Can't wait to get started.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by 1Moose1, Mar 6, 2020.

  1. 1Moose1

    1Moose1 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2020
    Messages:
    12
    Thanks Received:
    6
    0
  2. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,877
    Thanks Received:
    12,169
    0
    Russians do a lot of undercover super rush stuff in blank sprinter vans with no numbers or logs etc. Im not sure where they get the work.

    Why dont you put on some boots and gloves and go to your nearest construction or paving outfit saying youll be a shovel operator? Lots of convicts make pretty good money on 3rd shift jackhammer crews. My stepbrother always made easily what i did fresh out of prison and only worked half the year. Collected the rest.
     
    Western flyer Thanks this.
  3. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2013
    Messages:
    21,828
    Thanks Received:
    149,434
    Location:
    Gettin' down westbound
    0
    Yes u can show up to get ur permit then take a road test but u have to do pre trip and all that stuff as well. U really got to study it . A couple thousand dollars as an investment in ur future as a truck driver . Its not much if u wanna do this for a living. There aint much industries that takes less time and money to get going.
     
  4. RStewart

    RStewart Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2015
    Messages:
    3,164
    Thanks Received:
    5,025
    Location:
    Norman, OK
    0
    Yep, as long as you provide the equipment for the test. That's what I did. But the real challenge is finding someone to hire you with no experience.

    That's also the biggest issue with the industry.
     
    FoolsErrand Thanks this.
  5. 1Moose1

    1Moose1 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2020
    Messages:
    12
    Thanks Received:
    6
    0
    I spent two decades making bank in construction and finally my back gave out. So I can't really lift much of anything anymore. A buddy of mine says I should go apply for disability but I hate that ####. There's lots I can still do.
     
    FoolsErrand Thanks this.
  6. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,877
    Thanks Received:
    12,169
    0
    Someone good to hire you green is tough, but companies that really suck are always hiring.

    If you get your CDL alone as i did, dont beat around the bush and discourage yourself with turndowns. Go to the pumps, ask who the worst guy in town is to work for and go right to him, start tomorrow. Get your month or so out of the way and shmooze other drivers until you find the next best open seat at turd2. Turd2 will routinely hire drivers who wont stay with turd1.

    You can job hop all you want, DAC dont matter etc. Just dont show up too high and youre good to go. Get thru 6 months or a year of turdhop and on to greener pastures.
     
  7. 1Moose1

    1Moose1 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2020
    Messages:
    12
    Thanks Received:
    6
    0
    I love that advice LMAO
    OK well I don't do any drugs and I don't drink much either. Maybe a beer or two end of day but that's it. My record is spotless.

    I'm a farm kid as as I recall there's a whole other set of rules for driving ag. Maybe when I can afford to take a class and pass a test I'll dive ag. Hell I was 10 yrs old driving around in all kinds of ridiculous stuff.

    #### no photo's
    We had a old fire truck with a split trans. 5 and 4. My brother would get lost in it but I could usually row through the gears no problem. #### that was a lifetime ago.

    Anyway yeah. Maybe ag.
     
  8. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,877
    Thanks Received:
    12,169
    0
    I was in a similar boat. I was living in the sleeper of my 2ton truck moving my shop across the country on a gooseneck for years before i got my CDL, but DOT thinks thats an undercover hotshot and always chased me down.

    Every time i went to test i was in a 53' sleeper truck for the very first time trying to 90 alley dock. It took me a long time to pass even tho i had 2 yrs of running my own personal moving company and i logged for a year which is tighter to back into than any test pad. Kids who couldnt really drive were passing because they were taught only how to pass a parking lot test while i was walking in with my $375 to just jump in and test. The school was making sure the kids who spent $3k were present to watch the walk-in real drivers fail on technicalities so they felt their tuition was a good value. Id get told to do one specific thing, begin exactly as instructed, then be told do it some other way and point out while setting up for the revised task. It was a scam and the school closed. Passed first try at different place.
     
  9. FoolsErrand

    FoolsErrand Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    Messages:
    2,877
    Thanks Received:
    12,169
    0
    Another thought on turd companies. There is opportunity in them. They are short staffed. Maybe one or two cash strapped frazzled people who just dont have it together yet. They need talent. There is often an option for you to be that talent in a very short time frame. If you walk into schneider as a driver thats all youll ever be because there is a 20yr line for those management positions. But itty bitty struggling startup company is a different story.

    Ive gotten to do everything that a small fleet owner would do, except be on the hook for the bills, by walking into a tiny operation ready to do more than just drive. Its given me a lot of freedom, bigger paychecks and a huge window of experience id never get at a "good" job. All without any of the risk that comes with putting your name on the building. I can call and quit today.
     
    homeskillet Thanks this.
  10. homeskillet

    homeskillet Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2013
    Messages:
    5,970
    Thanks Received:
    44,684
    Location:
    Dayton, OH
    0
    I just had something come up on my IG feed called haulingbuddies.com

    Looks like a load board for livestock hot-shotting. I just glanced at it. I'm just letting you know if you want to explore that option. Might be right up a farm boy's alley.....