Good evening folks,
if you’re reading this, you better be off duty or in your sleeper birth!
I’m brand spanking new to trucking, like having my physical and permit completed a week ago new; not done with CDL training new, not spent 1 second pushing the accelerator of a tractor new.
I’m going into this field as a married man (2nd marriage), with 1 3yr old in tow and possibly another along the way. I do have family living with us (her mom.) So for the time being my wife and her mom have given me confidence to pursue this.
I’m constantly evaluating and searching for the best opportunity. I’ve settled on Millis Transfer (queue Heartland acquisition), because of its past and PRESENT reputation. I have no illusion that the employment situation is dynamic and I might find myself working for two different brands, I hope that doesn’t happen for many reasons, but I’m not a fool.
I have hopes to make regional once I’ve made it through training successfully and gained blessing from DOT and Millis that I am capable and competent enough to drive a truck under their authority.
I’d appreciate any tips and advice anyone may have, who may have had a similar experience prior to joining this industry and how you’ve gotten through challenges of the job and any impacts on family and how you overcame this.
I plan to take this a day at a time with the hope and passion / interest in making this a long term career. Thanks for responses in advance. Stay safe !
RE: Another green noob
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jafrazier83, Sep 30, 2020.
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I ran regional for awhile and it felt like a glorified local gig. Wife said it just felt like I worked long hours.
Good luck and stay safe! -
Well look at you making babies...
rachi Thanks this. -
OTR is hard on a driver with kids at home. But it can be done! You gotta do what you gotta do.
firemedic2816 Thanks this. -
This industry can be tough on a Family Man with a Wife and young children. Be prepared for a tough first year with little quality time with them. It will be like no other year you have ever spent in your life. As long as you and your Wife can get on the same page, and you can tough out the first year, things will begin to fall into place. This career does not happen overnight. By the time you hit year 3, you wi have a solid foundation and can make a nice paycheck. Spend AT LEAST one year with your first Company. (2 would be better). No tickets, accidents, incidents, service failures, etc. At that point you can pick and choose the Company YOU want to work for. Good luck!
Blue Zombie Trucker Thanks this. -
Look for a local/regional gig first. Food service, beverage companies, any place that has it’s own trucks and warehouses (FedEx, Kenco, Tranco...etc) and your crappy bottom end LTL companies like Central Transport (it’s a beginning, not the end...they need meat in the seat, and you need your foothold).
650cat425, Brettj3876 and jamespmack Thank this. -
HaglerFan, Brettj3876, homeskillet and 4 others Thank this.
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Go local , stay home no need to be otr with little ones .
Brettj3876 Thanks this. -
thank you all for the replies, I’ve been in training a week at a time at the moment, coming home Friday nights and leaving Sunday afternoon. I have a good support base, I call every night (face time), it’s not as terrible as I thought it would be.
I’m always monitoring the situation, the wife has assured me she’s got my back as long as she knows I’m focusing on getting a gig that has me home as much as humanly possible in this industry.
I haven’t been on the road yet, but the sense of adventure appeals to me. Meeting and talking to people I may never see again, hopefully leaving a positive change moment in time.
drove manual for the first time today, instructor jokingly said he gives me a 6/10 lol, the other 2 students in the back who have driven trucks before were encouraging..
I spent roughly an hour by myself this afternoon driving the yard and practicing my up shifts and downshifts.
I was able to couple trailer 2nd time around with minimal guidance (just a head nod that I was good to back after I GOAL and checked kingpin being in line with fifth wheel)
Thank you all for taking time to provide insight. I really do want to make this work. I look forward to being in a position of passing on good practices and knowledge to future peeps in my position, thank you.Crude Truckin' Thanks this. -
OP: to echo what has been said: OTR is not for a guy with a young family. I love long haul, but I'm 58. No way I could have done this when either myself or my kids were young. Taking home time kills the paycheck, among the many other challenges.
Best of luck to you. If you sift and filter carefully, there's a gold mine of good info on these forums.650cat425 and Brettj3876 Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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