Graduation in a week - still unsure of what direction to head in

@Mike2633 totally. I probably/likely annoy my instructors when asking how RLSLR applies to real life offset parking and they tell me to shut my piehole and pass my CDL examination. I’m not worried at all about passing the exam, I’ll nail it - but the real life parking has me worried.
Thank you for both the no frills explanation and the video.
Good to know companies will teach/show/force me how to figure out how to get into a rough spot. I’m not so delusional to think I’m coming out of school with anything but a fancy license.
I learn decently under pressure so I am glad to hear how it really is. Insta-pressure!
So do you think I’d serve my needs better by doing a mega short term for the ‘real’ training?

 

Don't get sucked into OTR, it sucks. Only proves to a company that you don't care about being home, will work maximum hours for peanuts, and will take whatever BS they feed you and gladly say "Thank you sir, may I have another"

Like stated plenty of food service companies, even some LTL are hiring student grads. Since you stated you already have a home, no sense in going OTR. It's basically for people who are homeless, or can't get along with the significant other.

Never understood the obsession of "OTR Lifestyle" living in a box, paying for a house you don't really live in, supporting a wife/girlfriend who enjoys all this money, free place to live, and is probably getting a piece strange while you're out.

 

After careful thought, you would probably not be going OTR more than two years at most. If you are able to stick with ONE EMPLOYER that long, you will write a golden ticket in terms of hireability else where.

Schooling is just enough to know how to drive a truck around the block and get your CDL. Plus the other endorsements etc (And the TWIC and so on) You say your record is clean, so Canada is a option for you which will make you a valuable asset be sure to have a passport)

Make sure you are getting the Enhanced CDL, meaning a gold star is applied to it to comply with the Real ID Act of 2020 that is coming on fast. It's essentially means that you can still go into military bases, board domestic flights and so on. Without that gold start after 2020 you will see two classes of people in the USA those who can and those who cannot and are excluded from flying etc)

You can make whatever they pay you. It is far better to consider it from the opposite direction, your expenses. How much do you need to eat on and drink on to take care of yourself fueling your body and keeping yourself strong for the load you are on.

Example. St Louis to Baltimore. It pays 1000 miles maybe roughly. If you are paid .40 a mile for that load to deliver into Baltimore in three days time, you know your payroll gross will be 400 dollars take away 40% for taxes etc you have 340 left. Since you are working three days, call it 120 dollars to spend. The 220 that's left goes into your savings. TO STAY THERE UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED with trucking. Eventually you will have a pile of savings when you are done in about two years or so. A NICE pile.

You also are in a dangerous time with that nice new shiny CDL. There is so much to learn and so much to develop in terms of "Battle Thinking" versus all the other stupid cars on the highway among other some dumb truckers if not also drugged ones... to avoid accidents, incidents, breaking stuff and so on. Eventually you will have your spurs and get the skills needed to thrive in this industry but always be prepared to get yourself home from anywhere in the USA at any time should someone fire you for something. (That is where that savings come in...)

I am not a negative person, but I tend to examine a situation from a sort of a devils Advocate position. What can I do to dance on the details and screw it all up? If there is a problem I see coming, I can fix it. Hopefully. I hate surprises as those are a REAL problem.

Also... the industry has changed so much since 9-11 and not for the better. A grouchy old cookie monster like me wants to be left alone because I will be in Neverland at 8am next monday without fail. Don't bother me. YOU on the other hand, you will be monitored. Micromanaged and in general bossed all the way to Neverland by a bunch of people who have probably never touched a semi truck. Follow me so far?

The computers in that truck are good yes, but they are NOT for YOU. They are FOR enforcement should you start to get lazy, sleepy, tired, running late etc etc etc. All of them work against you at that point.

 

I just finished school end of last year. Recent road test I did for a food service consisted of going into a tight entry with a sleeper and 53 and doing a dock.

Take your time with every move, especially turns. If people are yelling at you to speed up, try another company.

There's an LTL forum here, great people on there and lots of useful info.

If you want to be active, LTL P&D might be perfect. Fedex Freight, UPS Freight, Estes, etc. Any company that you see pulling double pups. ODFL won't hire with less than 180 hours, just because.

 

@IluvCATS - sincerely, thank you for your reassurance. I tend to overthink and worry about everything - it’s good to hear that.

 

Thank you @brian991219 I’ve been buying into the OTR hype reading the local want ads and on the forum. I’d really rather not do it unless necessary, and then I will - I prefer to keep a stable work history on record and not bother with OTR unless paying my dues is really deemed necessary.
I am glad to hear it’s not. However, I’ve always wanted to do this, and if backed into a corner I would reluctantly OTR. I’m so glad to hear it’s not necessary.
I was thinking the same re choices, food service or waste management suits my needs perfectly. I get the idea that my instructors view that as a less than glamorous job (most are former OTR) but whatever works for me, yea?

 

Nahh you don't need to go to a Mega carrier I never worked for one and you don't either. If you work for a beer distributor you will parallel park a lot however out side of that job you don't really use that maneuver to to much. Will offset back a bit and ally dock a good amount that's all true.

Any food company like Sygma if you can pass there physical examination which I'm sure you can will probably hire you any of the local companies I would put in for because one of them should bite I would think.

 

@Coover - thank you for your opinion, time and input as well!
I find myself debating with fellow students while sitting in a cab for our drives about the merits of OTR as we pass gallon jugs of pee on the side of the ramps. Lol. It’s always a losing debate on my end.
I just don’t get it and don’t want to do it unless it’s necessary for continuing education.

 

@x1Heavy - thank you. I have read many, many, many of your posts over the months with great interest. You are a plethora of words and wisdom.

I do want that golden ticket - the proverbial brass ring - steady employment and thus am aiming for that with my first employer. I do have my passport and the TWIC card is in the works.

Replenishing my savings during my career is the name of the game. I don’t have an expensive lifestyle and am looking to stockpile what I can while receiving benefits I didn’t being self employed married to someone who provided those benefits to me. The cost of healthcare is prohibitive to a small business owner, I’ve always wanted to do this, and there’s no time like the present.

I’m a big believer in savings, like you, and yes - no one can save me but myself.

While I understand it isn’t the ideal time to do this, in terms of the industry changing, it’s the ideal time for me.

 

@speedyk - I’m totally worried about those backing tests as my school doesn’t really prepare us for that. Just enough to pass the test (seriously, I look for a handgrip to match up with a logo on the trailer, it’s really not useful for real backing). How did you gain the experience?
I definitely take my time and sass the school instructor when he tries to rush me. It’s all in good natured fun though. Rushing through means I end up opposite of where I intended.

Did you start off LTL or do your time OTR?

Estes is on my radar as well, as the pay matches up with what I’d like.

I’d really like the job to not only be driving but physical as well, it seems that Estes, FedEx, Sygma, etc would be along the lines of what would work with me.