Some numbers for new O/O

RIght now, I have a 48' flatbed that I just had built into a conestoga and a 53' dry van. I sold my short wheel base dump.

 

Ben Carson is a SMART dude. Good for you for reading his stuff. Read the others I told you...Ziglar, Hill, Wilcox.

I'll tell you who was really inspiring to me at your age, watching Walter Payton...just to watch him play football. I was 13 when he got into the NFL. NOW, as a grown man, I read about his life, how hard he worked and what he did...he was amazing. He definitely lived more in his shortened time here than most do living to 2x his years.

Find what works for you, but, don't forget the masters!

 

Your Dad is a SMART man.

 

look up shaffers oil we use it in our vehicle its a little more expensive but lasts longer and is alot better quality. I have seen those oil purifiers for trucks saying you can run em 200k miles no oil change whats your opinion on that the guys at pittsburgh power say it work from what i have read. I would try to read those books but between school and everything its hard to have much time to read plus i run weekends on the road with my dad. I watch stuff on youtube alot and i have always thought its not whos got more money or anything like that... its who wants it more
Its whos hungrier. I have listened to alot of what john wayne had said and others like that. My thing is when it comes to runnin a truckin company you have to think things through but you also must be willing to take risks NOBODY gets any where with out takin risks. Kinda like the Tim Mcgraw song says How bad do ya want it and how bad do ya need it. I have learned more from listenin to other truckers and other people than school lol i mean i highly doubt knowing the parts of a bat is gonna help me lol hey heres a book i got 80% through and i still need to finish but its called the harbinger by jonathan khan hes a rabi It was a amazing book. I will check out the authers you said im gonna find a way to read some of there stuff. Lol maybe i should take yodas advice there is no try only do and do not lmao tell ya one thing when all else fails God is always there no matter what
Hey maybe we should do a PM so we dont fill this fourm up lol

 

Lets make a conversation instead of useing this that way we dont fill it up with our conversation

 

I have glanced through the thread and if you are actually 13, then I am impressed by your maturity.

I worry that you might be trying to do a little too much independently. BUT. it seems as if you have a father who is or has been a trucker. That's an enormous help, with experienced family advice available a phone call away.

So. Some advice more tailored for your age.

Keep your nose clean. A lot of people will tell you that some illegal drugs aren't bad for your health. That may even be true. However, illegal drugs will kill your trucking career for years if you test positive while applying for or holding a CDL. If you never start, you never have to worry about random drug tests.

Start taking diesel mechanic courses at a community college over the summer as soon as they will let you. Figure out if it is right for you, early enough that you can think through other paths if you decide you do not like it.

Put yourself on a budget. Start a habit of saving. Buy some Dave Ramsey books and read them and/or listen to his show if he is on the radio near you.

Dave is a bit extreme, but his method of financial success works very well. Even if you cannot live by all his rules, following most of them will help a great deal.

Clark Howard also has a lot of really good advice, but his financial advice is more about smart spending, rather than smart saving. He also has a radio presence.

Talk to your father about that old truck you drove, if he still has it. If it is a solid base unit to build on, ask him if he will sell it to you in a few years. Especially if your father is getting close to retirement age, or if you hear him talking about retiring the truck.

Good luck!

 

Yes, but, I don't know how to do a PM!!! Ha! I have not looked into the oil purifiers, but, oil is cheap...I replace mine with a synthetic blend every 15K w/filter changes in between.

Yes, find time to read...10-15 min...just before bed is best...it puts good thoughts in your head just before bed and you think about it in your dreams...which is how I learned advanced calculus in college! I thought I couldn't learn it...then I met the Professor, who could barely speak English, and thought for SURE I couldn't learn it. I always did my calc homework right before bed. Did problems all night in my dreams, and I got an "A" in class. My professor, who was actually an extremely funny and NICE man became a good friend...we had LOTS of fun times together...celebrated with him that semester on his 30th bday...I have stayed in touch with from over 35 years ago. I told him how I did the problems in my sleep at night and he said "Well, you must be doing them right!".

 

Truck i drove is property of the trucking school which i still know the truck is there and its interior is destroyed sadly guess thats what happens when you put a bunch of idiots who are rough on truck in it as far as drugs go i dont do nor do i want em lol i look at ozzy osbourne and say no thanks... although i do like his songs lmao.

 

I would strongly suggest a young guy stay away from trucking. The direction this industry is going is not good. The path its taken over the last 10 to 15 years is very bad. If it continues only the worse of society will want anything to do with this industry. I'm only 42 but i can't see myself doing this another 20 years.

Where is this industry going to be by the time you are 40? 50?

To be clear, I'm not talking about elogs/speed limiters or anything the fmcsa does. Heck i don't even have an issue with the dot. I'm talking about the drivers. This industry has always had lowlifes in it, but they used to be a minority. Every year they become more and more common. A good operator used to be able to isolate himself from that by getting into specialized or high value freight but they are even moving into those segments. Just yesterday i delivered two brand new rolls royce jet engines to gulfstream and guess who pulled in beside me positioning his pos that hasnt been washed this decade between the forklift and my trailer? Flip flops, beach shorts, white tank top and immediately proceeded to take a piss right there in the parking lot not 15 feet from the lady on the forklift. The best part is he is all smiles with no idea that his attire and behavior is inappropriate.

That's the image people are going to have of you when you tell them you are a truck driver

 

Spyder....I'm not here to debate the downturn of this industry, has it worsened, for sure...but, it took that turn far more than 10 or 15 years ago...guys that are older than me and been around longer will say it probably started to go down back 40+ years ago.

With that being said, you think the industry is done? That it doesn't need young people being attracted to it? New blood with new ideas? We are just going to admit defeat because some bullies came on the playground and started to not play fair? Well, someone with weak knees might.

This young man here has more ambitions in his pinky at age 13 than most drivers have right now who do it professionally, and, I'm starting to think, maybe even you. He will go WAY beyond being a simple truck driver.

And, just because YOU say something is a certain way, doesn't mean that is how it actually is. I have never been at a location and seen a trucker step out and first thing, whip it out and piss in open view. That doesn't mean of course it has never happened, but, I think you are painting the industry with far too broad of a brush stroke.

So, did you SAY anything to this scum bag? And, why not???

Even if it were true, what you are saying, it doesn't mean the industry can't change for the better.

What did the girl on the forklift do? Did she ignore that it happened? Personally, I'd have refused his shipment...I am sure there were camera's rolling...they have them everywhere now. Enough bad drivers have that happen to them, some painful consequences for their actions, they will shape up.

Maybe down in FL it is a common occurrence. I don't know. Flip flops and tank tops, I can see. Public urination in broad daylight on a customer's location? Uh...no...I don't see that happening. Doesn't mean people aren't peeing outdoors...just not in plain sight. Heck, if I suddenly have to go, can't wait, and the walk to the rest room is blocks away, I'll duck in between my trailer and the one next to me at a dock...who hasn't done that? I'm not exposing myself, and, you look up, no camera, you go. You see a camera, go around the other side. Frankly, camera or not, who cares? I suppose the wild life that roams around doesn't pee in the parking lot either because it is shy.

But, you want to tell a 13 year old to forget his ideas, because you think the industry is dead and going to hell in a handbasket?

Trucker186, if I may direct your attention to our earlier conversation...this right here is a prime example of someone who is a "dream stealer". Don't listen to him. He's just shared info with you he cannot substantiate, he cannot justify HOW the industry is dead, he hasn't explained whats going to replace trucks....how all these goods are going to get from their shipper to their final destinations and all the intermediate steps in between. He's not explained how road construction is going to continue, how trade shows are going to happen, or the upteen billion other parts of industry trucking supports. He is simply mad because a Borat-wanna-be trucker came rolling up and didn't follow customary suit. But, if we don't take time, EXPLAIN to these nimrods their antics...how do we expect them to change?

Ya, I'll be the first to agree with him, there are parts of trucking I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole, rail containers is a fine example...they have been terrible since I entered the industry 25 years ago, and still are, overweight, low pay, and in the cross-hairs of DOT constantly. But, that doesn't mean let's just forget the industry as a whole.

I think we can all agree, computer controlled autonomous trucks, although certainly in the future, are NOT going to replace the driver who backs it into the dock, or straps down the load and tarps it, or....whatever...not for a very long time. And, who is to say that this young man here one day doesn't own the largest fleet of autonomously driving trucks? Me personally, I'd look forward to having my own fleet...eliminate one of my biggest headaches.

It also doesn't change who is going to FIX the trucks of the future...which, if I am not mistaken, is part of Trucker186's thought plan.

Trucker186...your young, you have a LONG time before you need to make any difficult decisions on what to do...keep us all posted and good luck!