Newbie Looking to Run Western US Solo OTR - Advice Appreciated

Ok.

Hum. You are a west coaster right? So Donner should be your local home mountain I guess.

Most drivers back east dont get allowed to run west for a long time until they prove themselves after hire on a short leash most of all not Donner or other large western grades. And not in winter due to chain law and expense associated with same.

With that in mind you can understand that Im unable to provide you with much guidiance on the west coast. All I can say is that the major cities on the coast offer you a variety of trucking, from rocky mountain doubles pups hauling valley tomatos to market on up to reefers and flats. all kinds.

If I had to pick a west coaster I would go to Yakima and start there. There is a whole valley full of packing houses up there loading hundreds if not thousands of trucks AND Dedicated Trains such as the Chicago Albany Yakima Runner which is about 100 refrigerated cars of good things to eat each week.

Or Fed Ex to run team either Customs imports from overseas, air freight or express package shipping east you have two ports with hundreds upon hundreds of ships at anchor waiting to unload constantly you got to be able to find something out there.

Just remember, when you run donner in a big truck west bound, there is one curve at 35 mph, get thee less than that or you will spill the whole thing into the tree line right off that road.

 

Try KKW Trucking out of Pomona California.

https://www.kkwtrucks.com/career_opportunities.asp#applications

Also TWT which is based in Washington state but they have terminals in Cali and run mainly the west region of the country.

http://www.twtrans.com/home/company-driver-opportunities

 

You're in the perfect area to obtain cheap CDL training. Look for a school that does it for $1,500-$1,800. Then call the companies. You won't be tied up with a contract.

 

You must of meant 55mph for donners thats a bad curve.

 

at that part of the downgrade we are drifting with 4 ways on being very conservative. You tube have videos of trucks spilling at 55 or greater.

 

Ive seen drivers doing about 60 through there they must be empty.

 

If you can just get the license on your own without any contracts there is a few companies that can keep you out west.

 

Probably empty. Or loaded with sheet steel or similar weights less than one foot above the floor of the trailer, which has to do with a center of gravity I think is approximately 16 inches above a trailer floor. I used to run like hell on wheels with short 4 layer salt bags in PA out of senaca lakes knowing that the trailer is nailed down.

Empty and loaded are two things opposite one another. I always try to present a cautionary tale for mountain work for the new ones not yet broken cherry to trucking. 40 ton on a downgrade is not fun unless you do it a certain way. They will learn. Not all of them though a small handful will be too scared and quit. That's ok nothing against them.