Some solid advise to the "newb"

fortunately I will be paying for my own training.No need to sign contract, right? What are the odds of finding the "fit" the first time around? I'm really excited about going trucking and look forward to the big adventures.I'll study really hard cause the training is only 3 weeks long. I want to know that I know if you know what I mean! Thanks for the positive advice and I hope to see everybody out there. Any more great advice is greatly appriciated!!

 

Good thread guys!!!! Great stuff!!!!

 

I just joined up and I am glad I did. I was recently let go from my job, and I have been thinking about trucking. So now I am trying to get a good idea of what trucking really is about. I am a 32 year young woman, and I have heard that it will be rough on me. Any comments or advice?????

 

I would study real hard as you will be training you're whole career not just 3wks. Well I should say learning. I am by far quote experienced as I have only logged a little over 96,000mls but I do know putting you're trailer in a hole that's so tight you have to drop your landing gear almost all the way down before you back in and unhook is different than when I was in school backing between cones set 12' apart,lol...I love driving and I try to learn something new everyday some by doing and some by watching. I would also say don't ever be embarrassed to g.o.a.l. or ask. Them old b****rds ain't as grumpy as one might think.well most of them....I guarrantee most would rather see u get out and look or ask them a question as opposed to getting their truck smeared.

 

Thanks Gator, from someone who just needed to know !!!!

 

I'm not too proud to ask. I may not have the experience, but I'm smart enough to know and learn all I can from the ones that do know, the veterans.Yeah learning never stops!! You can never know too much and you'll never know it all!! I cant wait!! I hope and pray that everyone stays safe tonight.

 

Trucking is one of the few jobs out there that actually has equal pay for equal work. The companies do not care what your gender is so long as you can do the job safely, legally, on time, and with no claims.

There are still some neanderthals out here that believe a womans place is barefoot and pregnant at home. you may hear; "A woman should not do a 'MANS' work" and other such drivel on the cb but in reality there are more and more women joining the industry every year and doing a GREAT JOB. The machines do the work and as long as you can climb in and out of the truck, open and close the trailer doors, drop and hook the trailer as needed, maneuver the truck forward and backward safely, you too can become a truck driver.

Expect to go to school for 4 weeks or so. This will cost around 5 grand depending on the school and the length of the course. This should enable you to pass your tests for your CDL license. There are some companies that will train you for free provided you sign a contract to drive for them for at least 1 year after graduation. If you are recently laid off there may be a state program for "retraining" displaced workers in your local job office which will actually pay your training costs and is the BEST way to get this training (short of paying for it out of your own pocket that is).

Next will be getting hired on as a student driver. Most large companies that accept student drivers are OTR (over the road) companies. They will assign you to a senior driver mentor/trainer who will teach you the companies way of doing things. This trainer should help you become a better driver and give you tips on backing, shifting, setting up for turns, etc. as well as teach you the computer work, paper work, trip planning, fueling , breakdown, routing, communicating with customers/dispatch and time management issues. This will normally take 4 to 6 weeks and you will be paid a flat rate daily while you are "training." The amount varies from company to company but figure on 100.00 a day for a ball park figure regardless of the amount of miles you drive. The trainer may be male or female, smoker or non smoker, rock and roller or country music listener. Be sure to request a female trainer if you are uncomfortable being cooped up with a man in an 8x6 box for a month. Same for smoking preferences. Companies will TRY to accomodate the trainee IF they can.

As you go you will become more and more aware of signs, traffic patterns, weather conditions, and routing. You will be gaining valuable experience which should translate into more stamina and more money once you get assigned to your own truck.

Trucking can be a lonely lifestyle and you MUST be comfortable in your own skin. The majority of time will be spent alone and away from your friends and family but you will be earning a decent pay check WITH benefits.

To my knowledge trucking is the only job that allows a newbie to start making 40 to 50 grand per year (the first year) with as little as a month of training. Company drivers can make well over 70 grand a year and even more in some cases depending on the company and how hard the driver is willing to work.

 

Gator has it! Jumping from company to company especially nowadays will kill you. The job market in trucking is over flooded right now(most companies not hiring at all) so they can afford to be very picky as to who they want driving for them. Keep your record clean!

 

I try to be as positive as I can. With my research on this board I have found a good fit. It's not all roses but name a job that is. That's why I have good movies and a tv in my truck.

 

Just a thought to add for the long term goals of people who are intereted in becoming O/O's.

If you are interested in becoming an O/O you should have some experience in Business Managment to understand the aspects of managing the business of running a truck. Even if you drive or have driven for years as a company driver you don't get the experience of all of the aspects or what it takes to be an independent operator.

Understanding and knowing how money mangament, profit/loss, and income revenue should not necessarily be learned on the job when the job is your life.

Taxes, pemits, licenses, insurance, financing, fuel, brokers and your own personal income are all the aspects that you need to understand to be successful at being an O/O or any self employmenyt oppurtunity.

The U.S. statistics I think should that 70% of of new business failures happen in the first 2 years.

Having an accurate business plan, realistic time line and commitment to the business first almost everyone can be successful.

One of the reasons I bring this up is Because I met a Lease Operator a few weeks ago who stated that even though he had been making 3 times as much money as when he was a company driver, he was trying to sell his Sirius satelite radio, because he had spent all of the money he had been making on other things.

Good luck to everyone starting out, be careful and you can have a rewarding career in trucking whether it is company driving or as an Owner Owner Operator.