I need some advice on where to turn

Hello, first post here. I just graduated college with a Diesel Technology degree in December 2011. I found out going to school that I would be much happier to keep mechanics as a hobby instead of as a career. Long story short I decided to go get my own D.O.T physical and my tests to get a class A learners permit. I paid for this out of my own pocket.

My goal is to be an owner operator. I would love to just start my career as an O/O but how do you do it? Is it better to go work for a company first? I was going to go to the truck driving school at watkins shepard in Missoula, MT but come to find out they cancelled their school almost two years ago. I am 24 years old living in Montana. Can anyone steer me in the right direction so I can get my career moving?

 

Not sure if you should have spent the money on your own as a company would have paid for it. If you do not have driving experiance, you will still have to go through some sort of training program. If you have the money to by your own truck, i would say first time out at being a owner operator i would check out a company called MidWest Coast Transport they are in i believe Sioux Falls South Dakota i hear there pay is not the greatest but it will get you started, they have some sort of training program you might have to take if you have no experiance driving. I know that a company called America's Service Line in Green Bay will take first time O/O but if you do not have driving experiance they might not look at you. Google Both company's and get some info. Good luck to ya.

 

Personally, I would get some driving experience with a company, before I dove in headfirst to be an O/O. Maybe someplace where they have both company drivers, and O/O's.

 

Absolutely ! Drive "their" truck for a few years and learn before you hang the anchor of a note around your neck.

 

get some business operating and financial experience too.

As an o/o, your "easy" job is driving the truck.

 

I agree..don't buy a truck straight out..keep the goal but go at least a year as company driver.

First owner ops pay their own insurance, their own fuel, their own permits in some cases..most good copanys that allow owner ops to lease on wo't hire a rookie..those good companies pay permits and fuel surcharge to help with fuel but it still doesn't cover full amount..learn to work the business side of things as a company driver so you don't end up losing your tail financially..run your company truck as you would an your own so you get an idea of how the expenses are going to work..this includes cost of maint, fuel, permits, etc so you aren't going into it blindly..

Petey

 

Do NOT get your CDL training from a company sponsored school if you can help it. Find a community college program or private school and get your CDL before applying for driving jobs. If you attend a company sponsored school, you will be locked in to an 8 to 24 month contract which typically means that you must work for that same company at whatever rate they decide to pay you until the contract term is completed. If you leave before the contract is up, that will leave you owing up to $8000 to the company to pay for your schooling, plus it will make you unemployable at any other company that subscribes to the HireRight service (formerly DAC).

 

Without further info on your accident we an only give general suggestions, Accidents hurt bad when it comes to driving OTR...companies don't like to see risk taking habits show up from the dmv

The other replies pretty much outline your options...Don't try to hide the accident..

Other companies you ca try:

JB Hunt
US Express
Knight
Central Refrig
Stevens

Understand though..even with your own cdl they are going to make you go through their training course with no school certificate and you will have to go out with a trainer. Fully explain the accident on the applications...what happened and why.

Petey

 

What accident

???????

 

I have a clean accident record. Never been pulled over even. So it would be better for me to go to a private driving school and then find a company I would like to work for? The only driving school near me is SAGE trucking school. Are they any good?