I want to become a trucker but I'm confused about schooling.

You guys are putting a little too much faith in what the recruiters have to say and the big company propaganda. Which I understand, it is going to take some time once you get out there to learn all these things. When you hear things like "No forced dispatch" or "no NYC" this means they will still tell you to go there and when you refuse they won't fire you, they will starve you until you quit! You will be a company driver and there is no such thing as telling your dispatcher you don't want to do something or won't go to a particular place. If you ever find yourself saying that, start packing your bags and be looking for other employment immediately! YOU NEVER, EVER, EVER, TELL YOUR DISPATCHER NO!!! Any discrepancy in these words would only come from a driver who has no clue what's going on. The way you make money in this industry is to take every single little thing your dispatcher asks you with a smile whether you like it or not!

So to sum it up, this is just propaganda to get you to orientation. The recruiters know that you guys don't know any better and will believe this to be true.

Windy Hill may not be a coast to coast company but I can assure that you will literally do more than twice the mileage a week then if you were driving for Swift, Millis, Roehl. Windy Hill runs hard. My cousin drove for them straight out of school and made very, very good money! I can tell you this for certain, they aren't going to babysit you like Swift and the others. They are a real trucking company and aren't in business to just recycle fresh meat for cheap labor! With that being said, be prepared to hit the ground running! Your time out with a trainer is going to be significantly shorter also, so if you are a slow learner or don't do well in school then maybe opt for one of the "meat recyclers".

Watkins Shepard has no training at all! Though I don't recommend this, especially this time of year. There are a few drivers on this forum that run for them and do very well. They are like Windy Hill in that they are a real trucking company and aren't going to hold your hand. I would actually highly advise that you have some sort of trucking background or prehand knowledge of the industry if you are considering them.

To all of you new folks to trucking..... I can't stress enough how much more money and how much more successful you will be if you stay away from those mega-carriers! Especially the top 5; England, Swift, Werner, CRST and its probably a tie for the last. These companies make money off you guys! The more new drivers they can hire and the more often they can turn them over, then the less they have to pay to move freight! Those that offer the lease programs make even more money off of you!

How many companies in this world do you know of that spend millions of dollars in advertising to get YOU to work for THEM?!?!?!

I don't want to make them out to sound evil, this is just their mode of operation.

The absolute key to your success out there is going to lie in your dispatchers hands. This is reason number one to avoid the big guys! At the mega-carriers their dispatchers are responsible for over a hundred drivers. Thus making you a number. You will be issued your load according to where you are and what they need done. If you argue with them, give them problems, are difficult, don't get along, ask for home time all the time, etc... you will be put to the side and starved until you quit!

The difference with a smaller company is that your dispatcher will be in charge of a handful of drivers. They will know you and all your family members! You guys will build a personal relationship and work together to get things accomplished and make each other money. If you have a problem they are going to do their utmost to help you solve it. You will actually be more of a partnership. You will do them favors and they will do you favors.

Smaller companies are also much more lenient. Smaller companies aren't going to tell you to not idle. Smaller companies aren't going to give you a hard time if something were to pop up and you needed to get home. Smaller companies don't babysit you, you are the captain of the ship and are in charge of getting the freight to where it needs to go. You aren't going to be told which way to go to get there. There will be days that go by in which you don't even talk to the office folks. Smaller companies don't advertise for employment. Their drivers are happier driving for them so their turnover rate is null. A smaller company is going to pay you for what you do. Not an average of what you do. A lot of them pay percentage.

Anyway, I could go on and on but this is the gist of it guys. Just trying to give you an experienced drivers perspective so you aren't going into this blindly. Sometimes when I read posts from you new guys I can really tell exactly what is your words and what is the recruiters words. My words are just a guide meant to help you sort out the fact and fiction. Do what you will with it. No matter what, don't base your career decision on somebody else's opinion or experience. If you truly believe a certain company is right for you then go for it. It is only you that knows your needs and what you have to do to survive in this world and it will be you that drives that truck down the road everyday.

Good luck guys, "pm" me if you have any questions, I'll be more than glad to help out...

 

What chompi says makes sense when you stop to think about it: for almost any industry. Preachers get small struggling churches to begin with. Dr's get to work New Years, Christmas, and weekends. Building materials: the new hires get to unload the fiberglass insulation trucks in August when it's 100 degrees plus. When we walk in the door, it's gonna take some time to build some credibility for doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

Been around a long time and the trucking industry is, from my admittedly 'newbi' point of view, no different from most others.

What amazes me is the number of students at the school I went to who expected 40 hours/week, no nites, no weekends, holidays off, and 50 k/yr starting day one; and that was after 10 weeks when they still hadn't learned how to back a 53' trailer w/o chasing it all over the range. Basically, they felt that someone owed them a job.

Face it, when we're rookies, any company is taking a big leap of faith to hand us the keys to a vehicle that, with cargo, can be worth a half million dollars or more. We're going to have to pay our dues.

For me . . . and only for me . . . it's clear that I'm going to begin at a 'starter' company, get some safe miles and time under my belt, and, then, go looking for something that fits me and my family. But that's no different than when I started working in '65.

So, from this old fossil, just be happy that we're heading into something where there actually are jobs. The average college graduate does not have a job in their career field when their done with school.

To everyone who is contributing: THANKS!! Your helping this 'newbi' learn a lot. Happy Christmas all!

 

Life is fortunately a very patient teacher, and life will educate those who do feel like the above, otherwise.

 

Ya it's CRS

You get your permit and CDL right there at the school. Once you get your CDL through the school then you go out with a trainer. The pay is a little diff now that when I went through a yr and a half ago. They used to pay like 450 or 5oo a week now I think it changes each week you are there in training.

You get .28 a mile starting solo (or at least you used to) then bumps to 30 at 6 months or so. They do some per diem pay thing where you supposedly get more than you would if you were fully taxed.

The program for vets over there is great as you don't have to make monthly payments and you are paid in full with nothing owed at one yr.

 

millis had paid training. the academy to get your cdl(3 weeks( is not paid but when you go with trainer it is paid. check out their website...www.millistransfer.com i think it is 500 for 2 weeks and then goes up by 50 per week until max out at 700 starting week 6.

i plan on applying there after the first of the year. heard real good stuff and they are close for me.

 

Ya...I talked about central on here and there is a TON of stuff on this website about all the companies you have mentioned. Just do a search and you will find page after page after pae of stuff on central refrigerated...I and many others had a VERY positive exp there

 

Revdup your part way there... yes you have to pay your dues and I guess take the proverbial licks and what not but I am trying to really stress to you guys that you don't have to go with these starter companies. Yes, they make it way easier but when has easy ever been worth it? From now till after training keep in the back of your mind that these recruiters are making money off of you. They aren't there to help you succeed or be your friend, they are just like car salesman except they aren't obligated to tell you the truth. All they have to do is get you to show up for at least an hour worth of orientation and they get paid, even if you go home the first day. So they are going to say whatever it takes to get you there and since nothing is in writing they will promise you the world! Then once you discover the truth you have two options, quit or just keep going because you now have an expensive school bill to pay off. These mega-carriers are making money hand over fist off you new guys! They are hauling freight at an absolute slave labor rate. Their reason for justification is that you guys are in training and are new! They don't want to succeed, they don't want you to even make it past your 90 days, then they have to pay you insurance!

You guys being of the new status are perfectly capable of getting a great driving job right out of school! It just takes more effort and you must also take the blinders off and ignore the recruiters. Even the fine folk at your school are getting kick back for sending you to these mega-carriers, so don't ask them for other recommendations. I'm telling its so possible to get a good job right off the bat. Its going to take some research and effort on your part though. There are over 500,000 trucking companies in the US! I also urge you guys to think outside the box. You don't have to necessarily haul the basic freight. There are many, many unique driving jobs out there. From Nascar, to hauling exotic animals and cars, military, sporting events, concerts, motorcycles etc.. the list is long! Think outside the box!

Another thing to keep in mind is that the good jobs are harder to find because the don't advertise. They don't have too! Their drivers are happy so their turnover rate is null!

Go to a truck stop! Go to a rest stop! Anywhere there are big trucks and starting writing down names of companies. Maybe even talk to some drivers out there. This website is one of the best but there are also many others that can give you some good leads. OOIDA, hanks truck picts, craigslist etc... Also here is another really good link to find the smaller companies:

http://www.truckdrivercentral.com/truckingcompanies.html

Make a list of your wants and needs and get to it! Start combing the internet and all other avenues. Once you have narrowed your search down to a couple dozen or so then start calling those companies and get the finer details. Maybe even have a list of questions prepared ahead of time to ask them. Make sure to have a good resume prepared. This will help separate you from the other thousands of drivers who call every day!