Comfort Zone = More consistent home time??

if you are brand new to driving, and it sounds like you are..........the freight has to move.........if you "were" scheduled to be home on a particular day. do not plan on it... the freight will always come first. if there is freight going past your home, you "might" be able to stop by the house for a day or less, you cannot complain.

what you need to ask "your friend", is how long has his dad been a trucker.....??

one year........20 years........30 years.........?? he can get just about anything he wants. but you.........???? you're lucky you have a job right now. then too, you need time to "shop around" for an apartment, then moving, etc,etc. you'll need time off for these things, even to make time to transfer your license over if this is a different state than where you live now. all things take time. and as a newbie.....you ain't gonna have it.

 

if you want to "go back to a daytime job", then do that, get out of trucking. but if you still wish to drive, then take a "leave of absence" for about 30 to 40 days, no more, then get your crap taken care of, and be done with it. a "leave of absence" is way better than quitting, as you will be going back to work. you can always say the "leave" is due to family related issues, that YOU WILL clear up quickly, and return to work. but i should point out, even with a "leave of absence" you risk the company NOT taking you back, as they will not be required to, and if they find someone to take your place.........they ain't about to lose him over taking you back. there are no guarantee's here, especially if where you work now is NOT a union job.

 

Going to be tough as a new driver to get a local gig. Put yourself in the companies shoes. You just spent a lot of money on some trucks and now you need someone to drive them. Are you going to hire a driver who has a proven track record, excellent service and employment history, long record of clean motor vehicle report, very refined driving skills in which he is not going to go through tires, brakes, and transmissions. Or would you want to hire a guy who just recently went to school, been driving for a few months, could not handle being over the road (not saying that is your case, just an example) has no idea how to handle a truck. So now, who are you going to pick to drive your expensive trucks and keep your customers happy?

Not to say that you could not get lucky though. Some drivers do. There is probably a long line of senior drivers who want local gigs too.

Good luck to you.

 

this has changed in some areas. years ago, military were not considered truckers, as most times, they drove slow speeds and in convoys. i have found from at least 2 company recruiters that military DOES count for some experience nowadays. one state i deal with, with a simple letter from your commander (stating what you drove and miles) , you can easily switch over to a state CDL-A. where as in another state i deal with, this will not happen. the military person HAS TO go to trucking school for his/her CDL.

BUT then the jobs are easier to come by as well. i have had a few military guys go right into construction, with no problems whatsoever.

keep us posted.