Any tips for the new kid on the block?

May I be the first to welcome you to the industry?

It sounds as though you've almost been forced into achieving yoiur dream!

Financially, it will be rough. You will make very little when you start. But it sounds like you know this.

As for your family, do your best to get them a support network. This forum is excellent for that, or friends and family if they are willing. Your wife is going to need a shoulder now and then. Being in contact with other wives going through the same thing will help tremendously.

Good luck to you! I hope it turns out to be all you ever dreamed of.

 

Welcome to the industry and best of luck. I can say for myself the trucking industry has been very lucerative for me and my family and I could not think of any other job than what I do. As far as advise I would say always conduct your self in a professional manner and remember just cause you are much larger than the four wheelers you do not own the road we have to share it and best of luck

 

Hello, I too am new to this industry. I am in the process of my final testing for my CDL. If all goes well, I will be going to Gary, Indiana before Monday. I will be going to Falcon. I've been watching/reading this website for the last year, and have done alot of research on the different companies to make my decision. Havent found anything bad about this company. If anyone can give me information and tips also it would be appreciated. I too was sorta forced into my dream. Kids are grown now, and I also because of cutbacks have been unemployed. Thanks

 

This forum is filled with good advice for new drivers to take advantage off..

 

Don't ever be afraid to admit that you're a newer driver. There will be 30 year billy-big-riggers out there that will make fun of you for it, but for every 1 of them there are usually 5 that will give you some good advice. You'll be out there 40 years and still be learning things, and if you ever get that 'i know it all' feeling, it's time to park it.

Keep a respectable attitude toward other drivers (Screw the four wheelers, hehehe) but take care of your brothers out there, and we'll take care of you!

I wish you the best of luck, and glad to have you.

 

There is 2 ways into something. Go in and take a chance of losing your present job and wondering if you did the right thing or waiting until you lose your present job and then doing what you wanted to do to begin with. Sounds like you waited for the one door to close and it has. Now you just have to decide if you want to walk thru this other open door. It is up to you. All I can say is do a lot of research. Pray and go from there. You are right the Lord does work in mysterious ways. You just have to figure out which door He wants you to go through.

 

[FONT=&quot] It’s taken me 45 years to learn to be still and let God do His work in me. The Lord knows I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I usually miss life’s subtleties; I don’t always make the best choices. It seems I had to wait until all the other doors were shut tight, and there was a huge spotlight on the one with the big neon sign over it. Now it’s really a no-brainer. Alls I gotta do is shut up and drive.[/FONT]

 

This thought made me think of an aspect that might be appreciated.

Doctors and lawyers both go to school for approx. 8-12 years after high school. They become cert. work in their feild for years and years.........
BUT.........even after these years and years with all their accomplishments
the term of work they refer to is PRACTICING LAW.....PRACTICING MDEICINE...................

Even with the education that is required to perform these jobs they really are never mastered. This is also true for truck drivers. Many people accomplish things such as 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 million accident free miles but because of continuously changing conditions etc. we still have not mastered. We will always be learning .........as equipment changes(evolves) roads change, weather changes, loads change...........

Just a thought wanted to add........................

 

You are off on the right path....receiving training through a community college is ALWAYS the best way to go! Starting out, you will probably have to begin at the low-end like we all had to do, but once you've built up the required 6 months to one year of driving experience, better opp's will open up for you.......GOOD LUCK! And keep us posted.