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Trucker Wannabe Looking for Advice, Please Help

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by crimson27, Jan 9, 2014.

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  1. Jan 9, 2014 #1
    crimson27

    crimson27 Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jan 8, 2014
    Portage La Prairie, MB
    0
    Good Day all.I'm new to this site, new to the trucking industry and am loaded with questions. I hope you guys and gals can help me out.

    1.)I'm looking for info on the following companies, the good, the bad, the ugly.

    (4Tracks Ltd,Longhorn Transport,Arnold Bros,New Hope,Bartel Bulk Freight,Paul Brandt,Big Freight Systems Inc,Portage Transport Inc.,Bison Transport,Payne Transportation,Custom Transport,Searcy Trucking Ltd.,Darcol International,Steve’s Livestock Transport,Gardewine,TransX,HyLife,TMR Enterprises,Jade Transport,Trappers Transport,Kleysen Group LP)

    2.) I'm also thinking about starting out as an O/O, any advice? Different expenses involved?

    Any other info for an aspiring new Truck Driver.

    Much Thanks and Safe Travels.
     
    crimson27, Jan 9, 2014
    crimson27, Jan 9, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jan 9, 2014 #2
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,154
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    You need to seriously rethink #2. If you have to ask about the expenses involved you most certainly need to rethink #2 ... unless you can plop down $150,000 for a new truck and can have a $30,000 credit line and/or cash in the bank, so as to be able to survive the first year without filing bankruptcy and ruining whatever credit you may have, as you learn the ropes and figure out where you need to be.
     
    STexan, Jan 9, 2014
    STexan, Jan 9, 2014
    #2
    DriverToBroker, pattyj, crimson27 and 2 others Thank this.
  4. Jan 9, 2014 #3
    luvtotruck

    luvtotruck Road Train Member

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    1,161
    Jul 30, 2013
    Phoenix Arizona
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    Well we can help you OUT:biggrin_25519: as long as you tell us which way you came in! So you want to learn to drive a truck and be able to make payments and book loads and figure out where you are going, where your next load is loading and what route to take but yet you are not even sure what the additional expenses to all this there may be? I am right? RIGHT!

    Ok Back up and take baby steps, Learn how to maneuver that 80000 pound rocket full of baby gummy bears that needed to be there before they were born! So learn how to drive then learn to efficiently move that piece of equipment down the road SAFELY then learn where you are goig on a regular basis, learn how to inspect that piece of equipment properly and about 3-5 years down the road think about looking for a truck you can make your own, I'm sure there is a whole lot of things that I am missing but this is the general process.
    For you to get into trucking and think you can do it all with a profit right away is a good thought but in reality you are playing Russian rullet. Learn every aspect of the business you possibly can and if the opportunity presents itself then you can look into it! Think long and hard into what you are doing, there is plwnty of folks here that will lead you in the right direction. Also if you tell us where you are we may be able to help you with where to go for schooling or whatever else you may ask us about.

    Good luck.
     
    luvtotruck, Jan 9, 2014
    luvtotruck, Jan 9, 2014
    #3
    pattyj, crimson27 and to truck or not to truck Thank this.
  5. Jan 9, 2014 #4
    brsims

    brsims Road Train Member

    5,296
    6,521
    Aug 8, 2009
    Meadville, PA
    0
    Baby gumming bears! Pshaw, I say! Try a load of ping balls filled with helium on a flatbed! AND I did the whole trip (650 mi) in REVERSE!! In winter conditions with constant white outs the whole way, steering with just my knee while I re-educated the President on the phone AND baked cookies!
     
    brsims, Jan 9, 2014
    brsims, Jan 9, 2014
    #4
    BigRigEvan and luvtotruck Thank this.
  7. Jan 10, 2014 #5
    crimson27

    crimson27 Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jan 8, 2014
    Portage La Prairie, MB
    0
    I'm in Manitoba. I'm going to be taking a 6 week course offered free through Manitoba Public Insurance. The reason it's free is, I have to sign a 2 year contract with one of the companies I mentioned.

    As in terms of being an O/O, I am aware that there are many fees involved, (fuel,Insurance/plates,maintenance,border fees,permits and fees depending what your hauling,different toll fees depednding where your hauling, and of course truck payments) I do currently have a relatively good paying job and I make close to 60k, have good credit and I have an accountant and banker all set up, so actually acquiring the truck isn't too much of a problem.

    I understand I have a lot to learn, and advice I can get from people with experience is invaluable and sometimes cannot be taught in schools, rather through networking and experiencing it myself.

    So that's kind of where I'm at, my medical is on monday and I should find out this upcoming week if I'm approved for this course.

    Please continue to post and safe travels!
     
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    #5
  8. Jan 10, 2014 #6
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

    22,474
    20,137
    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
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    Why do you wanna quit a good job for trucking?A 2 yr contract is quite the sacrifice .Other companies require a yr contract and that's all reimbursement.The odds of a newby staying with their first company for 2 yrs is very remote.Most last 3 to 6 months and move on.Are all those companies based in Canada?You may have better luck there then the states.Why do you wanna be an O/O without any knowledge of what truck driving in detail is like?Have you ever even seen the inside of a long haul truck?Why you in such a hurry to make it to the top?
     
    pattyj, Jan 10, 2014
    pattyj, Jan 10, 2014
    #6
    to truck or not to truck and luvtotruck Thank this.
  9. Jan 10, 2014 #7
    crimson27

    crimson27 Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jan 8, 2014
    Portage La Prairie, MB
    0
    I'm a manager in my current job. Fed up with where the company is going and I've always toyed with the idea of being a long haul driver. I have to work 2 years in a combination of the above companies, I don't have to work for one select company for 2 years but as long as I'm working for one of the companies listed then my course is paid for.

    All the companies are in canada, manitoba more specifically.

    Yes I've seen what the inside of a truck looks like, my ex's father is a truck driver.

    I'm very much a go getter, I want to dig in and make the cash, have more freedom as to what loads I want and grow a business potentially in say 5 years.
     
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    #7
  10. Jan 10, 2014 #8
    luvtotruck

    luvtotruck Road Train Member

    1,978
    1,161
    Jul 30, 2013
    Phoenix Arizona
    0
    Well after all that being said! Good Luck, In the 2 years as a indentured servant! You may learn all you need to so that you are able to get right in and sink to the bottom ut that is going to be a tough go at it. but Good Luck!
     
    luvtotruck, Jan 10, 2014
    luvtotruck, Jan 10, 2014
    #8
    crimson27 Thanks this.
  11. Jan 10, 2014 #9
    crimson27

    crimson27 Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jan 8, 2014
    Portage La Prairie, MB
    0
    I've done some more reading online today, and also taking into consideration that I would probably be better off starting as a company driver first and learning the ropes before I get my own truck. So I'm leaning more towards that now I think, also less hassle probably right off the bat as I have enough to learn and deal with just starting out in a new career.

    That aside, do you know anything about the companies I listed, any better than others?
     
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    #9
  12. Jan 10, 2014 #10
    crimson27

    crimson27 Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jan 8, 2014
    Portage La Prairie, MB
    0
    and yes I will go update my profile :)
     
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    crimson27, Jan 10, 2014
    #10
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