Learn more than one truck!

What sets you apart exactly?

 

"Yeah, I've driven em all. Everyone I worked for had different trucks. I dahm sure know how to lock the power divider on any of em, and do regens."

Vs

"To be honest, I've never driven an International. I've worked for the same company 10 years and they only had Freightliners."

Yeah, things definitely set some guys apart

 

Points at the 2 stick Diamond Reo, ready for your test drive?

 

Gonna need you to hold my beer

 

That ain't gonna work, you KNOW that REO ain't got an air ride jump seat to take the bite out of that walking beam! There's gonna be beer everywhere!

 

Not if I'm holding it.
It's gonna 'evaporate'

 

Comfortable in an 8LL, 10 speed, 13 speed, 18 speed and a 6+4?

 

Never once have I had someone ask me if I knew how to drive a specific make or model of a truck. Back in the day sure with all the different transmissions. Nowadays they all operate the same. It aint rocket science.

 

What actually makes a difference on a resume..

Worked for the same company 10 years..this shows that there’s a good chance you’ll stick around..

No accidents, tickets or a psp report showing repeated violations..

Don’t look, talk or act like a Bozo..

Everything else is meaningless for the most part.

Don’t waste money on bs endorsements you don’t need. Gone are the days of writing them off on taxes if you’re a w-2 employee.

For example, if I was hiring..

Your twic card, passport, doubles and triples, and hazmat mean nothing to me.

What matters is you know the difference between a mechanical clutch vs air assist clutch, lol.


When I started my thoughts were the same as yours. I got all the credentials and felt like a big shot. Then reality set in..

I go a little against the grain when it comes to giving advice to wannabe drivers.

Start in dry van and only get the tanker endorsement, this will allow you to haul liquid totes if needed. Do it for 6 months or more until you become good at driving, backing etc. If you actually make it 6 months then figure out what you really want to do.