My wife and I are wanting to start trucking as a team

look into ffe they have terminals in Stockton and Fontana . they have a top notch school and decent trainers

 

If you can look into your local community/trade schools. Some offer a CDL school and have really good programs. You'll also be able to take advantage of still being able to keep your jobs now, and go on week-ends..most offer this option for working adults. Also funds should be reasonably easy to get with the availability of grants/and financial-aid programs they offer to students, you may even be able to get the money and not have to pay it back...those options are there you just have to take some time and ask for help in locating them...Try this before you wind -up living in your car, and maybe 2nd guessing your decision to go to school....Here is a name and number to call in Santa Rosa...Maria Martin 707-521-4764...give her a call she works with a facility that may be able to help you at little to no cost to you....

 

You are WAY better off getting your cdl on your own. There are a number of companies that pay a lot better than CRST. Con-Way, Covenant ot US Xpress come to mind. You can make ..46 to 48 a mile split after training plus I know Covenant and USX have large signing bonuses also ($5,000) Just think about what the "free" training is costing you. When we were company drivers for USX, my wife and I made $115,000 a year as a team. You will team together and it does not matter if they have a terminal near you. You do not want to hang out at terminals anyway.

 

Like Craig said, you're better off getting your CDL's on your own. However,there are other companies than CRST that will train you if you can't afford the schooling on your own. Central Refrigerated,Prime,Swift,FFE,Stevens all come to mind. I'm sure there's more than those. Once you get your licenses, you'll be a hot commodity,as companies love teams. Good luck to you folks!

 

To answer your specific questions:

1.)What are the alternatives, if any, to CRST for broke wannabe drivers in California? Since we're in Santa Rosa, I'd prefer Sacramento area or Bay Area. The further north it is, the better (in before Eureka!)- that means less driving for me (my '89 Volvo 760 Turbo gets like 18mpg).


Think outside the box. This is OTR you are talking about. No need to find something near you. These companies will provide transportation.

THESE NEXT QUESTIONS ASSUME THAT WE END UP DRIVING TO CRST IN FONTANA, BUT CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER COMPANIES.

2.)Is it possible for my wife and I to share a hotel room/mancamp/company room together during training? If yes, how?

Can't answer that one. Try asking that specific question on the CRST board. I'm not sure what the living arrangements are in Fontana.

3.)After getting the CDL and after the 28-to-whenever day (according to what I've read) OTR training, is there any way to guarantee that we are on the same team? I understand that we won't be with each other during the initial training time (hopefully we'll get decent trainers).

You will have no problem being on the same team no matter which company you go with. A teaming couple is a hot commodity in this business.

4.)Do you get the same truck for every run, or do they switch your trucks between runs? I'd like to keep stuff in there like a cooler, propane stove etc.

Same truck every run.

5.)Related to 4: is it possible to just hobo it out, not take any home time and live in the truck, or do we need to waste money on renting a place to stay at for a few days a month? We will have a car (I refuse to take a bus). I am asking this because we have nobody to stay with in the area, so we'd either live in the truck or in the car, and if prefer to stay with the truck (it's just easier).


Yeah, you can do that. If I were you I'd get over the anti-bus thing though.

6.)Are there female trainers or are they all male? Is there any way of ensuring that someone doesn't start creating a umm.. "Hostile work environment" around my wife? If her trainer does this, can her trainer get switched with someone else?

There are always a shortage of female trainers, especially if you want a non-smoking one. companies frown on possible lawsuits so she shouldn't have a problem.

7.)Can anyone give me details on the physical test?

CRST didn't have any special physical tests when I was there. Just the regular DOT physical.


The only problem you might run into is your ages. Many companies want 23 or older.

 

Unless you are dead set on teaming with your wife don't feel you have to settle for a mega carrier to get your foot in the door. Go out and pound some doors! If you can get your CDL on your own go to Brocco & Sons in Sonoma. One of their drivers told me they are hiring and they take newbies. They also run tanks so you'd get some experience. Another company to check out is Windsor Fuel in Windsor. I know of one other company in Petaluma that hires newbs but I can't think of the name. I'll look it up and get back to you. I know Brocco drivers are bringing in 800-1000 a week. Best of luck!

If you were closer to Sac I could get you on at the company I work for. We're busy right now. My last check was 1400 net for the week. Don't sell yourself short and work for chump change!

 

Reading the original post. It seems to me one of the advantages the op is looking for is to not have to maintain a household outside of the truck for a while. If so, he wants to team. I know the mega carriers get bashed all the time but there are advantages starting out. You will learn to do your logs properly and you will learn to run compliant. Generally they have great, new or almost new equipment and good benefits and as a team you can count on $2,000 net a week plus benefits. A lot of small companies have limited resources. I am not disparaging the companies HotH2o is listing and everything he said is true, just saying there are two sides to every coin.

 

1: You are not limited to which trucking company you attend for school by your area. You alone are placing those restrictions and they are not real. I would say make sure you have enough money to get home if things do not work out for some reason. I would strongly urge you against considering CRST. The horror stories are without end, and in some instances bordering, if not right out, criminal.

2: Yes, you will be sharing a room during schooling. The training class will most likely bunk two to a room anyways, so a husband and wife with plans to team after training would most certainly get a room together. If you are not legally married this may present a problem, but you stated that you are. This room concern, in all likelihood, is a non-issue.

3: You are most certainly guaranteed being on the same team after all training is done. Husband and wife teams are the exact teams that companies want, and are in hot competition over obtaining. They have staying power. You two are not strangers. All the income the truck generates is going into a single household. Companies run themselves ragged trying to match strangers to team drive only to find out after 1-3 months it isn't going to work. You are doing them a favor by having a co-driver, and it being someone you are sharing a bed with. Make no mistakes about that.

4: You will be assigned a truck in almost all situations, regardless of where you choose to attend your training, for a team operation. What you are speaking of is known as slip seating in this industry. It is a rare situation that non-assigned trucks are used in any team operation. To be clear that you will not be put in this situation, the question to ask beforehand is: "Are trucks assigned or is it slip-seat". You have very little to worry about here as teams are catered to when it comes to equipment. Remember you are highly marketable as a team with a good driving record, and these companies know it. This doesn't mean you can show your butt, and expect a company to treat you as though you are not replaceable.

5: Not only can you "hobo" it out, I would encourage it given your situation. You two are so young, and you have a woman by your side who is willing to give it a go with you. This could lead to you two being in a very comfortable situation in the years ahead if you play your cards right. That includes NOT PLAYING CARDS AT CASINOS. In this industry we drivers get a write off on our taxes that is known as per diem. It allows for a daily write off for what amounts to living expenses out on the road. The reason I bring this up is because you want to be able to take advantage of that. You will need to keep a physical address in order to do so, and not simply a P.O. Box #. You have pointed out that you are currently living with relatives and sharing the expenses. I would ask permission to use that address as "your address." You get a couple things this way. Your mail is going to a place where a family member can collect it for you. You can call them up and ask about something you are expecting in the mail. The main point is that you have a physical address for tax purposes. Even if your relatives are asking for a small amount of money for helping you in this manner it is worthwhile.

I speak from experience on this issue and I started trucking in a situation somewhat similar to yours. Me and my wife trained, and went team driving together after training. We kept no rent, or mortgage for the first two years. We were able to save an admirable amount, and pay off past debts. The first thing you are going to want to do is pay-off the expense of trucking school ASAP. Don't simply make the monthly installments, get it gone fast! This a credit reportable bill, and it is the first step in repairing what you described as bad credit. The very next thing you want to do is get those student loans paid off ASAP that you two have accrued before trucking. Having no bills, if you are serious about your future, you absolutely need to make this a priority. There is no way of escaping student loans. They will haunt you until you are both 50 years old if you don't deal with them now. If they are currently in default, then you need to make them the priority over paying off your trucking school costs. If your student loans are in default, both of your paychecks will be garnished, as well as any tax refund you may get. If this is your situation, bring you student loans out of default ASAP. Remember this very important thing, whether you get into trucking or not. Over the course of your life together or even as separate individuals--the less interest you pay in your life, the better off you will be in the end. And in the end is what really matters! Don't allow yourselves or anyone else to tell you otherwise.

Now, on to more fun things concerning "hometime". As a team in this situation, hometime doesn't necessarily have to occur at "home." If you want to take a weekend off in San Francisco hanging out at Pier 39, and eating at the finest restaurants it has to offer overlooking the bay, you can do that. If you want to spend 4-5 days down in New Orleans taking it all in as your "hometime" you can do that. If you want to go visit relatives or actually spend time at Santa Rosa you can do that. Hometime doesn't have to be at home in a lot of instances. Now remember that any plans you do make have to be done within the hometime policy of whatever company you do choose. It is also important to remember that trucking companies are not travel agencies, but are in the business of hauling freight. Just remember. Treat her good from time to time. Give her something to look forward to, or she will quickly grow tired of it.

Without having a rent or mortgage and utilities to pay, you are going to be able to save up a substantial amount of money, after paying off debt (Please do this first). You are going to be going far and wide in most scenarios. Team driving is organized for long haul freight, but there are exceptions. You want to ask about avg length of haul. It is a an important question. You want it to be about 1500 miles or better. You will get to see a good bit of this country. You may fall in love with an area, and want to move there. You may get homesick for Cali, and decide you want to buy a house there. You may come across a piece of land or house that would be completely foolish not to buy from an investment standpoint alone. You may decide you want to save for your own truck. The point is your perspective on things is going to change dramatically, and while it does you will be saving income.

When and if you do take off to training. Leave your car with your loved ones. You are going to want them to give it a crank every couple of weeks at minimum. If you refuse this advice you are going to find your personal vehicle parked at a place that isn't convenient to you with a tough time trying to figure how to get it moved to where you want it. This no bus mentality isn't going to work. The bus ride is going to be a pain in the arse, literally, but you are better off. Be it safe to say that if you cannot endure the bus ride you are not going to make it as a team. Just make absolutely sure you have enough to get home on in the event of something going wrong. Do not show up to any truck training program sponsored by a carrier in complete desperation mode. Just don't do that. Have something to fall back on. I don't care if you have to save 5 dollars a week right now. Do not show up financially desperate. It will cloud your judgment, and cause undue stress on your performance during training.

6: As of right now this is a non issue. This only becomes an issue if any type of sexual harassment, or worse, ensues. I would go into it with the mindset that indeed your wife will be road trained by a male. If she does get a female, great, but you would better off not to expect it. Sidenote: Getting a female trainer in this day and age doesn't somehow exempt you from the concerns you have voiced. This is something you need to worry about only if the situation arises, otherwise you are only creating undue stress. Companies absolutely do not want a sexual harassment case on their hands, and if it does happen it isn't all bad. You just hit the lottery. Let's just hope and pray that both of you receive a highly professional trainer, as this period in your career is difficult. Try your very hardest to not ask for a new trainer. If you can see the light at the end of the tunnel stick it out. You may get an even worse trainer first of all, and you most certainly will only delay the amount of time it takes to get this over. Don't in any way drill her about what went on in the truck during training. If there is a REAL problem you are the first person she will tell. Trust her, she married YOU. She is doing this for the betterment of both of you. It will be awkward enough for her as it is, so be extra sure not to add to that with pettiness. There also may be a lag between training periods for the both of you depending on trainer availability and class size. Be aware of this.

7: You will have to take a DOT physical test and at your ages unless you have some sort of known health problems it shouldn't be an issue. A little research into what a DOT physical consists of wouldn't hurt. Some companies will also require you to pass a physical agility test. These are used to ensure that you can perform the basic functions of the job. Such as getting in and out of the truck, opening and closing the trailer doors etc... In some cases they may be used to detect any underlying health issues that the DOT physical is not adequate in detecting. Again, at your age these should not be a problem.


I am not going to suggest any particular company to train with. The reason is because it is your decision on which company you choose, and I have voiced the one that I absolutely would stay as far away from as possible: CRST. Your ages, are somewhat of an issue, but me doing just a cursory research shows that you do have options. Be absolutely sure that you have an emergency fund as I described, before getting involved in this. Some trucking outfits can make you acutely aware of just how cold the world is. Do not sign anything that you have not read and are willing to agree to. Read everything you are asked to sign, and every thing that is written. Do not skim it, Do not consider it a waste of your time. Do not allow anyone to deter you from reading it as though you are wasting their time by doing so.

Study every night together in your room. Do not think you will pass the cdl written test without reading the state printed cdl booklet, and passing the quizzes at the end of each section with flying colors. Support each other and encourage each other at every step of the way. Refrain from all petty disputes and come together in unity. Together you two can pull it off.