finding first job

how long have you been trucking? your already upset with the coniditions pay and life style. wow!!!! Don't worry about what others are making. their not paying your bills. so focus on your finanacial problems. plus the grass isn't going to be any greener any where else. one thing that all trucking companies pretty much have in common. is they treat the drivers the same way. you might make a little more the first couple of months. after that. you be back to what you are making now. so my advice, make the most with the job you are at now. if you don't have much experience and you have been jumping jobs. then you are doing it to yourself. try staying at the same job for a few years. things should improve for you. plus the longer you stay at one job. the easier it is later to move up to better pay,better life. the key to making trucking work. is sacrifice.

 

bob888 you're on the right track! Don't sacrifice yourself to one of these mega-carriers just because everyone tells you have too! Its not true. They just make it easier then having to do some research and find a job yourself.

Take the time to find yourself a good smaller carrier to drive for. It will be well worth it! Yes they will treat you differently, of course they will! They aren't managing thousands of drivers! Their pay actually depends solely on you, making you actually matter as a driver!

Your dispatcher is your key to success and at the smaller companies you are able to build a good personal working relationship with them. This is how you make money! You scratch each others backs. Sure you will still have some crap runs here and there but that's just part of the job. Sometimes you have to take those runs to get set up for the good ones. Another advantage is that when you have a problem someone is going to be there to listen to you and help you through it.

Like I said man, you're on the right path, don't let anyone tell you differently. Yes its going to be tougher but most good things in life are.

 

I wish I knew how many times we've given this advise on not following the easy way and go the mega-carrier way. It's easy for a reason. The more you put into this industry the more you get out of it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can not do this or that. Get off the computer and get out and look. Seek out what you what and remember there's more than just hauling freight. Think of your future and what fits you the best. If you like being at the bottom going from point A to B all the time then that's fine. But if you like to specialize your career then you can become an asset and needed for your training.

 

Mega carries are not career options. They are first jobs. They are "on the job training". They're there to get your feet wet. They are a training corps. They are a starting point and everyone starts at the bottom. They too are taking risks by taking on an inexperienced noob and putting them out on the highway. One idiot driver combined with one slick lawyer and they are done.
A lot of us got our start with the megas and have done quite well after we got out and moved on.
I'm not saying that everyone has to start out with the megas, I'm just saying that they have their purpose in this industry.

There's a law against that.

 

Why ask if you already know?

 

"Mega carries are not career options. They are first jobs. They are "on the job training". They're there to get your feet wet. They are a training corps. They are a starting point and everyone starts at the bottom. They too are taking risks by taking on an inexperienced noob and putting them out on the highway. One idiot driver combined with one slick lawyer and they are done.
A lot of us got our start with the megas and have done quite well after we got out and moved on.
I'm not saying that everyone has to start out with the megas, I'm just saying that they have their purpose in this industry."

The purpose of mega-carriers is to utilize the utmost cheapest labor to haul their freight. Their goal is to keep the seats warm, not train you properly. They aren't taking any risk whatsoever. They have insurance and good lawyers!

I think if you had the statistics of successful drivers that went with smaller companies instead of mega-carriers you would be singing a different tune.

 

I believe it all boils down to the driver and what fits his or her needs. But like I've said you've got to check all the places you might have a chance at and don't let anyone tell you different. Some of the CDL schools make it sound like it's the only path a new driver can take and we all know that's hogwash.