Questions about starting out

It's going to take a little time in your situation. The pets are actually a burden while in the training cycle. You could do like some said and one of you go get trained while the other stays home and work.

Then in about 2-3 months you'll be on your own and can take possession of the pets while the other can head out to training. Then in another 2-3 months you can work on getting together as a team. At worst, you'll be seperated 9 months.

The other option is for both of you to get your training at a community college. Many now offer truck driver training and you can get student loans and even a grant. Them loans allow you like 6-9 months after graduation to start paying back versus a trucking company deducting out of your paycheck right away. But you still have to go with a trainer individually for like 6 weeks. But going to a community college opens up who you can work for. There are companies that don't have the classroom training, but have road trainers. You would need family or friends to watch the cats for 6-8 weeks.

You definately want an APU. They make life so much better on the road. With all these anti-idling laws, many companies expecting you to sweat it out. If you are going to live in a truck, you might as well be comfortable.

You can get a PO Box or use a family members address. If you get a PO Box, atleast get a medium, if not a big one. I stayed out as a single person 6-7 weeks. The post office guy could barely wedge all my mail in a little box. When you go OTR, it's best to move all bills and banking to online. That gives you better control of your finances and you can't always get to your PO Box.

Safety is no worse than at home. Truckers are targets for peddlers from prostitution to someone bumming gas money. But as far as being robbed, that doesn't happen much. Always park in numbers and things will be okay. Crooks target people that are isolated from witnesses.

It's easier for a younger driver to stay fit and on top of the game. Many times you are so tired that all you want to do is sleep. You do get sleep deprived. Truck stops are out to make money and just sell unhealthy foods. Even the restaurant ones have very little or healthy choices. Everything is processed food and cooked in fat. Even the salad bars come out of a bag that is loaded with preservatives. Your best bet is to try to replicate cooking at home the best you can. That's where an APU and big inverter comes in handy. When you hit 40, your metabolism changes. Mixed with trucking, it becomes a real challenge to stay healthy. Many drivers don't make it to 60 and there is a reason for that. The lifestyle of eating bad food and sitting in a seat all day.

There are no federal regulations about carrying a gun. But there is individual state regulations and a permit is only good in the state you get it in. So no, you can't carry a gun without risking getting in trouble. Plus companies forbid it. You made it twenty some years without having to draw a gun, you can make it twenty some more.

New Jersey is a hot freight market for all the ports and warehouses in North Jersey and Philadelphia. So choice of companies is more open to you.

One thing about OTR trucking is you make pretty much the same regardless of demographics. Many drivers chose to live in the country in the cheaper states. Your buck goes alot further. I grew up in PA in the suburbs. Moving down south in the country was the best decision I ever made. I discovered that when I went in the Army and was stationed down south. TN is cheap and east TN is absolutely beautiful if you like the outdoors.

Both of you are young and many at your age don't focus on their later years. The sooner you buy a house and start a 401K, the better off you will be when you get older. You play your cards right, you all can have a house paid for in your 40's. Then screw the rent and all the bills.

Many don't stay trucking for one reason or another. It takes a special person to make a life out of it. Your first year is just training and experience. Most likely in a year you will be with a different company if you do stick it out. It is important to learn on a stick instead of an automatic. Anyone can handle an automatic. A stick takes training and experience. It would suck to lose out on a good job because all you drove was automatics.

Don't expect the good life right off the bat as far as income. It'll take you a couple years to learn the ropes and get the good money coming in.

I don't recommend this company to experienced drivers, but to someone in your shoes, it's better than the puppy mills. Go to a community college and get your training and Hirschbach.com will hire you. They have decent trucks, APU's, 2500watt inverters and allow pets. They also need team drivers and freight is hot in the northeast. Plus they got alot of freight running across I-80, up and down the midwest and freight to CA.

Then in one year, you can pick who you want to work for.

Keep in mind a truck is a tight space for 2 people to be living in. I know many husband/wife teams and it can be tough at times. Couples do argue and you have no where to go. Some husband/wives both truck, but run single. So it's best if you all are laid back and don't argue if you are going to survive in a truck. There will be times where going to the bathroom becomes a challenge. There will be times where your patience will be tested to the limits. You have to be a calm, easy going person or you can get stressed easily. You have to be mentally tough and don't let a few words hurt you. Your friends at home slowly slip into the background. Your friends are other drivers you meet on the road.

But some of the good things are large paydays, meeting all kinds of people as there are many different cultures around the country. You'll see the country and visiting places you otherwise would not have a chance to do. Some places will make your jaw drop in amazement. You'll see some of the prettiest sunsets and sunrises you ever seen. It's gods country out there and only truckers see it all.

 

USxpress ain't that bad. Like I said, your first year is tough financially no matter where you go. Most likely you will change jobs, so just tough it out until you get your experience. Attitude is everything. You can make a bad situation worse or you can make it bearable.

 

roadkill4512 pretty much covered it all. Man I am a permit holder and wish I could bring my gun with a company truck. That is my only major sacrifice. People say that you should stay away from bad areas and not go out at night, etc. I feel that we should have the right to go wherever we like and shouldn't have to hide from bad guys. If all of us were packing heat the bad guys would be afraid of us instead of the other way around. I think they should make a new law where citizens can go through more tests to be allowed to carry anywhere in the US. I am not an out of control psycho who will shoot up a place for no reason. Sadly people without permits can do so through.

Good luck Derov it must be nice to have a supportive woman willing to work with you. My girlfriend just wants to have fun and live like a superstar. I don't know why I keep attracting those kinds of women lol.

 

What a great response, roadkill4512.

Derov, pay close attention to response No. 6. Truck driving is mostly sedentary work. Without following a proper diet and without exercise both of you will end up being overweight. If you have additional questions re diet and exercise, send me a private message. Best of luck to both of you and the cats.

 

Condo quote-New Jersey is a hot freight market for all the ports and warehouses in North Jersey and Philadelphia. So choice of companies is more open to you.

Ugh, container haulers up here suck.

 

You can do the company training too. There really is no difference. Your biggest benefit from company training would be that you are already hired and you will pay no interest on your schooling. You will however be away from home during that time.

 

Go to www.prosper.com it is a site that allows people to loan you money where the banks do not. I used to be an investor on that site until they said that they can no longer allow people in my state to invest. You create a profile asking for money and a lot of people will loan you money in increments until you reach your total amount (usually within a few days) and then you will get the money deposited to your account.