Checking into Trucking as a possible Career Change

Now, that right thar is a GREAT idea!!!
We welcome and encourage wives to participate in the forums.
From what I've read from many wives, the support they receive here from others is very helpful to them.
We look forward to your wife joining us.
The sooner, the better.
And the price is right.

WoW!
Uhhhhhhh ------
does your wife have a sister?
Good wives are hard to find, but it sounds like YOU did.

Have y'all considered Schneider?

 

i know this was directed at GJ but i thought i would offer some up as well. I know a guy who used to be a trainer for stevens. he doesn't work there anymore if that tells you anything. i've heard that schneider isn't a bad place to start. i am very biased but like GJ i've around this business all my life and the best thing i ever did IMO was getting in to tank work over 10 years ago. it's the easiest job i've ever had and also one of the most dangerous. i don't think anybody will put you on a tank fresh out of school but, schneider has a bulk division. you could start out with a box and then possibly slide into the tank division. i really wish you would reconsider and think about a different line of work. OTR trucking is ok for a single man, but with you starting a new family and all it's going to be tough. you're going to miss out on a LOT of your childs life, that's something you can't ever get back. think about it, good luck to you.

 

With that degree you should be applying for an office job with a trucking company,think about it drivers pay goes up and down depending on your dispatcher,office jobs are probably salary positions and you'll get to see your kid grow up,good luck

 

I like him have tried the office job thing and it just doesnt fit. I always hear from by dad and friends, you should be in an office somewhere. Well if you haven't done it, try it and see how it feels. Best way I can describe it is like taking a wild animal and putting them in the zoo. To me I felt like I was in prison. I like being out and about, even if it means more work. Some people are meant for that kind of stuff, another one that I couldnt ever do is factory work. Tried it years ago, and it drove me crazy.

 

Bummers (for me).

Well,......... it just so happens that our very own Lurchgs is training with May.
Get in touch with him for his comments.
From what I gather, he's happy and satisfied.
If/When I run into him here, I'll direct him to this thread.

Sure!
Why not?
Just be aware that some trainers with years of drivin' experience aren't necessarily good trainers, and some with less drivin' experience are better teachers.
All depends.

When I had about one year experience, the company I drove for (Schneider) suggested I become a driver trainer. I questioned my experience level at that time, but they assured me they believed I would be good at training. It took some convincing and a few perks, but I took the job.
I'm here to report that Schneider was correct. I WAS good at it, and, as an added bonus, I enjoyed the hail outta that gig. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Actually, believe it or not, by todaze standards, that number is rather low. Some companies are averaging 100%.

I think I'll recommend that you continue researching.
Although that May gig sounds nice.
And I'm thinkin' that when you hear from Lurch, he'll be encouraging.

Keep us informed?

 

jmc1972,

As much as it pains me to say this, especially after all the damage that this company has done and continues to do to the industry, Schneider National has a really good training program. But probably the best part of this company is that it offers the greatest amount of diversity in the industry as far as being able to participate in the various types of freight. They have dry van, flat bed, specialized, tankers, etc. This could give you a better opportunity to find out where your nich, so to speak, is going to be. Best of Luck.

Georgia Joker

 

Dont mean to nit pick but they sold there specialized to maverick, all those orange trucks are now mav trucks

 

LOL - on the other hand, my wife has 4 sisters and 2 brothers - and she's nothing at all like any of them. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder at her sanity (and my luck) for her sticking with me all this time.

Yeah - I have two boys... but they're both in their teens, so the milestones are... different.

you start at .30/mile for the first 6 months, then a raise every other month until the end of the first year, where you are at 34 cents...

The more senior drivers have the newer trucks, generally. The trainee who followed me with my trainer got his 387 when the trainer quit (went to a local company for family reasons). So, it's not a strict rule, by any means. For a 387, that was a nice truck.

I drive a 379. On the other hand, I've told the Terminal Manager that I want to keep it. I get along well with the long-nose.

There are also some Freightshakers in the fleet. I don't know their disposition.

reasonable - sounds like they're trying to 1) keep you on the hook a little longer and 2) spread the payments out so you don't feel such a large bite every week.

yes and no. The thing to bear in mind is that the trainer is not there to teach you how to drive. If you've gone through school, it's assumed you know that part. The trainer is there to teach you how May does things, and to maybe buff some of the rough edges off driving. (I had issues downshifting.. my trainer made some suggestions. Didn't help, but he tried).

The trainer is there, also, to make sure you have a good handle on logging and safety. Neither really requires extensive experience.

This is true. On the other hand, a turnover rate of 60% is still pretty good in the industry as a whole, and VERY good among companies who hire school grads. And that number should be going down more, since the turnover rate at the Denver terminal has dropped from over 200% to about 50% in the past 8 months.

As for the 1 year seniority - that's to be expected in any "training" company.

$60/a day, actually. Works out the same if you are with the trainer for the full week, but nice to know it breaks down smoothly.

Average time spent with a trainer is 3 weeks - but it's trainee dependent. If the trainer and the terminal staff feel the trainee is ready (and the trainee feels he's ready) the trainee can test out for solo after as little as a week. If you can't make it in 6 weeks, though, both you and the trainer will be facing some intense questioning

My trainer wanted to boot me out... er... graduate me to solo after 2 weeks, but I wanted at least another week. I went solo after 3 weeks.

Things to consider: As with any other company, Dispatchers (we call them driver managers, we don't have forced dispatch), vary. You may or may not get along with the one you start out with. Myself, I get along GREAT with mine. My trainer... he fired his DM in the middle of my second week. So, don't let your DM sour you on your experience with whatever company you go with. If you don't get along, change 'em. All it takes is a phone call.

May has been very easy to work with. I've made some mistakes (I have issues planning out trip times). They just make sure I know what I did wrong, and we go on from there. No casitgation, yelling, raving...

Further, they have (so far) been very very good at getting me home when I request. The first message I send when coming back from home time )after the load messages, etc( is a request for time off. So far, as I said, they've been excellent about honoring that.

There ARE issues. I disagree with some of their policies (pets, weapons, in particular). I did spend 5 days in Boise with my truck broken down, waiting for corporate to make a decision on just what they were going to do with my truck. Granted, it was over a weekend, but still. They did put me up in a motel and covered my taxi expenses.
A call to my Terminal Manager on Monday, though, had me in a "new" truck that night. (another 379, about which I was quite happy)

So far, no payroll problems at all. I had a question, went in to see payroll, and they sat down with me and answered.

Nobody is behind a locked door or bulletproof glass. If I wanna go throw popcorn at my DM or the TM, I can.

Equipment is newer. My tractor is, obviously, older. 2005, to be exact. It's one of the older trucks in the fleet, but is in very good shape. Trailers.. I've run into some non-roadworthy trailers - but every one of them was stashed at a WalMart Distribution Center (my personal thought is that Walmart mashed them, and nobody's fixed 'em)

So far, not run into anybody (I'm sure there are some, there HAVE to be) I'd consider an out and out jerk. Some of the folks you just have to take differently...

Lesseee...

Ah - they do have pre-planned routing and they do direct where you stop for fuel and how much you take on. I don't find the fuel part difficult to deal with - and it makes sense from their point of view.

The routing... that's a little harder for me to work with. They use PC Miler, which routes you 1) the shortest route to/from the nearest interstate 2) city line to city line (as opposed to city hall to city hall or even address to address). As a result, topography is not taken into consideration. Sure, it might be shorter to go that way, but there's a lot of steep hills and towns to suck up fuel. This other way might be longer, but take less time and fuel. (this is not specific to May - most/many companies use the same software) In any event, paid miles will probably never equal actual miles. Fortunately, if it's TOO far out of whack, you can talk to your DM and maybe get that route adjusted.

May, like any other company out there, expects you to run as many hours as you have. On the good side, they don't see that as just 11 hours a day. They also recognize the 70 hour limit. In general, then, any load you are offered will have sufficient time for you to get there without killing yourself. If not, let dispatch know. They may give the load to somebody else, they may reschedule your delivery, or they may simply say "get there when you can"

Gah... I just looked over this, and I'm starting to sound like a recruiter. I need to go take a shower or two - with lye.

And I'll not dissemble - if you end up trucking, and working for May - if you reference me, I'll get money.

Did I answer most of your questions? If not, let me know.

There are other companies out there, too. As Shock as said, there's SNI - and I also considered Watkins & Shephard out of Billings MT. Danc694u works for them, as I recall.

I see you mentioned Stevens Transport.. I applied with them.. when I went out to interview... I didn't like the way it felt. Nothing I could put my finger on, but it just didn't feel right for me.

___ long pause to re-grow fingertips ___