!PLEASE HELP! Where should i start my trucking career!?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bcgarcia87, Mar 10, 2016.

  1. bcgarcia87

    bcgarcia87 Bobtail Member

    21
    3
    Mar 10, 2016
    0
    Thanks I'm actually starting to lean more towards Schneider. But I haven't applied at Averitt yet, I know I went to their website, I don't remember what stopped me from applying.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. bcgarcia87

    bcgarcia87 Bobtail Member

    21
    3
    Mar 10, 2016
    0
  4. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

    11,172
    18,805
    Feb 21, 2015
    South Carolina
    0
    Maybe go to a school and get your 160 hour training... I am under the impression that it is a DOT requirement for most companies to require a diploma... I could be wrong but was told that by a recruiter... So, if that's the case it might be easier and faster to complete the school and sign on with a good quality company than trying to find away around the system.

    If I am incorrect, I am sure someone here will correct me... :)
     
  5. bstrong3

    bstrong3 Light Load Member

    86
    24
    Mar 2, 2015
    Cape May, NJ
    0
    I'm with Schneider bulk now. Driving tankers is great, a little smaller than van so easy to find a parking spot in a crowded truck stop. There training is top notch, paid for, plus meals and hotel. I started at 41 a mile and after 6 months doing 47. You get 6 days off a month you get to pick em. Average about 1800 mile a week plus load and unload pay. The bad they govern trucks at 60 but you are delivering on a schedule so it sit back and enjoy the surge.
     
    bcgarcia87 Thanks this.
  6. bcgarcia87

    bcgarcia87 Bobtail Member

    21
    3
    Mar 10, 2016
    0
    I plan on getting all my endorsements(hazmat, tanker, doubles and triples). My main concern is since I'm gonna be on the road alot I need to be bringing in 7-800/wk so i can pay my bills and my wife can quit her job and focus on school. Do you think that's a reasonable amount to expect my first year??
     
  7. Krafty24

    Krafty24 Light Load Member

    135
    125
    Mar 9, 2016
    Dixie
    0
    JB Intermodal or Schnieder dedicated if you want home time. Prime as a last resort. Listening to that reefer thumping every night is rough. $1200/week is not hard to do OTR if you get into Prime dedicated Walmart.
     
  8. flybynite63

    flybynite63 Bobtail Member

    21
    38
    Mar 11, 2016
    NC
    0
    when it comes to how much you are gonna make when you get out of school.. You already know. Ask yourself a few questions. How are you doing at Roadmaster? Are you top of your class? Are you struggling to get the concept or is it coming natural? If you're doing excellent in truck driving school and you understand the fundamentals you've got a leg up on the rest. There are other hurdles you will have to overcome though.. Being away from your family is one. I went to Schneider school back when they used to have their own school. I went to Green Bay. For many it was the first significant amount of time away from their families ever. From day one til the end people dropped like flies. The homesick ones were out day one. You need to prepare yourself for that sacrifice now. You will be away from home. That's just the way it is. The next thing you need to be careful about is your on the road trainer. There are some great ones out there but there are some bad ones too. Hopefully you will be lucky. But if not, make sure you are vocal with your company and make sure you let them know you need a different trainer if the one you have doesn't mesh with you.

    Basically cover your bases. As hard as it is to do put your worries aside and focus on learning all you can. If you learn what you need to learn the money will come on its own. Don't be impatient and make sure you prepare your family for some away time. It's inevitable in this business. And by all means good luck, becoming a truck driver isn't the easiest of transitions. Be prepared for long hours, interrupted and irregular sleep and time away.
     
    rafael degannes and bcgarcia87 Thank this.
  9. bcgarcia87

    bcgarcia87 Bobtail Member

    21
    3
    Mar 10, 2016
    0
    Thanks! While that may have discouraged certain people that motivated me even more! Not to pat myself on the back but I actually am at the top of my class, I might even go as far as to say #1 in my class! But that's just me, whatever I do, I give it 100%! And while I won't enjoy the time away, I'm prepared for it. I went to job corps back in 2012 for 8 months and I only got to see my family a few times, so I think I'll be alright. I'm more worried about leaving my wife with the kids and all the responsibilities of running the house alone while holding down a full time job. That's why I'm hoping to make enough money soon to where she can quit her job.
     
    rafael degannes Thanks this.
  10. rafael degannes

    rafael degannes Bobtail Member

    11
    5
    Mar 10, 2016
    0
    thank you very much for all your help. please let me know which company are those.
    i am running out of budget right now. all i had in the bank i took it to pay the one week training at the school. the examiner fees and the truck rental for the test. i was very happy when i got the cdl but now i am very frustrated trying to get a job without the diploma.
    thank you so much man.
     
    Giuseppe Ventolucci Thanks this.
  11. weirdpuckett

    weirdpuckett Heavy Load Member

    997
    498
    Jul 14, 2010
    0
    The Family Dollar /Dollar General account will get you good money and home time- but you will work for it unloading a full trailer at multiple stops -very hot inside that trailer in summer etc.....US Express may have some regional stuff that gets you home fairly often
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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