Newbie advice..the straight dope...

I started this in a driver's group on Facebook since a few ask and will give some solid advice and update it instead of writing a bloody book.... that is not my opinion but that I have used in my 12 year career and perfect driving/CSA record....Maybe some others will want to chime in with common sense advice too...

If you are a newbie then that means you made it through the joke of a school/company school that ram rodded you through...
Now FORGET most of what you were taught....
With no experience you will have to probably go with a mega carrier and get bent over....The question now is how do you want that....with grease or high and dry?
If you go OTR you are just asking for it and to get thrown into somewhere like the East Coast or the Boroughs of NYC. My advice...seek out megas that offer local or dedicated and yes there are plenty. Even some local grocery stores and warehouses will hire newer drivers.
DO NOT expect real money until about after your second or even third year and that will sometimes take some moving around and certainly never from any of the mega carriers....of course there are exceptions to this rule.
Once you have found your starter.... pay attention to your trainer...if he or she is worth a darn that is. Let me also add something here I will repeat over and over in these posts....never speed...The one thing that hurts drivers in this industry is breaking that speed limit. Who gives a crap if some ahole is riding your rear in construction and the speed is say 55 and you are right on that line...do it...let him dare hit you then sue the crap out of him I have found 99% of the time these idiot drivers always blaming the police and or DOT when every time is was the driver's fault and they have every excuse why they think they had to break the law. There is never a reason to speed...never. Always keep in your mind that the only one looking out for your license and CSA score is YOU. Today those great scores and records equal $$$ if you learn how to barter with companies on pay which I will post on later...
Will continue later.....

 

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Like I said there are a few exceptions but not many and if someone is making big $$$ with a mega they are killing themselves.... Remember the old saying "Work smart...not hard"
Also not many small companies hiring new drivers these days due to insurance spikes with newer drivers....

 

Dark picture? Maybe and that is the truth overall...I want newbies to know the truth and not sugar coat anything.... I have not even gotten into all the government and some discriminatory company regulations yet..
You speak of 'honesty'...pal that is not quite honest. I think one of my very wise friends put it best who is now in the House of Representatives and a former driver "Politics is no different than trucking..both will turn an honest man into a pathological liar if they want to be successful that is. Not in all cases of course but many."
There are bright-sides to driving of course but it takes skill....determination...strategy...guts to stand up to crap companies and dispatchers and the will to succeed. From day #1 I went into driving with a strategy on how to make it through year one...then adjust to a five year plan. All based on making more than the year before and having routes that worked with my lifestyle.