Help a trucker wannabe out!

Hi ORG- good for you!!!-you certainly have done your research on this and asked alot of questions. Sorry can't help you on schools- a bit out of my area since I'm in NY- just remember basically CDL school is there to train you to pass your CDL A-you will learn to drive once you start at a company.

 

I'm not going to try to talk you out of any career moves but only give you what I found is necessary to survive. I believe you're looking at unrealistic expectations. There's just too many drivers out there that will settle for less pay and the companies know this. I just went through the Fleet Directory for your state and looked at alot of companies. I found only one that would take a recent graduate. I looked at more than 50% of the companies listed. I will say that the one I found was Carlisle and it was questionable on how they listed experience. They pay 36¢ and 37¢ a mile with hazmat. It did look like a decent company but you can never tell by looking at an advertisement. It's like the equipment operator telling me he makes $45 an hour and I would just say lets see your W-2 form and how much you made for the year.

What I believe you need to do is take your good attitude and put it to use. You've got to search out the better companies differently than everyone else. Go back to that Fleet Directory and any other lists you can find then download the companies that fits your needs. Keep all the companies regardless of experience requirements. Get the address and go out and see them. Let them know you are really interested in working for their company. If you have a resume, even better. If they are dead set on the experience requirement ask them what it will take so you can become part of their team. Sometimes they know of companies that will hire you and that will be another hit on your list. Some will say it's an insurance thing and alot of times it's not. There are many large companies that are self-insured. You'll find that companies that lists a requirement for 1 or 2 years experience have alot better pay package than the companies that constantly advertise. My personal experience recommends finding a company that hauls it's own product. They do not depend on anyone else for the loads.

But the biggest item you'll need is cash. If you go into this career with a dependency of money to live on chances are you won't make it. You need at least 6 months of present income stashed away to keep your household going. Can you imagine the pressure your wife or family might have if there's no income and all the bills are due and you're stuck way across the country not moving. It happens all the time.

Your goals can be achieved but I believe you'll go through some sacrifices to get there. You're going to have to work at it harder so you'll be remember by companies you want to work for. I also believe that you should expect not to make alot of money the first year. If it happens great, but if it doesn't then you're prepared. Very few on this board have walk in a job from school and made the money that the companies advertised they would.

My last note would be to go to the community college that you listed so you're free to work where you want to. Good luck and go after it.

 

Did I make it in time? Take a hammer and when you hear the word "truck" hit yourself in the #####. Talking to people about economics and supply and demand does not seem to work so I am trying a different tactic.

 

But if you can make it for a year and come out with a clean record there's many more doors that open. Some guys go into trucking and need a paycheck the first week on the job. They'll get it but it might be $150 to $200 range. Hardly working for. You just have to look at the first year is to gain experience. I ended up making great money and was home every night but it took alot of crap to get there. However, I had backup income and had alot of fun along the way.

 

ORG your going to hear a lot of negative talk about this business. just take it with a grain of salt. some get into this industry looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. we all know that this is a life style, not a get rich quick job.