Thinking of a career in truck driving

I would suggest you pay for your own trucking school and then try to work for a few reputable carriers first. You can search the trucking companies on this forum or you can go to a few truck stops and talk to the drivers about what they think about their company.

Ask how long they have been there and if they plan to stay. Ask if the company takes good care of the equipment and if they run you too hard or not hard enough. If you like trucking after your first year, don't wait and get your own first used truck. Don't lease purchase whatever you do. Purchase a decent used truck for the best deal you can get and start hauling for an all owner operator company while you are building your own customer list.

Find a company that you can enjoy working WITH not FOR and start working for better and better rates. Keep a clean MVR and CSA and make sure your truck always passes inspection. Learn how to operate your truck with the lowest overhead and highest rates on the type of freigtht you like to haul and continue building your customer list. If the carriers you are working with wont pay you well, consider getting your own authority and finding your own customers from the list you have made after a couple of years of hauling loads. You should have over a hundred customers to start with.

You could make over 100K a year if you manage everything right, but it will take you at least 5 years to find the right freight , customers, and learn how to maintain your truck right so as to minimize repairs and get the most life out of your equipment, but to me that is fun part. I love getting twice the life out of equipment and I love watching the sad faced DOT officer frown when he can't find anything wrong with my equipment.

You could just stay with a carrier, but as long as you are driving someone else's truck, you are always subject to their rules, regulations, and whether or not they could keep their customers. In the end all people prefer to work with people they know even if they aren't the best people for the job.

 

use your vet benefits to get paid training. There's a company down in AZ or New mexico that caters to vets.

I have seen their ad on Military.com anyway.

Wish I could remember the name of the place.

 

If new drivers made half what you need the industry wouldn't have the turnover of over 90% . Beautiful big rigs ? A lot of newbies get sent to recover filthy trucks abandoned by the previous driver .
There is hope though . Forget the big rigs temporarily and talk to FedEx Custom Critical and Panther about approved schools that will get you in an expedite straight truck . They qualify you right out of school - no 4 to 6 weeks as a $300 a week trainee .

 

There is also a very good chance of rapid advancement in expedite . You can buy a truck and become an O/O . Buy more and become a fleet owner . FedEx Ground is also all O/O and most of the tractors pulling doubles are owned by fleet owners .

 

First year earnings for most new drivers should be in the $30-35,000 range. Your second year you could be over $40,000. These are realistic numbers. There are some carriers that will pay you in the pay range you are seeking, but not without first having some experience. Moving into a more specialized area could help bolster your income.

 

I have met a few drivers who have worked for them. They do pay well. I don't remember the requirements. I believe you can go online and apply. As I recall they are based in Houston and you would need to go through their recruiting office there in order to land a position overseas. A few years ago one driver told me that he would earn over $90,000. They put you through a rather rigorous background check. They also have yards in several locations across the country. I have no idea what they pay domestically.

 

you tend to wind up in places that have GI's there too.

And people shooting at Americans or at least not having a really high regard for you.