Some questions for truckers

There you have it all in red.

 

You may have to drive at different times daily depending on when you load needs to be there. I prefer to drive days you can see better during the day.
Check the red writing for most of the responses

 

You are not paid salary you make so many cents per mile.
As you read that after two years you can make up to 50,000
You can make up to 45,000 at some companies on your first year if you run hard.

A realistic first year you should expect to make about 25,000-30,000

 

Ok I am avid listener of other than radio in my truck. Drives me crazy having to constantly find another radio station. This being said I have a laptop with a 160G hard drive and a 250G External hard drive. Both of them are jam packed up with programs( PC MILER< INTERNET EXPLOERER< WIFI Software< Log Software< street and trips ETC ETC but I also have over 4000 hours yes four thousand hours of audiobooks. Most of my books are 1-8 hours so I can usually get 1 7-8 hour book in a day and the fill rest up with either old time radio i have on my laptop or a western or something like that. I also have 10 or so books that exceed 30 hours. I got burned on both Sirius and XM they tend to repeat the same shows way to much for my liking. I just hook up why Laptop thru the radios AUX jack and wallah. For company drivers you can use a $22 FM Modulator that does the same thing it just broadcasts thru a FM frequency so periodically you have to change channels and in the biggest cities theres so much bleed thru on stations you might as well forget it.
I find that sitting in the truck for a shift with occassional breaks for food, leg stretches bathrooms etc is way more comfortable than sitting at a desk for 8 hours. These chairs are designed to be comfortable for long periods of time.
Now as far as driving times it varies by company. Some companies insist you keep your log legal and honest. Sit at a shipper will eat into your 14 hour day. Other companies just want it to look legal so in the end you show less time at shipper and more time in sleeper so you can drive whole 11 hours every day. (Just a note if you aren't good at cheating the comic book don't do it DOT will love you).
Most OTR trucks have beds. If you want to be a on the road always lifestyle and not have a home use your parents, aunts, uncles friends address. This qualifies you for tax breaks of depending who you talk to of up to $50/day. It varies on where you are driving. I find most drivers just claim around $40 some a day x around 300 - 320 days per year thats a savings of over $12k / year. Then deduct clothes glasses boots radio tv cb cell phone satellite radio audiobooks etc and you can easily deduct over 20k per year.

 

Unfortunately you won't find a job over the road untill you are 21'thats the law.But many companies wo'nt hire you untill youre at least 23 years of age.I spose they figure the older you are the more mature you are.But there are companies in your state thatll hire 18 yrs old.You just cant leave the state.I think thats called intra state.If youre planning on getting your CDL I would highly suggest you wait till at least 22 because if you get it now youre just going to have to go back to truck school because youll have forgotton all that you learned and then itll be money wasted.I personally do'nt get tired driving 8 hrs a day heck thats nothing.I drive my 11 full hrs and get over 600 miles a day.But I imagine for the new drivers it is hard driving 8 full hrs.It depends on the person.I don't have any problems sleeping in the truck.I sleep better in the truck then at home.But make sure you have a soft matress pad and soft blankets.Otherwise you will ache and be still for weeks.Believe me I know.Those matresses in trucks have no support and its like sleeping on a board without a matress pad.

 

I have a Thermarest (sleeping pad for camping) that is really comfortable. I've used it as my only mattress on many occassions, so I hope it serves me in a truck.

 

Lupe..

I'd not bother with one of those "send the same application to 500 companies" sites. Research the companies you want to work for, and send your applications directly to them.

According to the law, as I understand it, you do NOT need to be a citizen - you need to be able to work in the US, and get a US driver's license.

As for mattresses - I've only been in 6 different trucks overnight, never had a problem with the beds in any of them - and I'm 6'6" tall and over 300 pounds. On the other hand, I do like a firm mattress...