Dirver mills and what comes with it after Grad!!! Also Endorsments/Perks and gen?????

Hello to the all in the trucking world Looking forward to meet and or have great conversations with you all that love doing what you are doing as a career.Newbie's or Old timers. Weither its on the road or just in this forum.

To start I would like to say first. I have been doing alot of reaserch now and I wanted to get some more insite of all the pros and cons of this industy now..... Then what it was 12-15 years ago. I have some lingering ????????'s. Maybe you can help Also I have some advise at the end.

First lets start about me and what I'v'e do so far:

• Been out of trucking for appox 12 years worked for a Beverage Co. Tried to get on in Reno but there is no openings. When I got my CDL in 95, The company paid for it. Tried that route again but no deal.
• Went on to a career in Design/Engineering of Audio/Video and Security. I love the career path I took and I will always love it. My second love was having my CDL and Driving, so here we go onto my second love for a career.
• Economy and trade came to a halt with really no turnaround in the near future.
• Had a class A but I surrendered it in late 2006, figured I didn't need it any more and I changed states from Idaho to Nevada to move back home...............I was wrong!!!
• Been researching for about 3-4 weeks now
• Will be paying for it in full to some Driver mill or Driving school. Any suggestions or should I say comments?
• This will be my Final Frontier......Maybe a retirement career in around about sort of way. Sounds weird I know. It should be the otherway around. But I want to see the country so why not and get PAID!!!!
• No ties to a wife/kids......Divorced.......Not even a Pet............but wouldn't mind getting a dog to go with me on the road. Long haul would fit for me. Just not going to NYC, let the experience drivers or Newbie's that live in that area do it.
• Very Very Very low overhead in my world of living, just living expences
• My goals for the short term is obviously making$$$$$$, but I would like to get hired with a company and stay there if the bennies/company/promotions/management will fit me for the goals I want. I would like to become a DM a FM. My biggest goal is to drive for an entertainment Company that hauls gear for the music and Movie industry. Would like to get some insite from you if you have done this for along time or just started.I have great people skills, I believe that you are born with it and the people surrounding you and how you were raised. Not taught. I do understand that there is no perfect job out there. You make it a perfect Job for you and your lifestyle and put in a 100% everyday. Regardless if you like it or don't. If you don't like it? then move on. Be pro active and do your research before jumping ship. Job hopping in any industry always leaves ???????? and a bad taste in a hiring companys mouth.

With that said here are some of my lingering questions:

• After graduation from a Driving Mill or Hired Company from a privet school Do the rigs assigned to you have CB's/Mini-refers/microwaves/SAT Radios/etc. Or is it yes but not all of these items, and do you have to go to Wal-mart/Home Depot Etc. and purchase.
• I you are hauling non-parishables lets say for Wal-Mart/target/Lowes/HD dont you need a HAZMAT endorsment? If so then can you get that thru a DMill or is that seperate.
• Is there a Logged in minimum for hours to get a HAZMAT or no miles required.
• I can't remember....Do you need an endorsment for Refer's
• If you had a Class A CDL with the possability of getting proof of the miles driven at that time, 80-170 per day 5 days a week for 3 years, and you have had a CLEAN Driving CLEAN Drug record for over 25yrs and getting your own CDL thru privet? Does that put you in a differnt cpm bracket with some companies starting out that you apply for? Or is it..................your just another Newbie with a #,a 4- 500 a week paycheck average and paying your dues like everybody else.
• Supply in demand................What is the word out there for type's of Drivers needed in this economy for right now. (Dry Van, Flatbed,Refer,HAZMAT Dedicated Routes Company Drivers O/O etc.). In Reno, NV local drivers are pretty full right now.
• I'm pretty sure I'll have more questions as time goes by. Thats why I started this thread in this catagory.

In closing I would like to say this:

• I believe that every person has a dream, If you follow that dream and believe in it, it will pay off. I did my first dream for over 10+ years now, Now It's off to my second Dream.
• Common Sence will get you far in any industry, Be a professional be a leader, not a follower.
• Always ask ?????????? No ???????????? is a dumb question. You would be surprised how much respect you will get from it.
• No one is a now it all. There is always something to learn in this or any other industry in our beautiful country we live in.
• Knowing your trade, and what you do makes or breaks you. If you listen to all the negitive out there..........Guess what? You will become negitive Nelly!!! and hate what you are doing and there goes 2-5k out the door and now you have debt.(example.....You can't make your car payment......You wake up one morning and it is gone!!!! and guess what you still have to pay it or get a ding on your credit.)
• Ask yourself this. Is this what you really want to do for a career. Is this a dream of mine. If so then go balls to the wall and have a positive attitude all the way thru, If you have a family to support and or changing a career with family. The biggest thing to do is discuss it all the way thru, way the pros and cons. I will say it again.............Do your research before making a life changing experience. Life will be better for you and your family. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that while you are on the road and your family is supporting you not against you.
• Driving as a career is not just a Job...........It's a lifestyle an adventure, you are what you make of it
• You are Driving the open road.........Your life is out there, Don't be STUCK ON STUPID!!!!! You only have one and so does everybody else out there.
• Play smart business with the company you are working for, ask ?????????'s If you don't know it.......... ask!!! Garanteed 100% there is someone in your terminal or Office that will have an answer for you.
• If you lack skills in money management for yourself nows the time to get a course online or research it. Remember is your paycheck your livelyhood understand the deductions the various cpm's you might encounter Direct Deposits and rembersments you schould be getting each week.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you
LucianTHX

Heres my tag..................................Always do what you love to do as a career.............make it an Adventure...........................an experience of a lifetime..................................................an get PAID!!!!!!!

 

Some trucks come with refrigerators. Never heard of one coming with a microwave. CB and SAT radio you usually have to buy on your own. You can buy those things any place that carries them. The truck stops can be more expensive on the fridges, tv's etc, but they are more likely to be set up for use in a truck.

Not all non-perishables are haz-mat. I'm not sure about getting the haz-mat through schools any longer due to the background check required for those these days. It will also cost you more. Companies are often willing to pay for this because it is harder to get the haz-mat due to the background check.

No logged minimum to get the haz-mat. No endorsements required for reefer.

Unless the experience is very recent, you are considered a newbie. Getting a CDL A through any means other than a school or company school would probably not be a good idea. A lot of companies that hire new drivers won't touch you without a school. There are a lot of drivers on this forum that have kept their license, but because their experience isn't recent, they are considered newbies too.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

Unfortunately, you are going to be at the bottom of the food chain.

You will be considered a newbie for a few years to come. Due to your percieved lack of experience.

3 years out requires a school refresher now days. Some even require 14-45 days of hell, they refer to as riding with a trainer, who may have got is first shot at driving a truck...6 months ago.

Entertainment/Movie Industry...good luck there. There's a long list, and a steep hill. I have 3 1/2 years before I can re-apply for a job I wanted. Even though they are having trouble filling it.