Getting into Trucking while in the National Guard. Advice?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by JohnnyDH1985, Jan 21, 2019.

  1. JohnnyDH1985

    JohnnyDH1985 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 21, 2019
    Elma, WA
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    As it says, about to get into this, . might be forced out of active duty do to not meeting retention criteria, probably go guard or reserves. if I meet retention, then cool ill try to stay and retire, got 14 years in so far about. Active Army. even if I retire, my youngest is going to be still in high school. means two more years child support. not an issue, yes I currently see them every other weekend when I am home.
    now I am usually gone anywhere from 30 to 100 days at a timeso its like this, 3 months home, 3 months gone, throw in a week or two during them three months home that im in another state, at least two weeks out the month im on a night rotation. been doing it for 5 years. . stacking back money to put things on auto pay for hopefully ten years, that includes future DSHS support payments, .
    1. I under stand most places need or want you to have at least preferable over the road 1 yr expierence.
    so Troops into transport is good. but is there a company that does it all and will train you in it. i.e. Hazmat, Reffer, dry van, flat bed, and step deck, if not, I probably will go into flat bed, or step deck, I understand theres better jobs, but geeze, im single. pretty much no debt , except for some small things, and im used to being gone, I did average out the price for Stickers for KYU and three other states, plus my passport, hazmat, twic and cdl for every 5 yrears for 40 years. yes I have a running budget for that,
    2. I am in Washington state, read about system transport. but most people say go carrier first year, so now I started looking at benefits from carrier probably gunna do that 5 plus years. . kids reside in wa, listening and watching trucker brown, low shawn parks, make cents, and driven trucking and a fewothers. seen the world why not see the states and get paid for it. .
    3. my bedrooms a 18 by 8 room, in a 2400 sqft house, different story , helping a friend out , probably wont do that again. when im gone im usually in a 20 foot connex or less size for living quarters. so no problem their, don't really deal with people to well so social life is nixed, got a memory of a woman and her kids im trying to out run, but im sure that will always be there. , so yeah, I own my uniforms and like 7 days of clothes, so seems like a no brainer on this one.
    so company's, advice, I hear if ya have your hamzat it will pay for its self in like 3 months, am I able to get into a little bit of everything at a mega carrier?. I hear Walmart contracts are awesome mostly but hard to get. and if I ever decide to go owner op to have my stuff squared away. and that nuclear loads pay really darn good. so lets start with the small stuff, worse case scenario.. I RCP retention control point in march of 2020, in November 2019 after my last deployment, do troops into transport, yes they have a list of companys that except their training. im sure tho the big companies will require more training. CSRT is down the road past olympia, Knight transport is north of base near Tacoma and Seattle. , where can I get the most bang for my buck. I guess, as for training and experience. I have talked with the ex and my kids about this and they understand, most likely house I live at will be sold, and if my pick up is not paid off ill sale that sucker to. also ill be in the reserves or guard. so ill have to make one weekend a month back to WA. OTR wont be a problem for the first year, and I don't mind staying gone . prefer to hear from some people who live in WA as its where I am now. but any one and everyone advice or two cents is welcome, best case I get my mortgage paid off before I retire and 5 years of bills set aside and rent this place out, and if my last remaining child support isn't set aside my retirement income will take care of that. kids are 12 and 10 now, and there is a step dad in the picture, so I know , I know, but im on speaking terms and we all get along. but I do know I aint going to jail over something like child support. .. so recommendations. I don't care about really being home every night or everyweekend, , reason is im in a high paced turn over unit. so my kids have been part of this cycle for the last 5 years, they gravy with it. I pick them up, blow loads of money on them and we have long daddy and kiddo talks. . back to the suggestions. and yes im starting too re look at them all (companys) for what coverages they have, 401ks, if they match them cent per whatever in the savings, shares of the company, and medical coverage and dental. some one did say sometimes out side coverage is better, pricey but better, sorry long post.
    as far as cooking on road, heard after you get your schedule and cycle down, drink lots of water, excersice, and get some type of cooking thing if you have an inverter and learn to cook like a boss, (learning to cook,,, was married for 7 years, then in a 3 to 4 year relation ship, rest of the timee I just relied on the army) so yes im learning things I should have already learnt but we all start in different places. no worrys im used to living out of one bag, anyways, thank you
     
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  3. JohnnyDH1985

    JohnnyDH1985 Bobtail Member

    18
    9
    Jan 21, 2019
    Elma, WA
    0
    oh one more thing, Troops into Transport, I can get all my endorsement or trained for them while going through them, and also through, CDS in Lakewood or rochestor, however if I went CDS different list of companys and id pay 6000.00 out of pocket. I believe is what they quoted me, troops into transport would use my GI bill and that's close to 10000.00 I can swing 6 before 10. so all in all. im gathering information from others and making phone calls, TMC said if I relocate to their hiring area when I get out, I can possibly work for them and once all prerequists are done, I can just stay on the road, if I perfere and not be home everyweekend if that's what I wanted.
     
  4. IndianaF150

    IndianaF150 Medium Load Member

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    Apr 27, 2014
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    That was too much for me to read, but i subscribe to air force times. They cover other branches as well as theA.F..

    I thought i read they’re adjusting their “up or out” regulations. Right now you have to get promotions every so many years (up) or they kick you “out” ... “up or out”.

    Officers have 12 years to make major or they kick you out, for active duty. But if in reserves i think you cant get promoted to major until you’ve been in 12 years.

    I think enlisted have 14 years to get promoted to tech sgt.


     
  5. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    May 4, 2015
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    Don't go to CRST whatever you do.

    Your first year in sucks because your options are so limited. Choose wisely. You don't want to jump around. Schneider is about as fair as any of them.

    Stay at one company for the first year at least. The door to the trucking world swings open much wider after one year in. Lots of vets go to Schneider.

    Figure out what you might want to specialize in. Van, tanker, flatbed. Reefer if you enjoy pain.

    Fly Navy.
     
  6. IndianaF150

    IndianaF150 Medium Load Member

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    Apr 27, 2014
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    I was at schneider for 6 months 8 years ago.

    I worked jc penney dedicated out of plainfield, indiana.

    I was heading up a hill going to columbus, indiana. It was snowing and my truck lost traction twice in 5 minutes. Each time it regained traction it registered as a hard braking.

    My boss calls me n tells me if i get a 3rd hard braking in 30 days, i’ll be fired. I told my boss what happened. He said 1 more in 30 days n you’re fired.

    I said i quit. He said i need to give notice or it’ll ding my dac report. If you stay til thursday, i’ll say you gave proper notice. I said okay.

    That was monday. Tuesday rds were still bad. I called in sick. He calls me n asks if i’m gonna call in sick every day til thu.

    I responded by (obvious) fake coughing. He said alright i’ll let you go now and it wont hurt your dac.

     
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