Soon to be rookie with questions.

kenkenni.. I too have been trying to absorb the wisdom this site has to offer. I went to a local community college to get my training. Got to keep my full time job, be home almost every night with my family and had very nice and flexible instructors who really teach you more than just how to drive a truck.

I too looked into driver solutions with USA and PAM and blah blah.. but you MUST consider this.. They will OWN you for a year if not more. I was lucky enough to find this program at a college and get this... I havn't paid a dime. Training paid for, books paid for and even my permit and license is paid for... by uncle sam. Do some research into grants and such and you may get some if not all of your training paid for. But I think there may be a salary cap.. not sure. But even if you have to pay out of pocket.. you still can CHOOSE who you work for.. whatever you do.. do NOT get company paid training..

Good luck and stay safe!

 

http://www.atlantatech.edu/student_info/tuo1.asp

http://www.dekalbtech.edu/academics/program.php?id=193



Have you looked at all your other options? Now there isn't nothing really wrong with trucking. But as a new driver that you plan to be & the government breathing down our necks like they are.... There are other exciting employment options that you can take. You have many training options. I'm going to put 2 likes below of things that I have looked into... If I had to do it all over again, I would go for an education & learn how to do something. Right now I'm worthless unless a truck is involved.

http://www.aviationmaintenance.edu/index.asp


http://www.atlantapd.org/index.asp?nav=Career

 

Not everyone started out as something else. Alot have been truckers their whole entire lives. You should know what trucking is all about considering you are at a "wally world".....deep down, what do you think?

 

Hey guys sorry I couldn't reply soon enough. Holiday hours at "Wallys". Thanks for the links though one of those seem to want me to take reading, math, and english all over again. I would much rather spend that time behind the wheel learnin basic and advanced truck driving. I think I am going to go the Atlanta Truck Driving School route as nothing beats one on one training for the length of the course. One truck one student. Annie,deep down this is what I would like to do. Need to get my feet wet before I get any older. I am all over the E-Gears website studying the courses as we speak. This tech school I'm thinking about also has placement assistance and I think they can get you some of the best and most fair employers. I believe they train on manuals also. I'm kind of nervous about manual trucks but It may be in my best interest to go and learn the proper shifting techniques. I know in a truck it has to be more than listening at the rpms.

 

One thing you said is absolutely correct. There is a lot more to trucking than listening to RPM's. (Or what you will learn in any school) Thats how the "Big" companies screw over the newbies. They take advantage of the things that a new driver Doesnt know. Like how to deal with dispatch, etc. Be very careful in what you agree to, until you have more experience...

 

Four questions please:
1.) I'm 55 - too old to start?
2.) If I go to school myself (at Allstate for example) how much more can I expect to make with a company that has their own training?
3.) Would I be correct in assuming that a year driving auto-shift is a wasted year in the eyes of a company running standards?
4.) In 2-3 years from now is it realistic to think I can be home (almost) everynight and bring in $50,000 a year?

Thanks to you all.
Bill

 

I loved the "crapper" part. It made me wonder, how do you OTR guys keep the crystal chandelier from rattling while you drive? Is it safe to run the oven while driving, or should it be shut off?

 

Or should you keep dryer running while driving or parked? I personally ran my dryer when I was driving it seemed to dry better with an airflow. I had to take my chandelier out cause it kept falling down and knocking me out while I was driving.

 

1.) Would I be correct in assuming that a year driving auto-shift or 'full-auto' is a wasted year in the eyes of a company running standards?
2.) Besides not being contractually bound to work for a certain period and not having to reimburse the company for their schooling should I quit early, is there an income advantage if I go to school myself and hire on with a 'beginners' company?
3.) In 2-3 years from now is it realistic to think I can be home (almost) everynight and bring in $50,000 a year?

 

1. Not really, but depends on what company you talk to after that year.
2. Same as if you went to their school providing you make it a year.
3. SURE. I do it now (more than $50k though) and I had about 2 months when I landed that gig.