A few questions from a new driver

Look at Pride Transport. Trucks equipped with XM Radio, Satellite TV, refrigerator, hire at age 21.

She's safe out there with you. My wife, in the avatar, rode with me and we never had any problems.

 

Hi Devon, welcome aboard. Saying you have to put in time OTR before a local job, isn't necessarily true. 1st, you should say where you are, that helps narrow it down some. You may run into some trouble being 21, as some insurance companies require you to be 23. There are food service companies, where you may be a helper for a while, then get to drive, or freight outfits, where you work on the dock, and work into driving, especially with a CDL, or beverage companies, where you hustle unloading these things, but get valuable experience driving a tractor trailer. As far as women on the road, I don't recommend it. I have a lot of respect for women that drive trucks, as many times, facilities ( bathrooms especially) are shabby, food on the road is pretty crummy, and it is pretty boring for a woman just sitting there, unless she is a team driver. If I had a gf or wife on the road, I wouldn't let her out of my sight, as there are a lot of crazy people out there. I'd check out the other driving jobs I suggested before going OTR, it's a rough life. Good luck.

 

Of the two choices you gave, go with Prime. I worked for Werner for one month...One month and that was 3 weeks 6 days to much. Just my opinion. I agree with both of the posts above, I am starting with Pride or a smaller company that governs trucks at 70 mph, at the end of February when my Military commitment is up. As for women on the road, my wife went on the shorter runs with me, like Provo, UT to Phoenix and back, but she said she would not like being stuck in a box with me for weeks at a time "I love you, but you can get on my nerves" My 11 year old son on the other hand, loves to ride along. Pride does have a rider policy, I think they told me, 8 and older. Give Brian a call at Pride.

 

"semi" retired, My wife and I never had any of those situations. We showered at Petro or Flying-J and every time the showers were clean. We ate at different places and always had good food. For variety we would walk to restaurants and now many truckstops have Chinese restaurants within walking distance plus all the other well known brands. Devon is young; too young to get stuck in the local routine; he has a whole lifetime to hump cases of Pepsi or junk jobs like that dealing with jerks at grocery stores or fast food places. I just can't find anything negative about seeing the USA with the wifey riding shotgun. No bad memories at all.
As for companies that hire at 21 yrs. old; there's dozens of them. I have 15 on my list and there's plenty more I'm not aware of yet.

 

I agree with "semi" retired. You are young and strong yet....if being home daily is something you are most interested, there are options. In MY area, delivery companies (groceries, soda, beer, etc...) are ALWAYS hiring---and they want the young, strong 'go-getter's'. Pay pretty decent too, and have great benefits.

Now; there is a reason why these positions are constantly open. There is WORK involved. You WILL finger-print every item on that trailer not once, but twice.

I used to unload 14,000 to 16,000 pounds of groceries (frozen, refrigerated, and dry) every week day, off the trailer, and into businesses, on third shift.
Some places may have a handicap ramp and one door to maneuver through, and others may have 35 steps, and 4 doors. It's a crap shoot, but it all needs to be delivered.

I did it for 90 days in my early 40's and had enough...but I have a nephew who started in his mid 20's, and is still there in his mid 30's---and claims the job is "a breeze". AND, there are guys still doing it that are my age now or older, who started when they were young---nothing but a "thing" to them because it is routine and you work out a good system for yourself. And these guys are banking better coin and benefits than I would ever see over the road.

I tell you this only because it IS an option for you---but unlike MY experience, it would be nice to know what you would be getting into BEFORE you make the plunge.

If during my interview (in my 40's mind you) the Boss would have said "In a nutshell, what we do here is deliver 15,000 lbs. of goods per day, to 20 different customers, at 3 o'clock in the morning"...I probably would have gotten up, shook his hand and said thanks any way. But that was MY fault for not doing my homework. Not sure if it was a good or bad experience...but it definitely was an experience none the less.

Beer and pop would be about the same thing I suppose. 16 gallon kegs (150 lbs. each) to the basement coolers of bars, etc...it is work...but start young enough, and it becomes routine.

By the way; delivering food, you WILL get fed. Schools, restaurants, care centers, Colleges, etc...they ALL want to reward you (because you build a relationship with them), and have you sample their goods. It will get to the point that you are turning food down more than accepting it. I had a Monday delivery to one Pizza Ranch in particular that I would deliver right around the beginning of lunch---I accepted their offer at the fresh buffet every time. LOL!

 

I would first ensure if your prospective carriers will require you to complete a refresher course. Some insurers require it after 90-180 days out of the truck... which you were never in in the first place.

 

What I do not understand is that "a few months back" you got your CDL? Why haven't you gotten a job right out of school? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but are you aware that many companies will demand that you take a refresher course since you hadn't a driving job since you GOT that CDL?
Just telling you, to be prepared to go back to school maybe on your dime again, for this. At the very least if either of the companies you have chosen to hire you? They may make you go thru their training program and you have to re-pay them!

Good luck.

 

Welcome. First, go with Prime. They will give you a lot better training than Werner. I was in Werners orientation as a veteran driver and a bunch of their crap didnt make sense. Secondly, my wife rides with me all the time. Only issue we have is the perverts who keep checking her out as if she is a piece of meat. Make sure your fiancee is aware of that happening. Also make sure that those companies know she is only your fiancee some companies have different rules that pertain to wife as opposed to girlfriend or fiancee. Good luck.

 

Hi crappie, I hear ya' on the preverts. Me and my ex gf did a lot of travelling by car and stopped in truckstops and I always waited for her outside the womens restroom, as there seemed to be a lot of scum bags hanging around the women's bathroom. I"d never let a sweetheart of mine walk across a truck stop parking lot alone.
BTW, sorry Chinatown. I don't know how long it's been since you did that with your wife, but things have really gone downhill here lately in the states.