New kid... ignorant at that. Can y'all help me out?

Hey all.

I'm very, VERY green to the trucking industry. I got my CDL-A from Pike Electric back in 2000... they road tested me in a bucket truck/pole trailer. Since then, the only trucks I've been behind the wheel of were buckets and diggers, a Ford L9000/120' crane, Army 5-tons, and a Mack roll-off truck. Oh, and I backed my uncle's low-boy about 20' one time during then... probably not enough experience for most, eh?

Anywho, are there companies who take folks like myself, show'em the ropes of trucking, and put'em on the road? I've tried Roehl, they won't take me without 6 months experience. Maverick just put a freeze on hiring students, and the few others I've looked at I've gathered reports of questionable practices. Make no mistake, I understand I'll pay my dues like the next one if I can do this... but with a wife and 4 1/2-month old son to provide for, I need to be better educated in the who/what/where/when/why/howto so as to make the best decisions for my family and me.

Any tips/advice is greatly appreciated, y'all. Till next time, keep it 'tween the ditches and smile for the cameras.

 

Thanks a lot, AC. It looks like I may suck it up and give Schneider a call, just to get the experience needed for a better company to look at me. I might have a shot at a law enforcement since we just elected a new sheriff... would prefer it, but I can't wait around to get onboard while we lose our house because I ain't working.

Would've never guessed trucking was slow. I figure that if you didn't mine it, grow it, catch it, or kill it, then it came to the store you bought it from on a truck.

 

Yeah when all you deal with are stupid people who try to get out of trouble by doing MORE wrong, it'd work on your mind afterwhile. May try fire dept. instead... lots easier to get cats out of trees than cuff drunk folks.

Thanks to both of you.