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Is this job for me?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Nola 32/65, Sep 5, 2014.

Page 2 of 2
  1. Sep 5, 2014 #11
    Nola 32/65

    Nola 32/65 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 3, 2014
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    [QUOTE="semi" retired;4224050]Hi Nola, if you ask me, you are kind of starting out on the wrong foot. I'm not saying it can't be done, but sounds like you are asking a lot out of the trucking gig. A common mistake people make, is they talk to a recruiter, and it's all sunshine and smiles, but in reality, it takes a few years to know the ins and outs of trucking, and a huge % of new people quit within the 1st year.There is so much the school doesn't tell you. Talk to some people that tried it and quit to get an accurate view.[/QUOTE]
    Thanks for the input. I'll be honest though, I haven't talked to a recruiter about this yet. I come from a military family and I know how much 90% of recruiters out there BS you. I went to join the USMC when I was 18 and coming from the family I did with both of my parents serving I knew a lot more then your avg 18yr old but every recruiter I talked to pretty much promised me things that I knew he had no control over and wouldn't work out. I couldn't pass the physical at the time because of a prior ACL injury that hadn't healed correctly that I've since had fixed. My older brother drove trucks locally (he was lucky and found a company that hired him with 0 experience) and I've talked to him about it a lot. Trust me, i'm not expecting everything to be sunshine and roses, maybe over cast and daisies though lol.
     
    Nola 32/65, Sep 5, 2014
    Nola 32/65, Sep 5, 2014
    #11
    tinytim and "semi" retired Thank this.
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  3. Sep 5, 2014 #12
    KW10001

    KW10001 Light Load Member

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    Sep 29, 2010
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    ignore....
     
    KW10001, Sep 5, 2014
    KW10001, Sep 5, 2014
    #12
  4. Sep 6, 2014 #13
    McCauley

    McCauley Medium Load Member

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    Jun 23, 2013
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    To answer one of your actual questions, from first arriving in Missouri to begin training with Prime, it seems to be 3-4 months before you are solo in your own truck. You spend a week in classroom training before driving with an instructor while you have your permit. The people currently blogging about their experiences with Prime seem to be finishing this period and obtaining their CDL about 4-6 weeks from when they originally arrived in Missouri.

    At that point, they go out with a trainer to complete 30k team miles. Probably 2 months, plus or minus, on this.
     
    McCauley, Sep 6, 2014
    McCauley, Sep 6, 2014
    #13
    Nola 32/65 Thanks this.
  5. Sep 6, 2014 #14
    Germangirl

    Germangirl Light Load Member

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    Apr 8, 2010
    All over
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    Hi Nola, how does your fiancee feel about you being gone all the time? Should you go OTR, like most new drivers to earn experience at least for a while, you will have to make enough $$ to be able to go home and see her sometimes. That can be difficult, in particular the first 1, 2 years... many drivers literally cannot afford to go home as they would want to... relationships can slip away when you stay out working all the time...
     
    Germangirl, Sep 6, 2014
    Germangirl, Sep 6, 2014
    #14
    "semi" retired Thanks this.
  7. Sep 6, 2014 #15
    201

    201 Road Train Member

    12,334
    25,215
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Hi Gg, boy, ain't that the truth. Matter of fact, I was thinking of starting a new thread entitled, " How many marriages( or relationships) were ruined by trucking?" I know it cooked mine, and I was a local driver, but the hours is what killed it. I usually had to get up at midnight, which meant I'd have to go to sleep right after supper, so I missed out on all the evening, family activities.
     
    201, Sep 6, 2014
    201, Sep 6, 2014
    #15
  8. Sep 6, 2014 #16
    j.r.1981

    j.r.1981 Light Load Member

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    Aug 22, 2012
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    That would be an interesting thread. I bet you would get a lot of good stories out of that one.
     
    j.r.1981, Sep 6, 2014
    j.r.1981, Sep 6, 2014
    #16
    "semi" retired Thanks this.
  9. Sep 6, 2014 #17
    Nola 32/65

    Nola 32/65 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 3, 2014
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    That's a great point you make. My fiancé is a full time RN (nurse) so she works 3-4 days a week 12-14 hours a day as is plus she works at a second hospital 1 day a week so she is pretty busy herself. Her still living at home helps a lot right now too. We've talked about this in depth and shes said she doesn't want me to do this as a full time career which I understand but going OTR for 2 years or so so I can get a local job would be fine. Plus if I can get a job with Schneider they have quite a few openings right in my area so I would think that would help out on home time.
     
    Nola 32/65, Sep 6, 2014
    Nola 32/65, Sep 6, 2014
    #17
  10. Sep 7, 2014 #18
    Germangirl

    Germangirl Light Load Member

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    Good you two keep an honest conversation about it. Have you calculated an exact number, of how much $$ you definitely MUST have in earnings, to pay the bills? Plus, you have to live on the road, and food, laundry etc. is much more expensive in truckstops.
     
    Germangirl, Sep 7, 2014
    Germangirl, Sep 7, 2014
    #18
  11. Sep 7, 2014 #19
    Germangirl

    Germangirl Light Load Member

    149
    92
    Apr 8, 2010
    All over
    0
    [QUOTE="semi" retired;4225107]Hi Gg, boy, ain't that the truth. Matter of fact, I was thinking of starting a new thread entitled, " How many marriages( or relationships) were ruined by trucking?" I know it cooked mine, and I was a local driver, but the hours is what killed it. I usually had to get up at midnight, which meant I'd have to go to sleep right after supper, so I missed out on all the evening, family activities.[/]

    Hey semi, please do let's talk about it
     
    Germangirl, Sep 7, 2014
    Germangirl, Sep 7, 2014
    #19
  12. Sep 8, 2014 #20
    Nola 32/65

    Nola 32/65 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 3, 2014
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    Yes, we're very honest about things with each other, we've been together 6 years so we're pretty comfortable with each other. I know the exact number I have in bills yes, plus a food cost factored in too. I eat out very often, hardly ever eat a home cooked meal so that should really change much.
     
    Nola 32/65, Sep 8, 2014
    Nola 32/65, Sep 8, 2014
    #20
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