Will an O/O take a newb as a partner?

Sorry, not me. I don't even want to know what that would do to my insurance rates!

 

I trained a buddy of mine a few years ago... he turned out to be one of the best team drivers I ever had.

The first dock he hit was spot on.. and on the first try! I was amazed since I've known him since he was a kid and never thought much about his talent.

I brought him on-board initially to just help me chain and tarp when my shoulder was bad... taught him to drive so he could give me a little break in the wee hours... kept him on when I switched to a dry van.

He quit to take a 40 hour job but hasn't had much luck getting a GOOD job... I told him I'd buy a 379 just for him next spring if he would run the veggie harvest for me... he can probably make 40k just working 8 months per year.

 

You are asking the right questions! So many of us on here will tell you to beware of all the pretty PR those big training companies put out.

Stay away from those guys and go to a good driving school on your own, then an O/O might take you on.

When I say stay away from the training companies, I'm talking about those who train you free in exchange for a year long work commitment. DON'T DO IT!!!
They will use and abuse you to no end.

Do your homework on finding a good independent driving school in your area. The better ones usually take 3 months or so, and cost between $3-5 thousand. I've not kept up with those costs, but that is probably still about right.

And one last thing, when you finish that school, come back on here and ask the same question, or better yet, keep us posted on how your doing along the way and you might be surprised if someone doesn't offer to help you out.

Good luck with finding the right school. Sometimes you can get state money for it.