Switching career to trucking, need advice

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by geodrive, Aug 27, 2024.

  1. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Dot Transportation is a good outfit. Only difficulty being hired there is there's rarely an opening. Drivers tend to stay. Several new grads on this forum have applied for Dot in California and found there's just no openings. Apply anyway though; might luck out.
     
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  3. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    When you pick an employer you just decided what your schedule, pay, insurance costs, which fuel stops you can use, where you drive, if you have cameras watching you all day, how many miles you drive, if you park truck at yard/home, and lots of other things.

    You are not going to get hired on and then change any of the above at the company. Most newbies assume it's all a big buffet & you can pick from among an endless list of choices. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

    Your choice is Company A, B, C, D ..... Z and you just locked in all of the details & conditions at that one company. Newbies ask questions like "what's the a rage pay & average miles, etc." You don't get the industry average pay & miles. You get what Company C pays & their miles & their policies. The miles & policies can make it almost impossible to work at a company for 12 months or they can make it easy to stay for 12 .months or more. Choose carefully.
     
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  4. geodrive

    geodrive Bobtail Member

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    @tscottme Thank you, this is very good tip. I just don't know what miles and policies look like or how they make me feel at the moment.
    -I do not like having the camera watching me all day
    -I do not like driving with a team passenger. I do prefer no-touch load but am open for either.
    -I do not like to be rush and think it is unsafe to race against time.
    -I do not have space at home to park a truck.

    I may have to experience a variety of companies before I learn what it is I like and dislike. Primarily, I am looking for what is good for beginners.
    DOT (DTI) company seemed like a great way to get schooling reimbursement, paid during training, and job, but I contacted them today and they said there are no openings for students at the moment in California. I was bummed out.

    Sigh. I am looking into Western Pacific Truck School now in Sacramento. (Or maybe Western Truck School?) And trying to see if I can get WIOA grant to cover school costs. I am still wondering if going into a mega company first to gain experience is the better option for me. Still reading around.
     
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  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    May Trucking Company will reimburse cdl school tuition back to you.
    ~
    Melton Truck Lines has cdl school tuition reimbursement program.
    ~~
    Prime Inc. will reimburse $1500.00 of your cdl school tuition back to you.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2024
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  6. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Just because Dot has no openings for new drivers at present -- doesn't necessarily mean they won't have any next month -- or further into the near future.

    Thus -- choosing a CDL school listed on Dot's website (in the link given above/earlier) is likely still to be a good idea.

    -- L
     
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  7. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Going with a mega has the advantage of usually having good freight options. They will keep you running with enough variety to get some good experience.

    Swift has a terminal in Lathrop, which is pretty close to you.
    No driver facing camera, just a dash cam with no audio.
    You can run as a solo driver after training.
    No touch freight, with very few exceptions.
    You have options with the loads you accept. If the timing is too close for comfort you can counter the times with your own. If they don't work, they will find you a different load to run that has better times. Mac 9 is your friend. Sometimes you may have to run on a tight time schedule, but one of the things that keeps me at Swift is that mac 9.

    You can park your car at the terminal so you don't need to worry about taking the truck home.
    When you come back from home time you can set your PTA for whatever time is good for you. That lets you have enough time in the morning for the drive back to the terminal.
     
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  8. geodrive

    geodrive Bobtail Member

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    @Chinatown and @Moosetek13 : I am thinking those mega companies would be a good start for experience. Those are still options. I will look into them: Swift, May, Melton, Prime.

    @lual Good tip. I sent a message to Western Truck School and Western Pacific Truck School. Both are partner schools to DOT (DTI).

    @Jamie01 Wow! I like this job posting. Great pay, good benefits, plenty of hours, home daily. That means I can maintain a social life lol. Can I apply and let them know I am seeking CDL school at the moment or must I get it done first before I can apply?
     
  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    I must be invisible here,,,
     
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  10. geodrive

    geodrive Bobtail Member

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    @201 lol no, of course not. Your message was quite welcoming. Thank you. Even though I typed out names, all of my posts are addressed to anyone and everyone who have input that can help point me in the right direction. To be honest, I don't know if I like the idea of having a contract to a Mega, but it also seems Mega would give me the proper experience for a beginner.
     
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