What I've gotten from browsing here...

D@yum Danc! That certainly about sums it up ay?:smt027
I think the OP is noting the prolific posting of one RickG, who likes to point out to the newbs and wannabees some of the grim FACTS and STATS that we find ourselves in regard to trucking and transportation of goods.
I have been a wannabee a long time, but no matter how bad I want to do this, I cannot ignore what these guys are saying..... I believe they are trying to help/inform, and that is how I take it. In the end we all have to make up our own minds and make our own decisions and deal with the consequences.

Just Sayin'

 

That's not saying much considering the companies that are hiring students now . Experienced drivers wouldn't work for them . That's why they hire desperate students . Keep in touch . Don't disappear like 95% of the other Welcome Wagon students did .
Oh , and the reason 75% of students get hired is that many students that got hired a few months ago quit when they got a reality check . Ask your recruiter how many trucks these hiring carriers added to their fleet in the last 6 months .

 

Hey , I never said come back next year .

 

Danc said, "At the moment, for every job out here. There are 2 experienced drivers and 10 students applying for THAT job."
You seriously lowballed that one. From Wakins Shepard getting up to 300 apps/day...and when I sat down with Tinman, he said Conway had 100 drivers waiting for trucks and it WAS 130...I'd say there are many more.
I say if ya don't have the trucks, don't be taking on the students. Who can afford a month in training then sit at home for months with no pay?

 

I think this forum is great ! TONS OF INFO !!!! (JUST READ!!!)
where else can anyone get the truth on trucking industry !
and it's all FREE !
This valuable truth can save Thousands of $$$
not to mention the many headaches, marriages lost, sanity lost, families lost, time lost, energy lost , ect....

What I get from this forum is this is the worst time for newbies
to get into trucking. I AGREE !

End Of Year / Beginning Next Year Economy Should Pick Up !

I hope things pick up for everyone really soon.
Hang in their things will get better!

 

I'm a newbie. I just started and I started with a company that trains it's own students and hires newbies.

Yes! I am the new driver the others are talking about.


And I listen to danc, redfox, Otherhalf, Ron-Mars, Wiseone, and all the other drivers. I learn and I research then make my decisions. I'm new today; ten years from now I'll be more experienced, 20 years from now ........... I'll be this shriveled up lil old lady in a truck who'll beat you down with a tire thumper if you give me lip. Oh, sorry I got carried away for a moment.

But let me point something out: I'm not desperate and neither is my husband. We left jobs to do this because it's the life change we wanted.

 

You're assuming a recruiter will be honest.

I passed a Schneider yard the other day. I'm used to seeing a lot of trucks in their yards in good times, they have so many. But jeeezus !!! I don't think they could have gotten another truck in that yard. Row after row of trucks.

Anyone driving across I-30 in Arkansas need only take a close look at the Cal-Ark yard. They've taken to hiding the parked trucks behind the trailers, even though there is room on the west end of the yard for them.

In good times, you might see 20-30. It's well over 100 now, maybe more.

 

When you do reach that shriveled up age, then you need to change your name. We will have to start calling you "Texas Own, Shriveled Nana" LOL

 

Nana, you left out "fluffy"! Pound for pound...inch for inch...just more to love!

Is it cookie time somewhere out there, its just not fair, nobody knows where the cookie truck is!

Are you trading your pointy stick for a tire thumper?

 

Nana , you know your situation is different from other newbies . You're with your husband and will only support one household and your kids are grown . Whole different story than a solo getting low miles or a team trying to support 2 families .