hello. I am new to the trucking industry...

The things you want to look at when deciding on a company;
pay/bonuses
benefits
hometime (how often you get home and for how long)
equipment (How old is it? How well is it maintained? Are the tractors automatic or manual transmission?)
What is the turnover rate for that company? Keep in mind, they will all be high, but there's a big difference between a company with a rate of 35% and one with a rate of 235%.
Do you want to run all over the country (OTR) or close to home (regional)?
Do you want to try your hand at flatbedding or tanker, or just stick with van? Van is simpler, but generally pays less.
What is their orientation and training pay/procedures?

Hope that helps!

 

If you are looking to become a Knight of the road from yesteryear, you better look somewhere else!

I came into this industry with a preconceived idea that there was a brotherhood among truck drivers on the road

Sadly this appears to be a thing of the past, hell its a rarity when you can get anyone to reply to you on the CB, let alone flash you in or when you do flash them in to flash back in appreciation.

The cameraderie is all but gone from what I have seen, I hope it will come back but wont hold my breath

 

In class, you will be taught the Smith System of safe driving. Putting the Smith System into practice may require breaking some old habits. A few students will also have to change their attitude. I had a classmate who peeled rubber with his car after class one afternoon. The next day, he was "called to the principal's office."

 

I would suggest staying local after the school. If you can. Haul grain or sand/rock in an end/side dump. But if you must go OTR, don't go with any of the companies in the "worst trucking co" area of this site. It is spot on when they say,"this company bring's the suck"! They will and you will not like this profession..

Thing's are changeing in trucking from the old day's. As with anything these day's, they want it there now and they want it there safe. The trucking co's are looking for "runner's". Guy's that will run like the Japanese dive bomber's!Ready to give thier life for the load. They will tell you it's a "HOT" load every load. And when you bust your ### to get it there....it get's warehoused with all the other "HOT" load's. There you sit exhausted and dizzy from hammering down all night,and the qual-com beeps with another "HOT" load that you got to get...now.Your out of hour's and the Dispatcher,(someone who last week was making pizza's at domino's) is telling you to go, go go! Don't fall for it...

As for the actual operation of a large truck goes. That will come in time, with a good trainer and you wanting to succeed. You gotta want it! Keep that in mind when your filthy dirty and tired and you are fighting chi-town traffic on a friday night.You will make mistake's.Let me say it one more time..you will make mistake's! How big a mistake depend's on your ability to judge distance,speed and 4-wheeler's really not careing whether live or die.They will test your patience x1000! bank on it! Get a full boat class A license with all the endorsement's possible.Double's and triple's w/haz and tank. Study hard for this. It will pay off Big time! The endorsement's will help you land a good job. Trust me on this. I hope you make it and are happy with this profession.

A wise man once said: This ain't no party,this ain't no disco,this ain;t no fooling around!

 

Two more thing's:

1) Keep yourself showered and shaved,looking clean cut. Goes a long way in getting a job and the public will look up to you.
2) Operate that rig like every car has your grandkid's in it!

Carry on............