A few more general questions if you please...

Yes and no. I have had my TND 500 route me down 10 ton roads and route to bridges under 13'6". A GPS is only as good as the maps that are in it but if you are going to buy any type of GPS, any of the ones that are geared towards truckers would be the best choice.

 

Some people don't go through life wearing rose colored glasses and will tell you both the positive and negative. Do as much research as you can and come to your own decisions on schooling, training, employment, etc.

And some of are very happy with the choices they have made

 

jessc,

Ok, here is the harsh reality of what your getting into.

1) Big Companies, Bottom feeder, Training companies, whatever some choose to call them. Will keep you out, away from home 4-6 weeks on average. It's just the way it is.... Moreover, you will not be making very good money for your time with them... However, you may find that you will have shorter days with them and sometimes longer waits for backhaul loads(this may suit you and I'll explain later).

2) Mom and pop smaller companies that will give you a shot right out of school(yes, they are there). They will get you home every weekend for about 34-36 hours(yup, enough for a restart) Then back at it... These companies need to run hard in order to compete and that mean usually burning up your 14 every day of the week... realisticly, sleeping 6-8 hours, if you want a shower and hot meal... then do it agian all week until you get home for your 34 off and then back at it again. Make no mistake, for your average hard working joe, these hours are a stiff kick in the groin... I know beacuse when I started driving... I took this route, My mentor the first week was a 3,000,000+ mile veteran in his late 60's that kicked my butt, with how he could just go go go(I was in my 30's)... On the plus side, you do get used to it and adjust to the demanding hours. Make no mistake it is hard work.

Hope this helps

 

Most companies pay for a lumper service to unload the truck so the driver can take/a nap a lot of shippers load the truck some require you on the dock to verify the loading and others don't want you on the dock at all just remember to annotate shipper load and count on the bills before signing them. Some of the recievers will unload it themselves while others provide a lumper service like road link to unload the truck and usually you pay by comchek or a t check. You will learn this in detail from whomever trains you. I haven't touched box in over 3 years and if I do its by choice only.

 

I have a 500 also and have had the same issues...Worse is when it says turn, I do, THEN it flashes the red warning about the road I'm on! LOL

Like a mechanic that has many wrenches, the GPS is a good tool, but not the only tool...

 

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