Newbie Questions

Greetings all. New here, and starting truck driving school next week.

I live in Ontario Canada, and will be getting my AZ in about 4 weeks the day I start. I've wanted to drive trucks ever since I got a job washing trucks for an Owner Operator in my area. Washing his Petes was just too tempting, I was itching to get behind the wheel.

So, I have a few questions I'd like some answers to that pertain to myself.

1)Do all truck driving companies conduct drug testing? Who regulates this? I ask this because I do smoke the odd joint or two, if you must know.. Not in the way portrayed in Reefer Madness, more so the Willie Nelson way. I like to take it easy. However, if this will bite me in the ### in the trucking industry, I will drop Mary Jane cold turkey, no problem.

2)I have 4 minor violations in my driver's abstract, and I know this is a big no-no. I've already posted a thread about this particular issue on the Canadian sub-forum, but I'm looking for more input regarding this. I've heard a lot of companies have a 3 violation limit. Is this, in fact, true? Any with a 4-5 limit? LOL

I am hoping to get at least one of these burdens dropped, but regardless, I will definitely be watching the way I drive-RELIGIOUSLY- from now on. 3 years is a long time, but following the rules can't be that hard.

3)Posters that live near or in my region, could you tell me what I should be expecting to start at ($ wise), once I find a company that is willing to bite the bullet with my crappy insurance rate stemming from my not-so-great abstract?

4)What are some "top-up" type certifications that can help me get more loot? I know O/O that haul cars, and they're filthy [rich] (by my standards, anyways).. What's the most rewarding trucking jobs out there?

5)How long is the application process to get a FAST card from your own personal experience? I'd be interested in doing OTR, so this is something I will want to look into eventually.

6)How much "extra" or "free" time do you find that you get, generally, when you're out on the road. Lets say you drop a load in X city, and you're waiting to get re-loaded, do you have any time to spare.

Appreciate any answers!

 

Not free, but dirt cheap. $2,900 and I get my forklift and crane operator certificate/license on top of the ACZ. Even if I don't find work right away, I figured that's quite the bang for my buck and it wouldn't hurt to have under my belt.

I definitely will give my all to reduce the number of offenses. I'm not gonna let my abstract deter me from trying, I'm seeing the glass half full here.

And I'm not normally open when it comes to talking about the reefer, I know how its perceived by society and work force. I just have anonymity on my side here lol.

Here's another question for ya, how often do you need to renew your license?

 

LOL, there's an idea!

 

That's not a very encouraging thing of you to say bro

 

In my record:

*Speeding over 15km the limit.
*Failure to stop at a stop sign.
*Driving w/o a license
*Failure to provide insurance card