Help a trucker wannabe out!

Thanks for the information. I'll keep that in mind. Does hauling tankers involve OTR, or would that be more localized?

 

Just an update for those who are watching this thread:

• Today I plan to get my permit. I have a feeling there will be some things I need to address which may delay me getting my permit for a couple of days, but we'll see.
• I have a physical scheduled for next Thursday.
• I start my truck driving school on June 21st.
• I'll be sure to provide some updates on how the school is, and what's going on with me during this process.
• The school will take 6 weeks. Apparently any school that is PTDI certified requires at least 6 weeks (at least from what I could find of all of the schools in PA).
• The cost of the school is $4k.
• I considered TDI for school, but it was $5k and while the course was only 3 weeks, it was not PTDI certified. I want to make sure I'm getting the correct training I need, since I have never driven a truck in my life.

If anybody has questions I haven't covered, please let me know.

 

Sammycat,

Are you able to provide more detail on what happened with your husband and his dispatcher? If you can't, I completely understand.

 

Sammycat,

Sounds good, thanks!

 

Just a bit of an update:

So I decided to really see for myself the way the truck industry is, and what I'll encounter after I become a trucker myself. So I went to the closest truck stop to where I live, which is on Rt. 80 Exit 4 in Columbia, NJ.

It's a TA truckstop and the building looks somewhat small from the outside, but when I went in it was a lot larger then I thought. There was also some sort of motel attached to it, but it didn't have a name, so I would assume it was a TA motel.

Looking around the store, I found some interesting things.

• They had food that could be heated on its own in 3 minutes, but cost $5.99 to purchase.
• Those Chef Borardee cans cost $2.50 each which is ridiculous.
• They did have a shower facilities, but I didn't have the opportunity to really check it out, and certainly didn't want to spend $10 for a shower I didn't need in the first place.
• They sold used DVDs for $10 each, which is actually a pretty reasonable price for some of them.
• There were a couple of girls in their early 20's walking around who had to be "Lot Lizards". I wasn't really expecting to encounter that, I was expecting this type of thing to be the exception, not the rule.
• There was a Country Pride restaurant. I didn't try it out, but it seemed pretty nice, and included a nice salad bar with the purchase of a meal. I'm not a picky eater by any means, so I can enjoy food that others would consider gross. On the other hand, I love good food, so I'll treat myself on occassion to a nice steak that cost $25 plus.

I then decided to look at one more truck stop, so I went down Rt. 80 West and came to (I believe) exit 258 which was a Pilot truck stop. This was a pretty small truck stop with a Subway fastfood joint, and a store. Just as overpriced as the other place. I'll definitely be getting my food from Walmart, and Aldi's (when one is around).

Both of the truck stops seemed to be fairly clean. I happened to be able to see into some of the rooms in the TA hotel, and they seemed clean, but certainly not pleasant to stay in. I would imagine an occassional stay to take a shower, and have some room to lounge around in will be nice every now and then. Otherwise, I would plan to sleep in my truck.

 

That's a lot of home time, and far more then I get now. Goes to show that after I gain some experience, I'll be able to exercise some options. The first year or two will be challenging, but I suppose I'm expecting that.