Some ideas for a newbie

Roehl has a school they operate, a lot of drivers have said its a really good program. I went to national training in green cove springs, fl. If you could afford it I'd recommend it. Roehl's program is basically you log 100,000 miles with them and the schools free. I can't say anything for swifts program. Good luck to you though driver

 

Lou,

I live in Jacksonville, FL. Like Dirty Diesel said Roehl does have a pretty decent schooling you can go to (I didn't do it) but I've talked to plenty of drivers who have been through it. If you are concerned about those 5-7k cost of school then you are looking at the wrong places.

Thread link to the school I went to and my experience:
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...orida-state-college-jacksonville-fscj-my.html


FSCJ (FCCJ), has a truck driving program. Forewarned the trucks they use are 2000s, they are tough to learn on but if you can drive them your set to go. Now I went to this (2 month) program and I loved it. It prepared me for ALOT of what I am facing now out solo. The cost was like 2500 so it wasn't bad, I am financially stable to afford it myself though so that is why I choose to pay out of pocket. If your willing to make that drive, I PROMISE you that you will NOT regret it if your heart is set on driving.

If you happen to call for more information about it, ask for your instructor to be Joe Lackey. He is a great instructor and will not steer you wrong, he is a no BS kind of guy who tells you how it will be out here. Now the whole pay spill he puts out... that might be pushing it alittle but for the most part what he's told me has held up.

PLEASE.. PLEASE, if you want to get into this industry make your first company selection wise. Do research.. I talk to some of the people from school who went with other companies that I will not name and they are struggling because they didn't get proper OTR training from their company. The first company will make or break you, understand that and you will be fine. Go into this with a open mind because you will be sitting around for hours waiting on a load to be assigned, or waiting to be unloaded / loaded, on hold with dispatch, stuff you don't get paid for.. You WILL be under your truck trouble shooting issues with maintenance on the phone walking you through it, and you won't get paid for fixing their truck. Understanding this will make it easier on you.

We are paid to drive. Safely I might add. Disrespecting safety will get you hurt, killed or worse killing a bus full of kids. We carry alot of stress and importance in what we do, no we are not the appreciated for the work we do but we are the ones who deliver this country. You join a elite group when you become a driver and I hope to see you out there future driver.

 

650+ a week take home might be a stretch.

 

No , you're not too fat . The doctor doing your physical will just tell you you have to take a sleep study at your expense then probably buy a CPAP machine . Run a forumsearch on sleep apnes threads .

 

I am 5'8" and I weigh in at 190..what's your point..???

The $300 weekly pay can be the training pay you will earn while on the road with a trainer. Now, some companies pay a higher training wage than that, but not much more. So if you can manage a few weeks at a small paycheck while learning, you will see where that time flies by pretty darned fast.

UHHhhhh...no it is not a stretch. It can be achieved.

 

Sure it can be achieved but it's not the average take home for a first year driver, especially not one who has received company sponsored training.

 

He did not ask for a weekly average, and it all depends on how capable the new driver is to ask for another load, rather than to be sitting at a truck stop. The wheels that turn, earn.

You ain't even a driver yourself, yet you KNOW the average weekly pay?

 

The guy has a wife and two kids whether he was asking for the average or not he should be so that is what I gave him the average based on my research. Can he earn more than the average? Yes. However, he could also earn less than the average....that's how averages work.

I didn't think blowing smoke up the guys ### was the right thing to do.