Newbie Trucker with questions.

I live in Los Angeles, California. Believe me, I've been on this site reading threads all day looking for positive and encouraging information.

 

You can have "proper home time" in most cases, but what happens is you get a reputation for not running hard and get all the lousy loads. A dispatcher that has to get you home every 3 weeks is not going to favor a driver that always wants home time. Then you'll be complaining about not making enough to pay the bills. Think this through friend. If home time is even remotely a concern, you're in the wrong business. You gotta get your year of penance in.

 

Your chances of getting a local gig out in LA maybe a little better. They also probably pay a little more out there. I really wouldn't get your hopes up though. I would personally recommend you go with a carrier that will take you and train you out over the road. Drive over the road until you learn a little bit and can stash some cash. While you are out on the road just keep looking for anything that opens up local. Maybe get your TWIC card and try over at the ports. You may find an owner operator that runs out of the ports just around Cali or close by who will be willing to take you on. Both England and Central are located there in Fontana. If you start with one of these companies (preferably Central) and drive over the road for a bit you maybe able to drive local for one of them once you have some time in. They also have dedicated and regional.

Like I said before though, don't fall for these recruiters promises. Also don't fall for their "lure in" programs like 14/7, 7/7 etc... This means you work 7 days and have 7 days off or work 14 days and have 7 days off. Usually they tell you this just to get you to orientation. The companies that do see it through aren't worth it anyway because you can't make any money taking a week off for every week you run out. Do the math.... Whatever offer you get, do the math! If you run for a week and make $600 and then don't work for a week you are actually averaging $300! You can make more at Walmart and be home every night! There are a very few exceptions and they are mostly for the guys who have a lot of experience. There are some companies that will run teams on like floral routes or seafood routes in which all loads originate from home, you deliver the product, pick up a load and head back home to get another. Runs are like 5-7 days and you have a day or so off in between. Team pay is usually twice the rate of a solo driver.

Sorry man, but this is the absolute worst career if you have a spouse or kids.

 

Your right. But we all have to start somewhere, somehow. And if being on the road for a big chunk of the year is what I have to do, then thats what I have to do. I know its gonna be tough, but trucking is what I want to do. I was just had to ask. I thought someone might know of a such a place. I am in California by the way. Thanks for the link and your words.

 

I'm 100% sponsored by Schneider. I start class Monday with MTC in St. Louis, MO...

I'm not looking for a local position until AFTER my first year, cause you have to "pay your dues"... And saying that, I may find that OTR is the "life for me" as well. If i had it my way, I'd "sell the house" and live on the road though, note my "handle"... I toured in the 80's with some headliners in Rock, and have never been able to get it out of my system.

I have had nothing but GREAT interactions with Schneider, and can not say enough about their attitude and willingness to hire me.

I passed my CDL written last week, my Haz-mat Monday, picked up my TWIC card yesterday morning, and was fingerprinted for my Haz-mat yesterday afternoon. I'm planning to kick butt and take names for the next three weeks in school, and soak as much up as possible.

 

Thanks guys for all your input and a much need dose of reality. I truly appreciate it.

 

There's nothing evil about the mega-carriers. Your chances of success would probably be better with a smaller company but its tough for newbies to get on with the smaller companies. It really boils down to what you make of it. You can do just fine and have a long lasting career with Schneider. Keep in mind that you are going to hear more negative comments than positive ones just because that is how the world turns. More people complain than complement!

If you have a good work ethic, are a hustler and are willing to stay out then you should do pretty well. If you are a slouch in the first place, give your dispatcher a hard time and want to go home all the time then you may as well save yourself the time and money and stay home.

NewbieTrucker, I realize we all have to start somewhere but starting somewhere without a family is a lot easier in this industry. Home time is going to be your biggest hurdle. I tried to respond to your question without negativity but sometimes its hard to sugarcoat reality.

 

Hubby and I drive for Stevens, out of Dallas. Stevens hauls a lot into and out of L.A. area, as do a lot of other 'training' companies. Your location should make it somewhat easier to get home more often, even if it's just one night every 2-3 weeks.

 

I have great hesitation to respond to this thread since I am just starting school on Monday and I really don't want to pile on but the questions you are asking should have been asked before you even applied to school. I already have 2 jobs lined up when I finish school.

(Rereading your OP, did you just get your CDL on your own or are you just talking about getting your permit?)

You said you want to do this and you are willing to pay the price but is your wife?

If you are determined to make this work, you can do anything for a year, one day at a time. But if she is not willing to make the sacrifice along with you, that year could cost you your family. A pretty steep price for your dream.

Good luck with your decision.

 

Well she has been very supportive of me. We've talked and we both know its going to be tuff. Were a pretty tight family and were gonna do everything possible to stay that way. And I did have something lined up as well but that connection fell through. So now Im left fending for myself. But I've been leaning towards Shneider. They have options of Regional, Dedicated and Intermodal routes.