Get Out Quick

Hi,
I recently read your thread and as as soon to be new driver, can I ask
what company he works for. I am just trying to get some insights.
Thanks

 

If you are referring to the original poster on this thread, he hasn't been seen on the site in quite some time. I will reserve any nasty comments about what he is probably doing with his time, but he probably doesn't have a CDL anyhow.

 

Same boat here. Well... I have debt lol. But if I can manage to get constant runs I will. I am actually thinking about dumping the appartment and just taking time off for holidays. IE: No home time, live on the road. Think of how low the bills would be

Phone: $90 (National with good minutes at a company with better coverage than Sprint CrapCS)
Storage Shed: $50 - $100 (Might need 2 lol)

That's $140 - $190 a month in bills
$800 a week avg
$3200 a month avg = $3010 after bills (Minus taxes of course)
So about $2000 a month.

I can live with that.

 

Hi Guy!
If you think truck driving isn't the best, wait until you own your own BBQ place! This come from 26+ years of experience in the biz. I wish you success.
Start working on your business plan and make sure you have access to someone with a background in the industry. Most places don't last much longer then a year. Unfortunately , 2 different groups of people I know of through an associate opened two seperate places in two different towns and due to lack of experience didn't make it past 8 months. Good Luck any questions I can help you with let me know.
I wish you luck and much success as you start your new venture and I hope you will do the same as I begin my new venture. I think we could start a new thread : Is there any job out there that dosen't have sucky parts to it. On the upside at least you will be working for yourself and you'll know you don't have a crappy boss!
Take Care

 

The guy that started this thread will never hear you. I just checked, and as of tomorrow, it will be a full year since he last posted. He only made a total of 7 posts, and half of them concerned his feelings that smoking marijuana made him a better truck driver because he was more relaxed behind the wheel.

He was a true example of a know nothing knucklehead, only wanted to stire up people, and quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that he has encountered or will enjoy, any real success in life. Keep an eye open next time you pull up to a fast food drive in window, you may get a chance to speak to him in person.

As for the folks here, we're better off without him.

 

ok man if you don't like driving a truck and being out on the road,do like I have told all the complainers,quit and do something you like. i have been driving for over 38 yrs,mostly over the road. when I started driving big trucks,class A type, i drove 6 and 10 wheel dump trucks in boston area, then had a chance to drive a pole trailer with overlength gas pipes all around new england for all the gas companies, i worked for a couple of big contractors during this time,my first 6 yrs home every night, then north american out of ft wayne for an agency called nationwide out of lincoln R.I.,what a scam that was,they also owned nationwide tractor trailer school., then spared for Roadway out of brockton,ma.5.91 an hour then,i quit that and went back out on the road and really,I get sick and tired of leaving home,but I always have made a decent living doing this,I have had my owm truck 3 times, 1 was a lease purchase with Schanno,that was a joke, I experimented and tested it very thoroughly, drove reefer back and forth boston to midwest and back, from west to east truck got,1.40 a mile,out of east truck got .57 a mile, Schanno doubled brokered those loads thru their own sister companies,like van pak, burlington,they also own hirshback,greenfield, and had burlington also back then,stay away from grogean companies, i ran that truck as hard as I could for 13 weeks 7 days a week,came home for 2 days, my wife ran with me as a passenger, she kept up the paperwork, i started the 1st week at 899. after expenses,the lease let us off the first truck payment to get started,by week 13 we were clearinng 400. a week, then you got to pay taxes, i let SChanno take the truck from my yard, an older gentleman came and he said like i already knew, he was bringing it vanpak yard in springfield ma, and not what schanno told me, they charged me back on my last check so much a mile all the way back to mn., this was cheaper for me to do,i would have had to pay all the bills fuel,tolls take a bus or plane back home. in the meantime i already had another job started. there are some good companies out there but very few. listen to what this veteran is saying to you, if you and girlfriend or wife,are young want to enjoy a good life and be happy together,get your cdl,get experience,go team together, have a used car at home at your parents when you want to take time off,or a rental car. do not get a house or apartment,saves money,live on the road,get a motel when you are really bored, you can make enough money in 5 yrs to buy a new car for wife,new pickup for you and pay cash for your house.then come off the road,have children,raise them,drive locally. you will be much happier in life,its really very very possible to do this,i have told hundreds of younger drivers about what trucking can do for you. I didn't listen hard enough and did it the other way, I am still on the road every week someplace and still love it,must be insane, life on the road isn't easy,but you know what,it sure beats that 200.00 ck i know some of my friends are getting,if they get laid off they are all messed up and catch up on payments, sure we clear about 800.00 a week but when I want a break or change jobs i can catch my bills up in 2 weeks, not months like my friends have. if you look at the big picture your out an average of 270 days,the rest can be quality time with your children,that is what i preach to my 2 sons of three that drive,1 hauls logs out of the woods in maine,after 12 years running maine to west coast and between,hes burnt out. my other son is gone for a week or two,flatbedding out of maine, he makes 46 a mile.theres money to be made out here,just got to pay attention and sleep when you are tired, my favorite saying to them was if i quit driving truck I'll have to get a job and work.they nhave said that back to me many many times,and tell me"i know what you meant dad'', if you don't like it and aren't proud to be a truckdriver,don't do it,let us live with our own kind, we drivers are rare that actually walk up to another driver,no matter what race and say hows things going or have a good day or good morn, and really mean it. i have always said "I believe I can teach a monkey how to drive", be proud of who you are,where you come from and "for gods sake take the pride and respect you deserve and be the best ndriver you can be" the receivers will be better,shippers will be better, may take awhile,remember we're the little guys,we're the shippers,receivers drivers etc but just all trying to do our jobs. sorry I rambled on but spent most of my life driving as my father before me,my 3 brothers, i forgot about my younger brother worked driving for bfi cleaning big tanks hydroblasting,he got hurt in a motorcycle wreck, can't drive anymore except a car,.. any all you divers that are really contributing to the good of the all american trucking,,which is all of our citizens,and vall you good honest companies , you know what you stand for and who you are. as for the other ones' out there you know whom you are, stp lying,cheating and get with it,if a recruiter lies to get a recruit, fire him,let it be proved and published,maybe" just maybe, you will fill all those trucks with proud drivers and the lot will be empty of all those trucks your trying to pay for with all the lease purchase deals,I for one,know that deal only too well, drivers if their isn't a zero balance at end of lease it isn't what you want,If there is a balloon payment at the end or they say you can get 3200. back its a ploy , beleive me and some of the others here on this site. they sell that same truck over and over again,the guys that are doing great and saying it are used by the company ads,they are making,you have to sell the deal, one ad out there says look at this guy,he is on his 3rd truck thru us,then it states hes been here 4 years, come on'' who's gonna beleive that? not me,not most of us. love all you guys,i got two days off at home and love trucking, getting older tho,62 is coming fast,want to retire then,but money is still good,unless your a dr,nurse,teacher,it sure good most days.

 

EXACTLY!! With persistance & drive u can make it work, driving to my hubby is a vacation, he loves it, says no-bodies looking over his shoulder anymore, he gets to do what he wants , he makes more money , NOW finely.anyways, it just depends on the individual. My husband was a steel forger for 26yrs of his life. he was shot in the legs with red hot pieces of steel, his thumb was cut off, he was hit with a 50 lb piece of steel & could have lost his life! he made 45k a yr. & was going to end up crippled for life with no retirement if he diddnt get out! in the beginning when he first started it was hell, as a new driver in a new state he took everything at face value & listend to the wrong ppl. we almost lost our home, we did loose our car! but he is with a company he likes, everyone knows him by name, they treat him with respect & they listen when he has a problem. you cannot judge the whole industry based a few crappy companies that have screwed ya... alot of drivers out on the road have a very sour out look on everything , not just there current company, so to take there advice on truck driving & IM NOT SAYING YOU ARE! im just saying from experience, there are ppl that are just negative folks about everything & dont try to better there situation! I just hope you & all the drivers out there that are having trouble, keep asking questions, keeping calling companies, learn about driving,the ins & outs of the business & in time you will learn what to utilize & what to toss on the info you collect.. I just thank god for placing nice drivers in our paths to help stear us on the right path. dont be afraid to try.. we are finally doing well & its because we diddnt buckle, we kept trying..all i can say to those that dont like it, do get out, its an aquired lifestyle, you gotta enjoy what you do to want it to work! good luck & god bless!! hope i diddnt bore all you guys & gals with my ramblins

 

here we go again, it all depends on what life you want and how to spend it. I have enjoyed it most of the time. Met alot of good folks out here and have seen the whole country. If I had not run over the road,I probably would not have ever seen the sights I have. It all boils down to what you yourself can live with,some of these companies offer you more a mile,higher pay etc.,you may be required to unload yourself,wait a long time to load or unload or get a big cpm but no miles, like turbo and some of the others have said,do your homework,ask questions on what cpm,how many miles per week,benifits,perdiem, and if you are 95% drop n hook like some companies have. there is alot of things to consider,its not all about the money,your back could be worn out in a couple of years unloading and loading or have an accident that could end your career by working hard and not enough sleep,some of these companies are running you guys like slaves out there and theres no need to do it. good luck,trucking is still a great job,they are raising drivers standards up, and companies aren"t being held responsible when you are worn out and screw up,most of them will blame you,the driver.

 

Hello ALL,

I acquired my class A back in late '98 and have been driving off and on since.
I don't have 8 years experience but closer to maybe four or less, actually more towards the less. Isn't this an Oxymoron: MORE LESS. (yeah, yeah, more OR less, ha, ha)
Anyway back to something here, I've driven coast to coast and pretty much all over in between with exceptions being I've not been to Oregon, Washinton state, North or South Dakota, and somewhere in the "new" england sector.
I've pulled Flatbeds of 45', 48', and Dry vans of 45', 48', 53' both Air-ride and Spring-ride. Spring ride are like the veterans pulled coupled with NO air-ride seats among other fun items before all the new stuff was added. I'm not that old so I was able to drive tractors with air-ride seating.
I once pulled a 48' Reefer for a concessions copmpany stocking movie theatres. That was not fun so I discontinuued the opportunity thru the temp driver leasing or mill outfit.
I have NO PROBLEM with Trucking other than the constant hiring of innefficient and inherently dangerous drivers. WE ARE SEEING THIS NOW what with the increases in Rollovers among the other variables of innattentive driving characteristics, primariily because of hot loads which sit on the receivers dock cooling off.
I used to run dedicated from the Tarheel to westside Detriot twice a week and would've continued longer than 6 months were it not for the dangerous road of Rt. 35 in WV going to/leaving from Ohio. I drove it in the Ice, Snow, Fog, Rain, at Night, in Daylight and for a two lane goat trail it just became less and less fun. Plus there are a LOT OF DEER at times and the oncoming trucks that like to hug the middle line makes for interesting adventures. I've driven on this road as slow as 35(ice) to as fast as 70+(dry, at night), what a rush! There used to be a decent restaurant where now there is a adult toy store. The restaurant/motel burned down some years back for some mysterious reason(s) or so that's all I was told.

Trucking IS A LIFESTYLE and if one cannot conform, one needs NOT be in it!!
There are many aspects of Trucking to consider as there are in many other fields of interest and if one is not to abide by the preset principles and adjustments necessary, one need not be doing anything constructive and certainly NOT be an addition to the many negatives so imbued in Trucking as in other passions/past-times/obligations/enviroments/jobs/positions/etc..
I have the utmost respect for ALL Truckers because YOU are doing what I have done yet YOU are still doing it, so for this I say THANK YOU!!

The monetary compensation: I have been paid at a % of the load, and from $.20 cpm up to $.34 cpm. I have been afforded bonuses when available and have been denied as well.
I have sat/set for two-three days waiting for a load with little compensation and I have sat for a week when out west visiting family at MY expense. I have enjoyed lots of the experiences that I was given and have not enjoyed some aspects of other experiences. One CAN make money in this Profession however one need be a wee bit frugal. There ARE quite many O/O's that have been afforded the ability(ies) to "fix up" their respective "rigs" where some are now show pieces. I think this is neat and a hearty WELL DONE to those of you doing this/having done this!!
For the ones just "looking for a paycheck", please remove yourselves from Trucking for this Profession ain't for you. There are many other fields that you can be in for this as Trucking is one where one needs to apply 110% daily or so I've discovered.
There is a saying relevant to this field: "Find somthing you enjoy doing and it will not seem like work!!" There are quite MANY Truckers that roll by this statement, however there are too many that don't and wanna whine constantly. GROW UP OR GET GONE!!

I don't care for the whiners and complainers that are driving and seemingly NOT enjoying their chosen Profession. I do not understand these people nor do I understand WHY they're even in the Trucking realm at all.
If one doesn't like Trucking, then GET OUT and make room for those that DO like it!!

I have recently quit my last driving gig and am trying to begin a new life inside a warehouse operating forklifts and such. I am tired of the downside of Trucking in that I'm tired of the waiting, waiting, waiting at shippers/receivers WITH AN APPT., and there are others yet WE know what they are, where some aspects are different for everyone.
I'm tired of showers at T/S's and the stale food offerings at the common T/S's. The independent Restaurants are great when there is adequate parking.

I did this to myself in that I would change positions a lot over the years therefore I am pretty much UNemployable in the Trucking arena however I shall KEEP MY CDL for one nevers knows when this may be of use later and it is easier to KEEP a CDL than to RE-ACQUIRE it. I have a clean record with zero points.
I may not like working inside as I have'nt done this since '98 or as much as b4 I got the upgraded license, yet I'm gonna give it ALL I have to maintain the possibility of being hired on Full Time. This is one of them thar Temp to Perm gigs thru a Temp service. They also have local driving gigs, just not presently.

The other alternative to driving is as a Diesel Mechanic as there are wide gaps here as well as the "shortage" of Drivers.
One need merely attend a local Technical School/College as one can and doing this is better when younger. There are 2 and 4 year courses and each year in a course counts as 1/2 years experience according to the instructors. There is also a Certificate course which will give one the basics of this field (of dreams, or screams).

Thank you ALL for your TYm!!
Thank YOU the DRIVERS!!

 

Love those math wizards lets see the President of our great country makes $200,000 a year.Lets break that down,that is $547.94 per day since he works 24/7 that breaks down to $22.83 per hour.WOW these men run our country for 22 bucks an hour.Now lets go to the military where alot of them make $25,000 a year.That comes down to$68.49 per day or $2.85 per hour, and may not get home for a year or two. I'm sure there are some of you that believe the pres. isnt worth that much but that is another thread.

Moral of the story is if you want to go flip burgers for $8.00 an hour go ahead but no burger joint will give you 100 hours a week any way which would mean you would have to get a second full-time job and then a third part-time job,so there goes your over-time theory.


You need to look up the HOS regulations also that will rebutt your 100 hour theory also.

Best of luck at wendys,Mc d's taco bell,or what ever fast food joints you decide to choose for your career.