need advise on the right way to get started

everybodys gonna tell ya something different but if there is any way possible I would stay outta the schools. I was lucky and had family in the business to help me but the bottom line is if you can get the book and study up you can take your written on your own,then you have a certain amount of time to rent you a truck and take the driving. When all this is said and done you owe nobody nothing and you can go where you please

 

You will likely need to go to a school. Most companies require you to go a school and have a number of hours of classroom and driving time. This is because of insurance. It is better if you can just pay for the school. Otherwise you will have a contract to work for a time at reduced pay, (Somewhere) between 6 and 10 cents per mile. Try to find a company first and make sure you go to an approved school for that company. Check the driver requirements carefully. Nothing worse than being sent home from orientation because something comes up. Be certain you are fully approved to work and all verifications have been done. Also, consider the fact that 75 to 80% of all newbies don't finish their first month of OTR training before you leap.

Good luck, Chuck.

 

First of all, is your driving record clean? Speeding tickets? Any DUI's? Have you ever been arrested for any crime? These are things that could prevent you from getting a truck driving job before you even get started. You'll just be wasting your time and money if something in your past pops up. If your record is clean, the first thing you should do is talk it over with your wife and family if you are married. You will be away from home for weeks, and it can be a huge strain on you and your family if they can't handle you being away. The industry standard is 1 to 1 1/2 days at home for every week out. If your family is comfortable with your decision, then research, research and more research into the companies you are interested in driving for. Make a list of your wants and needs...flatbed, dry van, reefer, hometime, pay...etc. then list the companies that meet those needs. Read the good and bad companies threads here, although you will read about the same companies in both good and bad. That's a start...good luck.