A CDL is not a passport to a job.

I got lucky,the carrier I wanted to work for hired me.Now having said that I did alot of research into who I wanted to work for..The important points for me were safty,training and the list went on from there.Did I or do I feel that getting a CDL is a passport..nope..In the end it is what we bring to the table as drivers.I choose the company and that company choose me,there is a very good chance I'll be there for yrs to come.

 

I love that signature. Thanks for making me smile.

It would be great if all the jobs were good jobs. I know people do research into companies There's nothing wrong with trying to get the best you can, and I can understand why young people who are at the beginning of their career would be frightened by some of the horror stories that they read here about various companies. That's why I make the point that people DO work for Schneider (to pick one name at random) for more than a week. I'm even prepared to bet that Schneider have some old drivers on their books who have been there for years. Even at my age I feel trepidation when I start a new job, because they are all different, and no matter how much experience you have, there is always something new to learn, and a situation you haven't met.

I'm still looking for the perfect job. I think I may have found it, but there are still gripes, and if I moved, no doubt there would STILL be gripes, but I keep looking and still keep turning over in my head, "Would I move?" Yes. No. Maybe.

I wish you the best of good fortune in your driving career.

 

I agree,every company has their good and bad.
Your post is very well thought out and to the point.I look forward to reading more of your threads,there is alot to learn from your 25yrs.
Thanks

 

I hope to stick around and post some more, and I look forward to reading about your exploits as you join us in this great industry.

Any time I can be of assistance don't hesitate to give me a shout. I'm only posting from home, but I read the site on my iPhone when I'm on the road. It's too tedious to post much using the phone, but if someone wants help or just company I'll be glad to step up to the plate.

One thing you'll learn quickly is that trucking gives you a hell of a lot of time to think. It's a good idea to make sure those thoughts are positive. Welcome aboard.

 

Ah....the Hunter S. Thompson signature...great.


On another note...I think it is absurd for somebody like myself (in school still) to expect to call up a company like...oh I dont know....a really good one , and expect them to say, "Oh! Thank GOD you called! We have been waiting for you. Come on down, we have our newest truck waiting for you here at the terminal. We will pay you more than everybody else because you are the exception to new drivers. We will also pay you fro 3000 miles a week like you asked, but you can just sit at home and cuddle with your wife. Also, dont expect to ever ACTUALLY WORK to earn your reputation. That isnt how it works..."


COME ON PEOPLE!

What can you expect being brand new? Like he said...80,000 lb guided missle (unless you drive for Werner...then unguided missle ) worth about $150,000 not including the $500,000 worth of Blu-Rays in your trailer. Yeah....right.

Oh....here are your keys sir....do you know where Nashville is?

 

Dionysus I hope you do stick around. Everyone can learn from others and you're more than welcome. I agree there's some real hot shots that think once they pass the tests they know all there is to know. I'm retired now and there wasn't a day that I wasn't open to new information. Plus I never claimed to know it all.

But I also see a problem with these new know-it-alls and that's the ads and the schools. I look at some of these trucking ads where you can make $50K a year and think if you were out of work that would look good. It only fans the fire of the new super trucker. I believe the schools should paint the correct picture of the industry since they are the first contact but most of them are there for one reason, to get that student a CDL and who cares after that.

I'm a strong believer of passing information on to the new driver when you see they might need help. At least give them enough information so they won't get into trouble. I do that until that new driver gets an attitude and claims he or she knows it all. Then all you can do is walk away. But at least you tried. Your first posting here is a good example of telling them how it is. Sure there are exceptions but you were right on in a general sense.

 

When I went to school the instructor told us that when we graduate we will NOT be truckers but we will have the minimum requirments to become one! That is a good thing for ALL newbs to remember

 

i'm gonna have to disagree on the big company thing. i consider my time and hard work very valuable, and believe me when i say i work hard. i've never muttered out of my mouth "I'm not doin that, thats not my job". some of the stories i had read on this board are insane. i dont expect top pay, or the best truck, or the best route or anything when i go to work for a new company. working with the crappy truck and crappy pay at a new company is a right of passage, we all earn our badges, i take what is offered, i just ask that i'm treated with respect and it seems like lots of these big companies dont do that.

i do agree though, my generation definitely has a "i'm owed this because i am special" attitude and it makes me pretty sick to my stomach but thats fine with me because i'm one of the few that is willing to put his time in to earn his badge. gotta know when to get yourself credit, and you gotta know when you still have to earn it.

 

i think this is a common trend among people in every job field that is in their 30's or younger. the company i'm at right now, i replaced a guy that quit because he felt he was getting screwed. now in a sense, i kind of do, i usually put in overtime but being on salary i dont get paid for it, the trade off is i have 2 hours of drive time (an hour each way) before i start my route and do any actual work so i just look at it like i clock when i get to my first stop. optimistic sure but if i was offered a job an hour away with my gas being paid for i would take it. i'm guessing he's never worked for a company that screws you. recently i got real sick and took 6 days off and my boss paid me for all of them. i'm still beside myself because i've only been here 7 months. that being said i appreciate greatly what i have, i know that it's gonna be hard to find a new boss like this guy. lots of people feel they are entitled to things, and shouldnt have to prove their self worth. i think the problems in the truck industry are problems that every part of america is facing. america has lost is hard ##### get it done attitude. we've turned into a bunch of sissies with our hands out. im not like that and i never will be.

 

and i hope you stick around too. maybe some guys my age that post on here might learn something from you