What to expect?

Driving a truck is no different on the road or in the city, basically. What I would recommend is not trying to find short cuts in your training and soak up all you can when you can. Do your research but change what you're researching. Sit down and make a list of what you want out of your new career. It's going to be a life changer and you should try to get all you can to maximize your time and money.

Don't look for the highest dollar and best make of truck. Study on what type of driving you want to do. This is where a lot of new drivers make their first big mistake. They just want to get out there and drive from A to B. First decide what kind of business you want to get into. Do you want to just haul freight from point A to point B? Or do you want to haul a specific type of cargo to make up your experience? Say over loads hauling construction equipment, or gasoline, or radioactive stuff, or flatbeds, or refers, or any type of truck and or loads that require just a little more training to do? With so many drivers coming out and going to the megas you have to think outside of that box. You have to stand out more than the next guy so your application stays on top. You need to realize what will knock you out of the game so you do not waste your money. After you've done a good complete listing then it's on how to find these jobs.

You'll need to look for a job away from the school. But you can not because you've locked yourself in one type of employment. A lot of new drivers believe they are getting their training free of charge but they are not. You pay for your school by working for them. This is where you'll find out why so many drivers leave these big companies after their time is done. You'll see you're making a lot less than the guy with no contract. The big companies want you to fail because this is where they make their money. They have invested in a driver by taking him or her on by signing a contract that you will stay there at that company. They will recoup what it cost them to train you so at the end of your contract they want you to move on so they can replace you with another cut-rate driver. Their system works so well they do not even have to know you and just make sure you're following the rules the way they want it. But you've sighed a contract so you will need to adjust what you'll be doing. They do sometimes leave you an pathway so you can excel on the job. Look at your job as a huge training opportunity and soak up all you can. Be real cautious what you sigh and always remember the company does not set the industry trends and they are not the rulers with all their trucks and drivers. They have that power with the drivers and number of trucks because of what I have explained. They are masters of getting the most out of their drivers with the minimal investment. They do not hold safety records and driver retention and or retirement numbers because their system is set up to do the opposite.

When you break away from the megas hopefully you'll still have a spotless record with no accidents or incidents. You'll have enough time on the road to know where to go and what direction to move your career in. Then it's just a matter of making it to retirement!! That's my 2¢ and what I have seen. I went onto hauling gasoline and I can go anywhere to get a job. Gasoline is my speciality and I used a truck to get the load to where they want it to go. I have moved gasoline safely for X amount of years and I use this tool ( the truck) to safely do it. The career has flipped along time ago where you move a product to where they need it and you do it safely. If it was required to move by ship then you could become qualified that way. The company has spent extra monies on you to qualify you to protect the company. They like it when another company has spent that funding but anyway you look at it you've become an asset where you are a valued trained driver.

 

Some schools will schedule your orientation and send you home. I recommend you pack light for school though. I don't know your financial situation, but I recommend you have enough money ON YOU OR AVAILABLE WITH LITTLE OR NO WAIT, to buy a bus ticket from anywhere in the USA to your home and to eat. Most carriers will buy your ticket if per chance you are fired or quit. However if your in Timbuktu do you really want to take that chance? It happens, have a contingency plan. As others have said get some thermal underwear, a pair of gloves and boots. Take a flashlight and a sleeping bag with a good pillow. One VERY important thing to remember is your trainers tractor might have very little space for your stuff. So I recommend you take ONLY the essentials till you get off that truck and in your own. This last point probably will start a flame war, but if you take any prescription medication make sure you keep them in their original bottles. Those easy dose containers that some people like to use are actually illegal in some states. All prescriptions must have your name, doctors name and pharmacy on the bottle. Good luck.

 

I never could fall asleep in a moving truck. If I did I would go into such a light sleep it was like not getting any at all. In my opinion you had to really trust the driver to go to sleep. You start to wonder if he's going to hit something or somebody. But that's me. Some guys can go to sleep before their heads hit the pillow. So it all depends on the truck and the person. My boss would ride team with me once in awhile and he told me I was the only driver that he could go to sleep while driving. That felt kind of nice to hear.

 

^^^^^That was beautiful. Almost brought a tear to my eye.

Anyways, you sound like a young man. I know you have to start somewheres, but a young man with good work ethic, and who can listen and learn does not have to join the circus and agree to be a clown and do stupid tricks for the entertainment of Deskjockeys. Look around at the companies based in your area. Check the hoppers and the cattle barons. CRST runs team. It's bad enough being in the circus, it's even more humiliating being partnered with Bozo. I mean, if you're dead set on joining a mega, go to Maverick or Decker and pull a skateboard. At the very least you will make some money, and can look at yourself in the mirror without feeling shame.

 

Nah...I see CRST stopped all day at the truckstops. They don't run their teams hard at all

 

^^^ AND THEY DONT PAY ANY MONEY!!!!

 

They pay in fools gold.
Join the gold rush!

 

There is only 1 reason, and 1 reason only to team. I parked in that Hook that's on 20 to the south of Dallas, on Friday afternoon, had a Monday delivery. You wouldn't believe the number of CRST team trucks that were sitting there for a 3 day weekend. They pay less than a solo driver, and their teams sit for a 3 day weekend? What's wrong with that picture?

 

Buy a 0° rated sleeping bag to use as a base bed roll. This may save your life someday in February, broken down on i80 in Wyoming between Rawlins and Laramie.

You may go years without needing it.... but when you do....

It'll be hard to do with a trainer, but if you can , learn to eat in the truck as much as you can. $10 for breakfast and $13 for dinner X 7 = $161/week or nearly $700 month for food. Not good food either.

Shower frequently.

Ask questions from drivers that have been around a long time. .. the 6 month veterans talk a good game but I wouldn't put my money on them.

Be ready to be ready to quit.... AND DON'T. Put in that first year safely , and doors will begin to open.