I Passed my CDL A Road Test, Starting with Crete/Shaffer on Monday. Needing Advice

A truckers atlas if you don't already have one for sure. Other things that you may want to consider are..CB radio, Satellite Radio, GPS unit (do not trust!!! always plan your routes with your atlas), Portable stove aka lunchbox oven, cooler, power inverter, coffee pot, Bluetooth headset, small tv, dvd player, laptop, and a smartphone. Granted there is much more, but these are the things I never leave home without.

 

Are you going to drive for Crete or Shaffer.. I'm an ex Shaffer driver... left a week ago.

Anyway I came in with less than 1 year experience and they tossed me with a trainer for a month.
Remember to bring bed sheets, a blanket and pillows along.
Plus ear plugs will help!

What's the starting pay for noobs these days?
I know after a year it's .45 and .48

 

I cannot leave home without my laptop. I don't bother with a wireless card anymore, easy to tether to my phone, or use a phone with a hotspot. It is my only entertainment on the road, so I look at the cost that way. It surfs the web, plays games, pulls up weather, gets me information, sat photos of many shippers/ receivers via google earth. And so much more. Yea, I pay a little extra for my date plan, but it is worth the cost for all it is used for.
This is not even getting into how useful it is if you have a family. So you can Skype and see them every day or two. One of the reasons that many prospective drivers do not last their first year is not being able to deal with the time alone on the road. You need a support net. This site helps with that too, when you get some friends here.

 

holy ^&$*%($*) .50 after 6 months?

You must be going on their Northeast regional account right?

I left to move on to better things.. I can't complain about Shaffer, the money was better than others comparably

 

I was looking at shaffer as my next company too. Does the 2500 a mile a week guarantee apply to everyone or just you? That's Damon good deal....sounds too good to be true

 

That does sound too good to be true.
Website says pay is .48 CPM for 1 year experience on the national fleet.

Who did you sleep with to get .50 CPM at 6 months?
Knowing Crete you can bet your butt it was recorded