NC from IT field to Trucking

Old Dominion is a very good choice. It's pretty hard to find a disgruntled OD driver, actually.

The REAL question there is--will you like/enjoy doing linehaul/P&D/LTL type work?

I think their website will tell you from what school(s) they like to hire, too--prove me wrong on that.

Why do I (and so many others) like tanker better?

The tanker world offers a lot of advantages to drivers that other forms of freight simply can't match.

Generally better pay than some other types of freight (especially on the hazmat side); much better treatment/respect at stops/from customers; better visibility when looking back/behind the trailer; much easier to drive in windy conditions; easier backing; fixed trailer tandems; no more sweeping out/cleaning trailers; generally better comraderie with other (tanker) drivers; NO LUMPERS; no more "bumping docks".....there, that should give you some idea of why.


The tanker world is also arguably the most competitive major segment of the industry....in the search for drivers.

--Lual

 

If Old Dominion doesn't work out for you, let us know.
We can give you a list of several companies that hire new cdl school grads and can run teams with the wife.

 

Covenant Transport - Covenant Transport
Covenant can train husband and wife teams together, and our Buddy Plan allows friends and/or other family members to train together. A qualified spouse may train the other while running team freight.
Need to go to CDL School first?

At Covenant, we partner with many public and private CDL schools throughout the United States. After filling out the Quick App on this page and marking that you do not have a CDL-A, we will email you the partner CDL school in your area, based on your zip code.

Once you’ve enrolled in CDL school, give us a call so we can talk about pre-hiring for your graduation day and the orientation class at Covenant that will work best for you!

 

Find out which school they hire from. Remember, the corporate headquarters makes the final decision on hiring not the local terminal.

 

WELCOME TO T.T.R.!!

Good Evening (in the Alfred Hitchcock style)!!

13 years in I. T. is GROOVY.

Take The LEAP!!

You've been Successful in I. T., so Utilize that Success into Trucking and You'll Go Far beyond what you can now perceive.

CHEERS!!

 

The trucks getting into trouble coming down mountains are speeding, which overheats and causes brakes to fail. Those drivers probably are not doing the required daily inspection. If an idiot tries hard enough he can wreck anything. All the trucks going down mountains would be in the ditch if the mountains were the problem.

Find the company you want to work for, investigate them, talk to CURRENT working drivers at the company to get work conditions, schedules, pay info. The recruiters will say whatever it takes to make it seem like the place you want to work. 80-90% of new drivers leave the industry before 12 months because they do no research, put all of their effort into getting a "free" CDL school and at the last minute search for an employer. You wouldn't get married by putting 99.9% of your effort into where the wedding takes place and then pick a women as you drive to the church. The employer is a thousand times more important than CDL school. CDL school just teaches you how to pass the state exam, nothing else. You will ride with a trainer for about 2 months at your employer before you get a solo truck. When you pick the employer you are making the decision about how often you get home, how much you get paid, how you get paid, what benefits you can buy, what condition your truck will be, where you will drive, what type of freight you will haul, etc., etc., etc..
DON"T CONSIDER CR ENGLAND, no. matter. what..

 

Here's the story on paying for CDL school. Money for CDL Training
Dry van requires the least amount of attention from the driver. It's the majority of freight being moved.
Reefer is refrigerated freight, often food, customers can be the worst and you often have to pay customer to unload their freight. LOTS of free waiting.
Flatbed requires plenty of chaining, strapping, tarping.
Tanker is the best kept secret in the industry as the customers are very nice to drivers. ANYONE can learn to pull tankers if they are willing to give up their AWFUL habits from driving cars.

Your region and how often you need to get back home may decide what type of freight you should haul. You need to decide not only lots of questions, like where you want to drive/avoid, how often you need to get home, how much money you need to make, etc.. But you need to decide which of these type questions are the most important and how much extra money would it take for you to get home less than you need, for example. Company web sites are not going to be accurate about working conditions. EVERY company is hiring drivers. They are not doing you a favor by hiring you. If you pick a terrible place to work you are not going to change the company into a better place to work. You have to choose carefully and not rush into the first company that calls you.