you read here with a lick o' salt. Moreover, don't just sit back and listen, ask the right questions. I can't get over how many times I read some poor soul write in here asking, "Okay, tell me what to think about this or that company", without even the vaguest hint of what specifically they would like to know. I think most do this out of laziness. This is a site (especially the newbie section) where people come to oppine. Talk is cheap, but listening is free. What is it i like to say..." Listen to many, and trust but few. But always, always, always...paddle your own canoe." For what it's worth, I've gotten alot of valuable insite and info from the good folks here and have come to appreciate their good intentions. They're usually on the mark. And the real beauty is, if someone disagrees with someone's elses' oppinion, they're free to challenge it! You may not like what you hear on here, but the alternative of not having a place like The trucker's Report to turn to is much worse.

 

I like that, I think im gonna use that as my signature.

 

Biker - I agree.

I did a lot of research before getting into this mess - and not just on this site. I *will* say that this site is the most worthwhile single source I've found.

I learned early on to ignore most any post that simply says "company whoozit sucks", and provides no substantiating information. Weed those out, and it's pretty much 50/50 complaints and compliments for any given company.

Moreover, I learned who of the active posters I could trust - and that's important

 

This site is to what pcmech is to computers top notch. I found this site by chance, and have enjoyed my time so far, and all the folks here are helpful and will go out of their way to help others. If no one wanted to help, then this place and others would not exist. From the sounds of your post I highly doubt you will be back, but if you do, then you will be welcomed here, just like anyone else.. Good luck on your new OTR job.. Chris

 

I hear what you are saying eptp88, and thanks for the straight forward way that you expressed yourself.

Please be aware that not everyone takes ALL the negative comments at face value. I use them as a "heads up" and it makes me dig a bit deeper into why these negative comments have been made. I figure that if xyz company has massive bad press, there must be a pretty good reason. I look further into them, ask about them, and spend some time with their drivers. I am lucky, I live close to 2 major truck stops in my area and have gone to both and asked drivers personally what they think about the company they drive for.
I have spent QUITE a bit of time on this site and feel that it has been intrurmental in helping me to decide who to go with as I start my new career in driving.

I am newb, and use these forums as a resource. I have learned tons. Stuff that I would not have been informed about if I hadn't read through these threads. Thanks again for your advice.

 

It's all about setting goals for yourself. If you want to go out and make peanuts then by all means go for it. But it doen't take a genius to figure a company with a high turnover rate might just be a lousy company to work for. And not all big companies are bad. I retired from one of the largest in the world and it was the best job I've ever had. Plus there wasn't one driver that had any negative thing to say about it. But we were into making big money with great benefits.