Newbie looking for a little guidance

You can start looking here
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/motor-carrier-questions-the-inside-scoop/

And there are many other sub-forums here that are helpful.
Also, go here
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/the-welcome-wagon/
and introduce yourself.

You will find that there are many friendly, helpful folks on this board, who will answer your questions, and lend a listening ear.

Good luck to you!

Judi Kay

 

Sorry to read of your job situation. It's pretty tough out there. You're plenty young enough to bounce back and make a great run of it! Get in touch with some of these companies that offer their own CDL training, or get your own and prehire. If you're concerned about anything, get prehired before you start school so at least you'll know you should have a home before you even start school.

 

FVTC has an excellent driver training program...far better than anything you'll get from a carrier IMHO. I'd start there before even talking to a carrier. The difference is you actually get trained by experienced drivers not some guy who's only been behind the wheel six months... plus they have a really cool skidpad.

 

If you don't want to get stuck in a lease situation, don't sign a lease agreement.

 

If you end up needing to go threw a company school, Look into Millis Transfer.




American Trucker

 

I can relate to your experience, although I am a college graduate. I worked for a small office type firm owned by two absentee partners who were related by marriage. One of the absentee owners lost all of his money in another business he owned (and ran into the ground himself), so he decided that he wanted my job, even though he hadn't a clue what I had been doing for him for the past 13 years. Obviously this didn't sit well with me and (long story short) it ended up in a legal battle that cost both of us attorney fees and cost me personally any chance of ever getting a "positive recomendation" from my ex-employers of 13 years. I had no chance of landing a job that paid anywhere near what I had been making in my field (which I don't care to reveal due to legal settlement), and I was told repeatedly that I was either over qualified or over educated or lacked experience for anything I applied for (except for commission only type "jobs").

Then I remembered seeing all of those "driver wanted" ads in the paper and I thought the same thing as you - "I've always looked at and dreamed of driving a truck." I started doing a bit of research and found out that the only "experience" trucking companies care about is "trucking experience" and the only education trucking companies care about is "trucking education". I went to the local truck driving school that offered job placement assistance and said "what if I can't get a positive review from my last employer?". They asked - "was it a trucking company? Because if not, then NO PROBLEM!". And you know what? They were correct. If you want to be employed, you will be. The question then becomes - at what cost?

HERE is the "cost" - You can NEVER count on an exact work schedule, paycheck, or work conditions. You can NEVER guarantee a friend or loved one that you will "definately be there" at whatever event/party/graduation etc. they invite you to. You can NEVER guarantee how much sleep you will get or what time you will get to eat. You cannot guarantee that "X company" will treat you any better or screw you any worse than "Y company" because you will soon realize that NO legitimate trucking company exists solely to "screw drivers", they are simply trying to move freight to make money. If you are the driver in the right place at the right time you will get the load. If you are not and they don't have any freight moving from where you are, you will sit until they decide to move you.

The ONLY guarantee you have in the trucking industry is that you will be employed. Now although nothing else is "guaranteed", generally speaking you can expect the one thing that I personally was looking for and still expect - benefits. Nearly all major trucking companies offer group health, life, dental, and vision insurance, and usually for better rates than you find in non-trucking industries. Other than that, do some serious thinking and research before you make the leap. Remember, many on this very forum will tell you it's just as much "lifestyle" or "way of life" as it is "a living"

My 2 cents!