Class A Redi-Mix Driver Wants to start driving OTR

Hi Krang, maybe I can field that. 1st, truckers can be the biggest whiner's on the rock, me included, and as far as jobs go, truckers really have a good job, but that get's lost after you do the same thing year after year. You forget how bad some people have it at their job. 2nd, as in my case, with little children at home, and my ex taking care of them ( i didn't want to do the child care thing, so my ex stayed home and raised them, which she was cool with, and I think it made a difference how the kids turned out), house payments, car payments, etc., there was no time for me to look for anything else, and start out at the bottom at a new job. I needed a certain income, and trucking provided that, year after year. Besides, the old saying is true, "once a trucker, always a trucker". It's really hard to do anything else, once you are a trucker. I don't know of too many driver's that go back to a cubicle listening to some superior telling them what to do.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4440647]Hi Krang, maybe I can field that. 1st, truckers can be the biggest whiner's on the rock, me included, and as far as jobs go, truckers really have a good job, but that get's lost after you do the same thing year after year. You forget how bad some people have it at their job. 2nd, as in my case, with little children at home, and my ex taking care of them ( i didn't want to do the child care thing, so my ex stayed home and raised them, which she was cool with, and I think it made a difference how the kids turned out), house payments, car payments, etc., there was no time for me to look for anything else, and start out at the bottom at a new job. I needed a certain income, and trucking provided that, year after year. Besides, the old saying is true, "once a trucker, always a trucker". It's really hard to do anything else, once you are a trucker. I don't know of too many driver's that go back to a cubicle listening to some superior telling them what to do.[/QUOTE]

It is good to hear that maybe truck driving does have some positives. Frankly my husband has only heard the bad from ex OTR drivers that came to the same company he has recently left. The company my husband worked for was a small company relatively speaking maybe about 100 employees, give or take a few. They do not respect their drivers at all, there was no vacation or sick leave. I could go on, but I am sure you can imagine. So now my Husband is in the job market again and almost afraid to take the leap of trucking driving for all the bad he has heard, but on the other hand doesn't have a lot of options. So it is good to hear someone give a few positives. All jobs have a negative side, maybe more maybe less, but nothing in this life is perfect, your attitude will determine so much of how you will feel day to day about anything in this life. It was nice hearing from you Semi, thanks for the input.

 

Unless there's good paying jobs outside of trucking in your area, then tell your husband to take the leap. If he doesn't like it he can quit any time. I sure don't regret making it my career. I didn't have a forum like this to glean information from, so I made mistakes that I wouldn't make today. Biggest mistake was not getting the endorsements and putting them to use early in my career. There's drivers in their 20's today making $60K-$80K and more because they took the leap, got all the endorsements, then jumped in to trucking. Your husband may not make but $40k or $50K starting out, depending on the hiring area you live in; the main thing is to get started for now.

 

I will pass on your advice. I agree with you that if he doesn't like it he can quit and do something else. All the people on this site that have bothered to respond to me and my questions and problems is amazing. It is so helpful to come here and read the posts. Just about anything you want to know you can find it on this site. Chinatown Thanks for helping us out.

 

Most companies are desperate right now and a guy with actual driving experience in tight places will look like a million bucks compared to a driving school newb with experience of driving a school rig around the county for a month. He can probably apply with any company and maybe have to impress the trainer that he knows how to drive. Just call them and ask.

 

What about signing contracts? Is there ever a time that you need to sign a contract? Are there companies that you would never sign a contract with? Watkins Shepard has a sign-on bonus, which I assume means a contract? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

I'd never sign a contract. That could really come back to bite you. The way these contracts are written, you might be liable for the refinishing of the Statue of Liberty.