Am I makein a mistake

Man needs to work, it is a pride issue.

After 20 years in middle management, getting laid off just before Thanksgiving, and about 150 resumes later; I'm having to rethink my position.

Hopefully, I can consider driving for the next six years before retirement.

Like I said, it is a pride issue.

 

You need to be a position where you do not need a guaranteed income for some time. Until these trucking companies stop the large number of people they suck into thier "training schools", breaking into trucking will not easy. Most (all?) will not hire you without recent experience.

My husband has not driven for 20 years thus no company would hire him. He went through one of the schools and is working on his contract. If we needed a certain income we would be really hurting. We have no children to support, very little debt, no car payments and a low house payment that is almost paid off. We also have an incredible family financial support system as a safety net.

For us this is just another chapter in our lives, not a make or break situation. As long as we are enjoying our lives we will continue in this direction. So far he is enjoying it and I am studying to take my CDL and endorsments tests.

This would have been a disaster if we were a young family with children to support. His co-driver is really struggling, this has been very hard on his family.

 

try dominoes or papa johns, more money and home nightly

 

Web,

Hello, neighbor! I'm not too far up the road from you, just up 81 in SW VA. Economically, the area I live in is generally the same as the area you're in and, because of the local economy, I had to weigh the same decision(s) that you are weighing. I opted to go to school at my own expense and am now waiting to report to orientation with my new carrier on January 26th.

Realistically, freight is down now and many drivers are looking for jobs that don't exist. Having said that, many carriers are using the current situation to rid themselves of problem drivers. If you have a stable work history, clean driving record, and no criminal history, there are jobs available, and not just with the 'starter' companies. I've secured pre-hires from several companies, ranging from .30cpm to .34cpm, and these companies are currently running 2,500 - 3,000 miles per week, week in and week out. I've made a tentative decision regarding who I'm going to work for, but I'm also still weighing my options.

Your expenses on the road can mount quickly, particularly if you eat every meal in a truck stop restaurant. If, on the other hand, you're smart about it, you can have a fridge and microwave, etc. in your truck, take food from home and prepare your own, and minimize many of those expenses.

There are many companies that will keep you out and running 2-4 weeks at a time before sending you home, but there are also companies that will get you home weekly or, at worst, every 10-12 days. The typical rule in OTR trucking is that you earn one day off for every 6-7 days worked. There are, however, better deals available if you search them out.

There are opportunities in trucking, even in this economy, to make a decent living and support your family. Typical first year earnings range from $30K-$35K, but there are also opportunities to make $40-$45K in your first year.

Don't let the 'naysayers' here discourage you. If trucking is such a horrid way to make a living, and if you could truly make as much money at McDonalds, Burger King, etc., then I'm curious why all these people still continue trucking rather than going to work flipping burgers themselves.

Best of luck and let me know if there's any way I can help you!
IronRydr

 

Really? I currently have 3 prehires and I don't even start my CDL training until Monday! And I'm not talking about Swift, Werner, USA, England, or the other typical starter companies. Every company I have a prehire with pays more than 30 cents per mile after training, the highest being 34 cents per mile. The minimum training pay out of the 3 is $350 / week.

Now, I'm getting into truck driving for a completely different reason. I'm not getting into this just so I can put food on the table. I'm getting into it because I've always wanted to, have researched the hell out of it, understand the sacrafices I'll be making (the best I can without actually being on the road), and believe it's a career I could be happy with while maybe even making some money. I totally understand you guys don't want to see people get into this industry just because they need money. But giving mis-information is the wrong way to go in my opinion. Yes, there are a lot of negatives to truck driving. So why lie about the other things?

There are pleanty of jobs available. You just need to know where to look. In fact, in this economy, it's beneficial to be a student. They are able to pay students less money per mile, thus saving the company money. Most companies that had a hiring freeze late last year, have taken the freeze off. Hiring freezes or slowdowns aren't uncommon at the end of the year. Since the turnover in truck driving is near 100%, there are jobs available. From somebody who has applied and recieved several offers, trust me on this one.

Good luck, but make sure you're doing this for the right reason. This isn't a 9 to 5 job where you can kiss your wife every night and go to your kids baseball games. Life will go on, with or without you at home. Are you prepared for that? I understand you need the money, but would your family rather have money at the house or you at the house? Think about it.

 

You my friend are about to learn a cold hard fact of trucking and the famed "driver mill", in about 3-6 weeks.

3 prehires LMAO...would you like another? For luck? How about 2 more?

 

If you're truly trying to help me, can you explain further? I understand truck driving isn't made of puppies and butterflies. But I also see a lot of posters on this site who only want to complain.

My #1 choice right now is KLLM, in which I've already recieved a prehire from. The other two prehires I have are for the unexpected situations (say, if KLLM suddenly has financial trouble and stops any new orientations). I don't expect this to happen as their profits have continued to increase, even through 2008 and into the first quarter of 2009. And yes, I am still applying to more companies. The more prehires the better. Why is this funny to you? Why are you sarcastic in asking me if it's for luck? Is it better to only recieve one prehire and quit there? Seriously, I'm asking.

I'm not sure I totally understand the "driver mill" comment either. Yes, my CDL school is only 4 weeks long. Hardly enough to become a "truck driver." And yes, I have to start at a company that takes students. Do you have any suggestions on a better way to go about entering the industry? I'm sure your suggestion is to stay out of the industry all together, but if you have any advice us noobs would love to hear it.

If you're simply being sarcastic and have absolutely no intentions on being helpful, than you may disregard this post completely.

Thanks.

 

Prehires are offered to "box" you into a company. Bait on a hook. They are NOT a legitimate offer of employment.

Call any of the afore mentioned people you have prehires with, and explain to them you have 2 additional offers, and would like to discuss your options. You'll have only 1 prehire.

If you take the time to read through some of the other threads. You find a couple that have made the mistake of mentioning a prehire, to another.

They will not "haggle" for your services. Because you do not have a job, or a job skill. You are mearly someone going to school, that may or may not get a CDL. Then you may or may not, complete the required company training.

If you are paying for your own school. You will look better to some companies, worse to others. The majority, like to lock you into a year or more commitment, by offering to pay for your school.

Yes, you can find a job right out of school. But the reality of it is. You're going to be competing with 900,000 other drivers seeking employment. Those were last weeks figures.

PREHIRE means, we will look at our application, once you have finished school...that is all.

As a recent graduate, You will find employment. But it won't be at .34 a mile, out of the gate.

 

Point taken, and I appreciate the advice. I had no intentions of notifying any company that I had other prehires. But your post just re-enforces that I'm making the right decision on that.

Specific to KLLM, they don't require you to sign a contract for reimbursement on CDL training. If you stay for 6 months (I believe?), you are reimbursed for schooling. If you leave before then, you are not reimbursed. Simple as that.

I've already been scheduled for an orientation date at KLLM and they want me to "check in" every week so they know how I'm coming along. The recruiter definately could be playing me (afterall, she is a recruiter!), but that's just another reason I'm continuing to aquire more prehires. Just in case.

Specific to KLLM, after my 6 week training ($400 / week), here is their pay scale for "recent graduates" per their website:



0-12 months
$.34/mile

1-2 years
$.35/mile
2-3 years
$.36/mile
3-4 years
$.37/mile
4-5 years
$.38/mile
5-6 years
$.39/mile
6-7 years
$.40/mile
7-8 years
$.41/mile
8-9 years
$.42/mile
9+ years
$.43/mile



You can also check out some of the threads on this site about KLLM that verify this to be true. I figure I'll stick it out with KLLM for at least a year. Then if I want to leave, I'll have that option. But I have to start somewhere.

I appreciate the candid response. It's a shame so many companies out there mislead new and perspective drivers. I'm glad this forum is around, otherwise I may have applied to some companies that I would have probably regretted. Actually, thanks to this forum, I'm not attending Swift CDL training. I thank my lucky stars I found this blog and didn't make that mistake!

 

I guess I'm guilty, then, of making the mistake today of mentioning one pre-hire with a company to the recruiter at KLLM. I didn't have my prehire withdrawn from KLLM after mentioning the competitor. To the contrary, the KLLM recruiter started rehashing their entire program and why it would be better for me to go with them rather than the competitor.

All of the companies that I received prehires from have also already investigated my background prior to extending me the offer. Most didn't need to do much investigation, however, as my school supplied them with my current MVR, evidence of my education, drug test results, 10 year employment history, DOT physical, etc. along with my application.

None of the companies that I applied to or that extended prehire offers to me even inquired as to how my schooling was paid for.

Like TruckerMike, all of my prehires have been between .30-.34cpm, straight out of the gate.