I'm taking the CDL class from a local college. Today was registration day. We sat around while we waited to fork over 900+ dollars. First impressions: One guy came up and sat down and said "I like to sit with my back against the wall, I don't trust no one". Another guy claimed to be a former trucker and is getting back into it after having a heart attack. This guy would not stop talking. He found a buddy that he would talk to but after 30 minutes even his buddy looked ready to hang himself. He was all of 5 foot 2 but he had 500 gallons of gas for his motor mouth. He claimed that his dispatcher had two 45s strapped to his side at all times. He also claimed that he took the guns away from his dispatcher at one point in time. This dude was the self proclaimed expert at everything. I can see where team driving with a person like that leading to a driver either going to jail or banging his head against a wall. Two other guys sounded like they were about to fight over tonights basketball game. Couple of x military guys were there. The hurry up and wait comment drew them out. A couple of guys were factory workers that were tired of working on a line doing the same thing for 8 hours at a time. Most of the guys seemed laid back. I showed up early and talked a little with the class that was already there and had completed about 1/2 of their course. One guy asked me if I needed any questions answered or not which left me wondering if he was gay. For the record I'm straight. The head instructor was hanging out while we were waiting to finish the paper work. He was miffed at some of the guys playing games on their cell phones. CR England came up as a place not to work for. Their fleece/lease program came up as well as their unwillingness to pay any sort of decent wages. They said that CR England only hires guys that complete their program. They also said that if you fail only one of their tests that they kick you out the door. The head instructor said that his own son is a driver and that he makes 350 a day and is home on Fridays. I'm looking forward to OTR and making money myself.
Wow Tifford! What a .....different first day. Just remember with today's economy all types of jobs that you can get in and start making $$$ ( I did not say good I just said $$$) in a relativity short time is gonna drag out some of the finer specimins of our local community. Also since you are going to local CC vs private school (cost you said $900 vs say $3k-5k) is gonna drop those finer specimins even lower. Just remember why YOU are doing this and why YOU are where YOU are. You will hear lots of crap about OTR some true some not so true. Best advice listen with about 100lbs bag of salt and decide for yourself once you are OTR. Welcome to the Trucker Report and keep us posted on your adventures! It is interesting to follow people thru this journey.
I might have been a bit harsh in the description area. While I'm for the most part a "do the job and leave me alone" type of individual I have gained a little bit of wisdom over the years and have realized that even people that you don't get along with have something to offer. Sometimes finding what they have to offer may take time and patience.
Hey that's okay that's what's nice about this place-someone to listen or place for you to vent (in a good way-- just watch the language) First days are alway pretty stressful.
Read as many of the forums on as many companies as you can on this web site. You have picked one of the worst times in trucking History to start out. Their are all ready more drivers than jobs. Because of this companies have an upper hand over drivers both new and with many years experiance. They are treating drivers like #### right now. Low wages. Lies about every thing. It a very abusive profession the last few years and their is no end in sight for this abuse. Expect to do a lot of sitting and waiting and not getting paid. Lots of hurry up and wait. Expect your dispatcher to be a liar. Expect your truck to break down and not get paid while its being fixed. Expect to be paid for a 1000 mile run but actually run 1100+. Expect to pull in to a truck stop and have no parking.( Every night). Expect to pull into a rest area and Have no parking(Every night). Expect to spend a lot of money living on the road. Truck stops are convienient but expensive. Expect the DOT to be a pain in the ###. Smaller companies are usually better than large ones but you will most likely have to pay your dues at a large company. This is just my oppinion but stay away from refer. You will haul mostly food and grocery warehouses are a total pain in the ###. Flat bed is a lot of work but usually pays a little better. Dry van is the easyest but you might still see grocery warehouses. Not as much as refer though. Just remember do lots of reserch on any company you might concider. Recruters are liars. They are like used car salesmen, they only tell you what you want to hear. They will tell the good and leave out the bad. Just because a recruter tells you you'll get a new Peterbuilt, Expect an older freightliner when you get their. Now whats important to you ( Pay, Bennifits, home time, equipment, etc....) and ask questions. Dont take the first job thats offered to you if its not what you need. If anyone were to ask me about becoming a truck driver right now I would tell them to run away like its the plague! Trucking sucks now with no end in sight. But your already going to do it so be careful. Look out for you and only you cause no one else will.
