Husband and wife are empty nesters…what next we ask?

You are smart in figuring everything out, but I am wondering and some of the others here may be able to pipe in as well, I'm not sure "The Friend" is going to be able to teach you enough to get a CDL so you ca get on a truck with a trainer, Most companies need some type of a certificate so that their insurance can see that you at least know the basics? I know it would be great if they would take the training into consideration but I'm not sure they will. Good Luck. Back to my perch in the back of the sports Bar to watch my Football Team!!

 

Right exactly! Do you know where you are going to go? May I suggest that you go to a CDL accredited School, Some employers don't accept any other school, as well as you will need a min. of 160 hours of training.

 

If you get a CDL and have three months experience, then mega carriers will hire you without having a school certificate of graduation. However, you'll have to complete the full company training program.

I jusf got back into trucking this year after 30 years away. Our kids are away. My wife just joined me this last week as a rider (she refuses to entertain the idea of driving a big rig) and we just love camping and getting paid. We are visiting friends and family this weekend and look forward to finding out what part of the country we get to see next week.

 

I posted this on another teaming newbie wannabe thread. I think I could add some more too it.. but this gives you and idea of what to do or what you're up against.. especially coming from real jobs in the real world.

OK, lets try a little homework then. I would like everyone to try this before they get into any training school as an attempted team. If you are in a home with an actual laundry room with doors on it. You will need a TV or monitor and a game console with ANY of the driving / racing simulators preferably one that you can get into a mode where you drive one of the longer tracks for hours at a time (some have 24 hour races). Pick a slow stock type care with no mods. Get a fairly comfortable office chair that is on a pedestal. The monitor or TV goes on the dryer and the chair in front of both. The driver is to stay behind the wheel for a set period of time, say 5 hours. The “driver” is responsible for keeping the “engine” / dryer going at all times they are “driving”. For good sound effects put a couple of tennis shoes in the dryer and run it on tumble so it won’t get too hot. While the driver drives, the other team member will need a cot or a futon that will fit in the laundry room and will be directly behind the driver and “rest” while the drier tumbles and the game is being played for the entire five hours.. if the driver has to use the bathroom, you have to stop the game and the dryer, leave the laundry room go outside and walk at least 100 yards then they can come in and use the restroom. Meals will be a bit of a change too. You cannot prepare anyfood in the kitchen (ie real food). Others may cook for you if you can get them to play, but one or both of you would be eating together and the same rule of going outside and walking 75 – 100 yards before sitting at the table and eating the meal. You CAN prepare snacks and sandwiches and other truck friendly foods as the truck moves down the road. Showers can only be taken on the second day. 5 hour shifts of driving and resting should be a good thing to try.. but you must be in the room or the “miles do not count. You should try this for an entire weekend. At the end of this period of time you may get some of the flavor of what life is like as a team driver. I could add even more rules and have even more fun with this, but I think this ought to be a part of trucking schools.. they ought to have truck cabs that the students live in for the entire school and a shower and café or walking distance to a fast food joint.

 

Perhaps trucking is a "step down" if you think about it as giving up a home life. However, if you like backpacking or car camping in a tent... then it is a step up. Think of what you have as opposed to what you lost and the outlook is a lot brighter. Most trucks I've driven have been noisy and fairly rough rides. The Cascadia I'm in now is comfortable and quiet. My wife is enjoying the ride, the scenery, and the chance to converse throughout the day. Since we aren't team driving, we sleep in a motionless truck... that makes a big difference.

 

I am not a team driver, but would like to point out that if you are team, then you are expected to drive shifts, meaning very little time that you actually spend together. While one is driving, the other is resting. Also, teams are held to much tighter deadlines than solo drivers allowing less time for breaks, meals, ect. The actual teams would be able to give you a better idea but from teams drivers I have met and the few that work with us I get that impression. Please don't mistake me, I am not trying to tell you this is a bad idea, just want to mention a part of teaming that would concern me. That said, I give all the credit in the world to teams since I find it impossible to sleep while a truck is moving. An idea to consider would be running solo together, not as much money by any means, but more actual time spent together. Good luck with however you decide, driving for a living is tough but also can be quite fulfilling, not to mention that truck drivers are the glue that holds the American economy together, without us, it all falls apart and I get a good feeling being part of that.
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My wife attended that school.

She had never driven a standard shift, let alone a truck.

Upon graduating the course, she needed no further training, as she was totally capable of driving on her own.

She took the road test in a tanker, and was also trained with a dry van.

Good school choice, in my opinion. And very inexpensive.

Good Luck!