All newbies please read (The real scoop here)

Real Advice,
Most of the world wants you to fail. Most of what you read is crap, along with what you hear, and see.
Keep your head down, do you your job, treat others the way you wish to be treated. And take very little crap from anyone.
My advise check your mirrors, get out and look, dont tailgate. Only speed you you have the extra mmoney to pay the fine, because no matter what they say you are the one who pays. And limit passing to when it is clear and safe to do so. Stay out of truck stops except when you really need them (theres a few exceptions).
Other than that good luck.

 

I know alot of drivers but I dont know any that only work 70 hours or drive 55. Being stupid does not make america strong, our politicians prove that.

You cant blame wall street, banking greed and mismanagement on truckdrivers not working hard enough. Truckers for most part are the hardest working, most underpaid part of the workforce.

Greed has been the downfall of this country, and it will not get better till America learns its lessons, that so far it has not learned.

Gee, were spending too much money on worthless program, I know lets spend even more to see if it gets worse, then the new pres says I can spend more then the last guy, It did not work for him but it will work for me... Uneducated in the business they were elected to fix. Kinda like hiring Joe the Plumber to rebuild your truck. Hmmm it doesnt leak, Your neighbor reminds you it still does not run, and you tell him, but it does not leak....

Greed got us all here paying the price for the few.

 

When was that , back in the 40's ? Working 70 now really doesn't pay as much as it did 30 years ago when you figure how the cost of living increases affect how far the money will go .

 

after college i plan on going otr for a couple of yrs. keep in mind I am doing this to better my life. i do not expect to make more than 35K my first year nor do i expect to master truck driving. I do expect to learn a lot of stuff. my family supports me on this decision 100%. what happens to me anyones guess. nearly everyone on my birth side drove trucks (with the exception of a few).

My friend is going to teach me how to drive once I get my permit. I feel i will be one step ahead of the others in driving but lacking one step when it comes to doing my pre-trip. life is a learning experience and everyone should know this.

KH

 

Trucking is a great way to see the country and get paid to do so. Enjoy your time on the road King hunter. Be careful, be a sponge learn everything you can.

Jacks Girl

 

Good Thread... Aot of valid points throughout, now to get more newbee's to read and understand what it all means.

 

What people fail to tell the new drives is this. Just because you will cross the country, doesn't mean you will see alot. What I mean is if you think you will say go to Vegas when you want you are mistaken.. You will see a lot of docks and that ain't no lie..

 

So true . Schneider ran an ad campaign trying to recruit old people at AARP . The ad said "When was the last time you had lobster in Main ? " How many restaurants in Maine do you see with parking for semis ? The only lobster Schneider drivers are going to get is out of the tank at WalMart . Expeditors do get to see the country . They can take a couple of days off whenever they want and their smaller trucks can get around on city streets .

 

While I was in school(9 weeks long), I somehow found my calling to be an instructor. I have to have 3 years OTR and 100,000 miles experience before I can teach. So to get to what I really want to do, I have to play by the state of south carolina's rules. It's for the betterment of my family's life. So it's worth it.

 

good luck with that $35k.. As my first mentor predicted, I was probably going to miss that $450 a week I was making as a student. Was he ever right. I have been solo for over a month now and have not seen a check in the $300's Admittedly I have taken some advances (that's over now, it's a trap!) but if you were to back that out, I was making more money washing motorcycles.
I realize you don't get into trucking to get rich, but I think it's reasonable to expect a living wage after a person spends $4000+ for school, commands a potentially lethal $200k vehicle down the road (excluding freight) and is away from loved ones weeks to maybe months at a time.
I'm going to get my year in, see as much of this great country as I can and do my darndest to go local or dedicated.
This whole vital industry that we work in is a mess of regulation, rip-off co's and slave labor abuse, all condoned by our govt!