SOMEONE said it couldn't be done...

The NE isnt that bad..........until you factor in parking, traffic, and the attitudes of *most* people who work in the warehouses up there. Also it'll get worse when winter blows in................ but the cities you listed arent bad or even close to being headaches!! Run Boston, Philly, NYC, and Newark for a couple years, then you will see the beauty in running ANYWHERE other then the NE


Oh!! Good Job of finding something other then the Mega Carriers!!

 

there's also ways of doing it without sounding like a braggart like some are taking offense to.

 

if the studwnts wannabees hanger ons and ones that never get into the industry didnt get threads like this once and a while
from people other then the ones that go to CRE SWIFT AND JBHUNT only the REAL truck drivers would be lefy because they really truly believe they are doing something other then a job

like the garbage man who is a garbologist
there is an ### fir every seat in trucks everyone needs to find his

 

It's not that you "must do it this way." There are many folks who jump into situations like you've found here that are completely taken advantage of by an unscrupulous individual - running broken-down equipment, maybe not licensed/permitted properly or no insurance. The way the regulations are its up to the driver to ensure all this is correct before getting onto the road, so you can see how things might devolve onto newb. Also, many new drivers really struggle at this, and throwing driving, managing the operation of a solo truck, etc. onto someone all at once can be overwhelming.

What you see with the "negativity" as you like to put it is perhaps something more of a cautionary attitude from many of us who have seen the MANY sad tales of someone in a bad situation that have been posted here. It's not uncommon for someone to find themselves totally screwed, a thousand miles from home, no money, no ride - and very few options for getting what's owed them. Frequently these situations are related by someone like yourself, who doesn't want to get their experience from a large company, and who is taken in by a con. This sort of unscrupulous behavior while not the rule in the industry does happen frequently because its easy to get away with it.

Frankly, when one starts labeling the more experienced drivers on this forum as "the peanut gallery" - you're not winning any friends. It smacks of arrogance and conceit.

 

Well said as usual Ironpony.The OP would be well advised to listen to , It does not mean he has to follow , the advice of many on TTR such as yourself.You guys have been down the road more than once, and a smart person can read posts and decide who is full of crap and who is worth atleast listening to.To the OP I wish nothing but the best for you. My path was somewhat simmilar to yours. I did 6 months otr with a well known refer outfit, and hooked on wih a local company.Home everynite,but I did go with a trainer and was taught some good stuff. I am not saying it needs to be 4-6 weeks for everyone but it is very usefull, because it is not if but when you find yourself in an oh shi- situation you may be able to go back to something your trainer touched on or showed you or got you out of before. I am a few months shy of 2 years driving, most of that has been driving the Chicagoland area and when I think I have seen it all something else happens, so always keep your eyes open and never stop trying to improve your skills.

 

Just because someone is 21 does not mean they are a snot nosed kid with no life experience. At 21, I was working on my 2nd combat tour. Generalizations are not your friend.

 

Well said! Cant stand closed minded idiots like that.

 

We have snot nosers making $1500 - $1900 week and getting home every day where I work. Don't believe me, log on to a ltl forum a and see for yourself. Some even post their paycheck

 

That's probably my least favorite state in the Northeast to drive in. Getting in and out of some of those little towns with a long box can be a real fuster cluck. RI isn't much better.