Rookie choosing a company

Just starting out and finding a company with weekends off means you'll either be local or line haul. And then it's most likely the company will work weekends and being at the bottom of the list guess who's going to work that shift? However, that may not be a bad deal.

I'm not saying they do not exist but you'll never find a job like that working through a recruiter or a school. They stick to main stream and that's OTR and out for weeks. You'll need to get out and find it on your own. You can use the computer searching under trucking companies or fleet directory, craig's list, the newspaper, or any other job listing. They will not come after you.

I suggest that you make a list of what you want out of a company then go for it. Aim high and don't let anyone tell you that it's can never happen. You never know until you go and see. I would rather end up at the bottom after I used every method I could think of instead of just going to the bottom because a recruiter told me to.

If you decide that a company fits your needs and it's one of the companies the recruiter is pointing you to then that's great. You'll need to satisfy you and not what is easy. I don't put to much faith into these pre-hire letters that many count on. All that is telling you is that company is hiring and they might take a look at you.

It sounds like family is you number one priority as it was mine. That's a large restriction on truck drivers since most of the work is OTR. When my son was born I wanted to start hauling gasoline because it was a sweet deal where I was. But I did my share of OTR and living in a box for weeks on end year after year. I came off the road then went to line hauling then to a major oil company. But even at the major oil company where the pay and benefits were out of this world I still had to start working nights and the weekend. But I was home every day. So there's always something you have to give up and that's where your list comes in handy so you'll know what you are losing and gaining. Good luck your work is just starting. You'll be able to rest after 20 or so years if you plan ahead and make investments in yourself.

 

At least check Schneider on their regional runs. They have a terminal there in your town of Charolette(sp). I currently have been there 7 months and they are not terrible. It could very well fit what you are looking for. 5-7 days out and home for 34-48 hours, normally on the weekends. Their benefits are on the expensive side, but I think most of these trucking companies are as well. I am not saying they are perfect, but may be a decent starting point for you into the industry. Miles on the regional start a little on the low side as you learn, but normally ramp up within a couple of months to average about 2300/week. You are with a trainer normally about 8-10 days (more if deemed necessary), test your skills, then assign you a truck (normally older).

It may be the other posters' experience that starting will take you out for 4 - 6 weeks to start, but if you do your homework on company research, you can bypass those companies. Look for what you and your family can live with. Don't just settle with the first company to offer you a position unless you are desperate or have some things in your past to limit your hiring. In the same moment, DO get as many pre-hires as you can with companies, put yourself in the seat of choosing on which is best for you. BTW, pre-hire is not an automatic agreement of employment, but says a company is willing to bring you to orientation. If you make it through orientation fine, they will hire you. Keep in mind, at orientation, it is you that makes the impression on the company as to why they hire you. It is one long job interview.

In other words, pre-hire shows that a company is willing to spend money on you to give you a shot at being hired. From that point on, it is your responsibility to secure the position. Normally, they will work with you if you provide aptitude and desire, but they can also determine if you don't care and are looking for a handout (paycheck) with minimal effort on your part.

It is very easy to let your head spin on deciding which company to go with. I suggest you seach yourself for what you can live with, then research which companies have programs that come closest to your needs. After some time, one or two companies will keep coming to the top of your list; then go with them.

 

Wow only 8-10 days with a trainer and then assigned a truck?! That's exactly what I am looking for. I am an easy going person that is easy to get along with but I don't want to get stuck with a trainer that I don't like and have to live with him in a very small area for 6-8 weeks and while he gets home time I sit in a hotel. I am not liking the sound of that at all. But if I could get with a trainer for just 8-10 days or even 3 weeks that would be awesome!

 

Another would be trucker doomed from the outset.
Why is it so many people look at the shortest training time and the highest starting pay, then wonder why they got ##### on, and end up leaving the industry??
That's like a surgeon saying, "wow! only one month of residency, then I'm out on my own!"
Do you want a career?
Then be willing to put some time in and learn the business.
I don't even want to be on the same highway with a driver that has had only 10 days training!
That's one of the reasons so many drivers turn over so fast.
They are not trained properly, don't learn many of the needed fine points, become frustrated and end up leaving.
Take backing for instance. That's the most under developed skill a new driver has.
Now after 10 days with a trainer, MAYBE you've backed into a dock 2? 3? times?
Suddenly it's 7pm at the truck stop, in the dark, one slot left and you're trying to put the aircraft carrier into the eye of a needle while raining and 20 other drivers laughing at you on the CB.
I'm sorry to break the news to you, but CDL schools teach you just enough to get a license. After that you need to learn to drive.
3 weeks won't begin to cut it.
Do yourself and the public a favor. If that is all you're planning to put into your career, go flip burgers. We'll all be happier (and safer)

 

Stevens trains forever,

Watkins Shepard sends em out on their own..........

and Stevens has a higher turnover rate !!!!!

I gotcha ....

 

I completley understand that I am a newbie and I have a lot of learning to do. But in all respect in the old days of trucking when these insurance companies weren't coming up with these harsh rules for companies to abide by to hire their drivers, you got your license and got out there on the road and learned. That's the best way to learn sometimes. When my dad got his license that same day he had a job. He never had one accident in his career which was a very long one.

I think the training is really important for a lot of reasons. I do think however that not everybody NEEDS to be training for 8 weeks after they trained and got their license. Some may but some may not. The trainer may be "training" you but YOU are still the one behind the wheel. You earned your license and you are out there learning by experience. I think it's mostly about getting used to company policies and the customers and everything. How to use qualcomm, etc etc etc.

I am a newbie and I respect that you have 38 years of driving under your belt. There is a LOT of learning I have to do. Not being conceited at all but I feel like I am an above average driver. I feel extremely confident in my driving ability. A lot of people I saw struggle getting their license at school. I see how it doesn't come as natural to a lot of people. I know that I have a LOT to learn in the field. Just because I got my license doesn't mean JACK. The real experience comes when you are in situations where you have to decide just how and if you will fit into certain areas, etc. All I am saying and it's really the bottom line, is how did the old timers do it? How did they go out there. Hell, they didn't even have CDL's back in the day. If you had a regular driver license you can drive. This is run by the insurance companies and unfortunatley these mega carriers take advantage of the situation and make extra money because they run you out there as teams so they are making extra money on just one truck.

And the go flip burgers comment come on dude! Get real man. I already have driving experience. You are going to make it like I have to go flip burgers. LOL. Dude I made 500-600/week driving a beer truck. I am currently laid off and I got my CDL-A to better myself. To make even more money in the long run. I am not expecting to make a lot of money in my first year. I am not expecting to make a lot of money in my 2nd year. But I know when I get a few years experience under my belt I will be making much better than 500-600/week and be working a lot less hard than I was delivering beer.

You seriously have an ego. You think that I come in and think that I can be just as good of a driver as you with 38 years in just 8-10 days. I know that I am green and I respect everybody that has more experience than me. Even if it's a month more experience. I know that I will still have a lot of learning to do. What I am saying is that you don't need a trainer to hold you by the hand to make you a great driver. You need to make YOURSELF a great driver. You need to learn yourself what you just did wrong and how to correct it yourself. When I first started at my truck driving school I got most of the maneuvers down right away. I knew what I had to do. It's common sense. I didn't need any instructor to tell me (turn left now...keep going back and turn right now). I learned on my own. It came natural. I learned on my own. The instructors did absolutley nothing for me. I know that the real learning comes now and I'm ready to learn but I just think 6-8 weeks is a little much and if I can avoid being with a complete stranger for 8 weeks straight then you bet I am going to avoid it.

 

You're right.
You learn by doing. however, it's the first 60 days of 'doing' where you learn the most. Some learn faster than others.
Maybe I'm just grumpy today. I watched another 'two week wonder' take off the fender of another truck in the Pilot this morning. Typical rookie mistake. Pulled out of his slot, but not far enough before turning, and ripped the fender of the truck next to him off. He wasn't even watching that side of the truck as he pulled out.
All I'm saying is base your decision on a career move, not a quick fix.

 

Absolutley. I was just asking this because honestly I am not looking at OTR as a career. I want to find a local job as a career. I want to just get the experience that I need so I can get a local job. I understand that I have a lot to learn.

Unfortunatley I think a lot of rookies get a bad name because of incidents like what you just mentioned. They give all rookies a bad name. When you see someone back in to a really tight spot you automatically assume it's not a rookie but it just may be a rookie behind the wheel. It's just automatic assumption that it's a rookie that screws up and there are no good rookie drivers. Please don't take me wrong I am not saying YOU literally but YOU meaning the general public.

Bottom line is what I am looking for in a starter company isn't home time, it isn't pay, it isn't miles. I am probably the only one that cares about this but it really is the amount of training time. If Schneider only trains for 8-10 days like I read somewhere than it could be just as good as 8 weeks of "training" with other companies that their idea of training is the trainer is sleeping while you are driving. It's not really so much the amount of time but the quality of the time. Roehl is 26 days I believe. Correct me if I am wrong because I probably am.