HELP!! Anyone who knows this business!

First off,let me say i love all of u guys,i always wanted to drive trucks,but found out im a slow learner and cant read or spell that good.i want to try,really try.my lil girl told last week if she can give it her all in the 4th grad so can i..she made me cry.so i want to ask u guys what all I need to know to pass the automatic truck driving test...marquessktate1975@gmail.com

 

Lot of good companies mentioned. Definitely check out Abilene. I worked there years ago. Good people good equipment. Have a family friend who is still there as an O/O. He loves it. And my money was always right. They won't starve you. And Good luck!

 

As for buying in bulk, I don't. Instead I try to shop at Walmart at least once or twice a week.

Some Walmarts are not truck friendly at all. Others have diagonal pull through parking.

If I am planning to shop I take time to scout my route on Google Satellite View and pick a Walmart that looks easy to get in and out and that will be about where I want to take a thirty minute break. I use my thirty to shop, take a shower, take a walk, or take a nap.

 

DONT.

 

Be a company driver with a decent company for now. Do the lease/purchase thing after you're out of debt and don't need big paychecks. Greatwide is the only company I'm familiar with that has a decent owner-operator program. As for company drivers, Magnum Ltd. drivers don't have any problem making $1000 to $1500 weekly.

 

There is no real big secret.

First off, usually there is a trailer lock with your tractor, you also probably have a card with you that says the tractor is personal conveyance permitted by the company. You can bobtail to any store not within walking distance and park in a parking spot, usually in the farthest corner away from everyone else and go shop your food. Don't be long. Some stores will try and tow.

There are certain in my time stores like the walmart super center in Larimae WY off 80 where wife and I used to purchase 6 weeks worth of everything that is a one time stop and it's good for at least 6 weeks before we need food and fluids again. It helps to have a cooler and cooking stuff for it.

Bulk I mean a case of drinking water, 24 bottles go under your bunk. It helps protect you against travelers problems in your gut with bad water as you roam the USA. Some is kept aside at all times especially in winter so you can metobalize and stay warmer.

Food items in bulk, we used to buy the so called ranch bacon in a box, throw that into the cooler which is close to freezing and eat on that many days until it's gone. But it wont keep. More economical when two people are involved.

Coffee pot driven by a inverter, no more 2.00 coffee in the truckstop and you can purchase a pound of folgers or whatever and it's going to come out to .20 a cup provided you have good water by the case to support that habit.

Certain recipes are on these forums for cooking in 12 volt dutch ovens. I usually had a solid black forest ham, about several pounds at a time, chopped up, small onions, taters, also small and such that will fit into a dutch oven, let cook all day eat at the end of your 600 miles. Especially if you know you are going somewhere without truckstops.

Finally but not least. Budget your money like a business. If you are getting a thousand mile run good for three days, it's 20 dollars to eat on, rest of the money goes into savings cash. It should at some point help you put away a minimum of your 100 dollars per week left over from 300 income net after taxes. At end of this month you will have 400 saved, second month 800 saved and third month 1200. That way there is always money on hand in case your miles turn to nothing in this industry for the holidays or some such. Eventually you will have a real amount of money being saved. Over time as in a few years you will be in a position to start making life decisions.

It's difficult but not impossible. Remember you can do very well with a hearty breakfast sandwitch and coffee or some such fluids in the morning and something later in the day. You don't need to eat much unless you start lumping freight or trying to stay warm this coming winter. It's about the calories total eaten versus what you need. If you are gaining weight, then cut back. Or work harder. lol.

I can go on and on but I think that's enough. Sometimes when I am in the dutch country, pulling into a diner parking around back, they tend to pile em on the plate. At that point you set aside a box to take out later and finish it tonight or tomorrow that way you don't go hungry. Keep an eye out. Where other big trucks are parking which is not a truckstop, it's either a bar, strip joint or a food source of some kind. You probably are banking on the food more than anything.