Which type of trucking is best…?

What’s interesting to you? What do you want to learn? Don’t buy into the argument that just because you’re a new driver you have to work at a mega carrier for a year for less than par wages. If you want to learn tank work then reach out and find out if they hire drivers out of school and if so do they have any requirements for the schooling you need to have, things like hours and such.

There’s nothing wrong with starting out pulling a dry van but in my opinion with everyone looking for drivers these days you can probably skip a step and go right into what you want to be doing.

 

Pulling a dry van requires the least attention about the freight compared to all other frieght. Long-term I think you would find more satisfaction pulling tanker. All trucking freight requires you to survive the endless frustration of sharing the roads with smartphone worshippers who find themselves behind the steering wheel. Tanker customers generally treat you like a fellow human being and often like a professional. More tanker, compared to dry van and reefer, customers allow you to park on their property rather than parking at truck stops. Tanker usually pays more than dry van and reefer. Flatbed would be my 2nd choice after tanker, simply because I don't want to do much physical activity other than just drive the truck and cope with not being home.

 

MAS TEQUILA !!!!!

 

I've ran dry van, flatbed, dry bulk and liquid tankers, liquid tanks are the bees knees.

Dry van - a lot of sitting at docks, big warehouses with lots of trucks and arrogant shippers/receivers, 53 ft trailer, having to stop and weigh axles...all things I hated.

Flatbed - I didn't mind flatbed much, full tarp jobs in pouring rain, freezing temps or 50 mph winds sucked. Hauled lots of cool stuff to interesting places. Spread axle trailer so never worried about axle weights.

Dry bulk - not for me. Every material unloads different. One day I'd haul 3/4 limestone that would plug the line if you even looked at it wrong, next I'd haul sand and be empty in 30 mins. Lots of waiting at large quarries, load would shift if you had to brake hard and make you way heavy on your drives.

Liquid tanks - by far my favorite. Lots of tanker companies pay detention, might have to give an hour but you still make out. Some samples take 4+ hours. Customers are generally nice to you, shippers are the same. Easy unloads, easy loads, pay is generally better than other types of freight. Biggest thing to remember is unlike every other freight on the road, the freight you are hauling is not stationary. The surge can bite you if you're not careful.

 

I’d start researching what companies hire graduates right out of school and find out the steps needed to get hired. The hiring market is in your favor and many companies that never used to look at new graduates have changed their hiring practices. No need to go be a slave at a mega carrier and be underpaid until you pay them back for school.

 

I thought you had it all planned out to be a millionaire in 5 years...

 

I bet he is holding back because He's worried about getting thrown into a higher tax bracket... when he becomes a millionaire

 

25 years as an open deck operator. Started day one on them. Plenty of places to get started at with training. As megas go, Maverick probably is one of the better choices. Get a couple of years in and move on to better opportunities.