Questions from a Wannabe

Posted on Sat, Nov 11 2006 @ 3:17 PM [EST]

I have been watching and reading blog posts here for the last couple of days in trying to get some info. I figure a better way to go about it is just join and ask. Little bit about me: I was just fired from a very Corporate job that I hated after the first six months of employment. I really thought of sticking it out, but the job just wore on me. I have about 14 years experience in the production world. I now want to change career choices and get my CDL to start driving. If you had asked me from the time I was 3 till about 16 what I was going to be when I grew up I answered with no hesitation. "I wanna drive a truck". Somewhere between there and here I lost that idea or dream. Anyway, I have seen the posts about the big truck companies and their hiring and exploiting new drivers. My question is: if you guys and gals were able to start over, how would you change your entry into the trucking field? Are there good experiences you've had that you wouldn't change? Would you put yourself through school first and then find a job, or would you go through the national carriers and have them pay for your school and in turn sign a contract with them? What "good" companies are out there that would hire someone straight out of school and put them behind the wheel after the initial company training? Seems that every company site I have visited promise the world but there is nothing in writing. Just a few questions. Thanks for your time. Road Hard2003

Category Posted: General

Comments

If you go to an outside school,alot of trucking companies come in to recruit you.Even at technical schools that offer a truck driving course have a steady stream of recruiters come in. Your best bet is to go out and try talking to as many drivers as possible from companies your interested in.That will give you a better idea what a company is like. Most important question is how often do they get home and for how long. If you can afford to pay your way,do it. No strings attached that way. I personally don't care for the big companies because I don't like being a number. A medium sized company is more people oriented.Walk in and people know you by name. Pay and benefits are about the same. As far as I know Schnieder has an excellent school and training program.Probably the best among trucking companies.I have met alot of good drivers that had gone there.

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Sat, Nov 11 2006 @ 7:46 PM [EST]

O.K., the fact is without experience the smaller companies won't touch you unless you are a good talker. Most of the people coming into the industry now work for the big companies until they get the experience they need. At the big companies you are just a number and there is no name attached to you. I would work for the smaller companies where they know who you are and how you perform. But without said experience unless you have a gift of gab and can talk them into letting you work for them you will probably have to work for the big companies. If you pay for the school yourself then you have the freedom to try working for anyone that will take you on. But if you are like the rest of us then it is hard to come up with that much money on your own which means you might have to sign on at one of the big company schools and work until your obligation is fulfilled.

Comment By:
loconuez on Sat, Nov 11 2006 @ 7:49 PM [EST]

There are a few medium sized companies around with training programs but they're generally not to good.

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Sat, Nov 11 2006 @ 10:41 PM [EST]

Thanks so much for your input. I have looked into the program at Schneider and seems to be the best. I also have a friend that is interested in team driving with me. But, don't know if my wife will go for the time away from home. I believe I will try to put myself through school, maybe even try to finance the costs. I'm in no huge hurry right now, I do have a little time to research different companies and travel times. RoadHard2003

Comment By:
roadhard2003 on Sun, Nov 12 2006 @ 12:07 AM [EST]

Go to a private school so you can come and go as you please. I get so tired of typing the same response over and over again. These companies that will hire you stright from school usually don't offer you much but will get the experience you need to jump ship to another better paying gig so USE-THEM not let them USE-YOU. Tear up their trucks not someone elses they don't care about you anyway. DO NOT do favors for these large bastards they will in turn only screw you over and over again. I get physically ill when I think about my not so SWIFT days. I make twice as much now as when I started and I am home everynight. So (fill in the blank, large carrier) go to hell. I will be screwed only once and I learn quick. VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Sun, Nov 12 2006 @ 3:12 AM [EST]

Oh by the way running team is NOT a good idea unless your married to your co-driver. Try locking yourself in a space the size of a bathroom with another person and not be at each others throat by the end of it. If you don't want to listen to us then by all means bring a jar of vaseline so its easier on your rear end. Please don't go with any large carrier,.. why should I care, I don't know you, happy days with Schneider until you say Rdhzrd, Lennut, and VM were right this company sucks ass. VM-out! and very weary of typing the same thing over and over again!

Comment By:
VM on Sun, Nov 12 2006 @ 5:47 AM [EST]

Like I said, I'm only digging for information at this time. The driver I'm considering teaming with is a friend of mine of 20+ years. We have roomed together in the past and had no problems. Could get tough in a smaller area but, I believe we can do it and make some cash. As far as Schnieder I haven't made a soild decision yet. I have yet to go to my local truck stop and talk to some of the people that work for them. VM-Sorry you were shafted by SWIFT, but know because of your blogs- I won't be going there! And the hiring process and the little amount of people I have talked to from P.A.M. and USA have left a bad taste in my mouth. Please keep comments coming. Just trying to learn from experienced individuals and not follow mistakes made in the past. RoadHard2003

Comment By:
roadhard2003 on Sun, Nov 12 2006 @ 12:26 PM [EST]

I apologize for being so gruff on my last post that was quite out of line. I tend to go off the deep end once in a while. Its just that I hate to see someone repeat the same mistakes I made over and over again. I realize that some people can't swing the tuition for truck school and may have to sign a contract. If you do don't sign it if it requires you to stay more than a year. Its a tough biz to get your start at but once you get your first year under your belt its all downhill from there. Once again I apologize for posting such a "jackass" statement, please forgive me. Wishing you well..VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Mon, Nov 13 2006 @ 3:33 AM [EST]

Thanks VM, I really do appreciate the input. I am going to my unemployment office today to see if they offer or have information for a CDL, since I am a displaced worker. Just taking little steps now, before I make the plunge.RoadHard2003

Comment By:
roadhard2003 on Mon, Nov 13 2006 @ 10:47 AM [EST]

It just sounds like momma didn't give VM anything again! But I think you will find that drivers with small or medium sized companies have had bad luck with the big companies. I know I did and so did VM. The best advice I can now is where ever you go to work, try to stick it out for the first year with them. By the end of your first year you will be able to look back at the things that were making you want to quit are now real easy to deal with. My wifes first year driving solo,she started out wanting to quit so bad it sometimes had her in tears and she wanted to go back to teaming.I just kept telling her to stick with it. It will get better.By the end of that first year there was no way she was going to go back to teaming with me!

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Mon, Nov 13 2006 @ 2:44 PM [EST]

VM- Thanks man, we are cool, no worries. I understand being burnt and the disgruntled feelings that can follow. I hated my last job to the bone! Like I said it was super corporate and they wanted everyone else to follow the mold. When I didn't that put a huge target on me and felt like I had people looking over my shoulder every time I turned around. I did go to the unemployment office today, and there is some kind of class or seminar tomorrow on CDL training. I am going to check it out and see what (if anything) is offered. More on that later. I did see the blog that Nitro had written about. I checked it out and read from begining to end the sequence this driver had gone through. I have heard about drivers leasing vehicles and getting burnt by that company. My father in law had told me about Ford doing the same to leasees of their trucks in the 80's. I have heard good things about John Christner Trucking. Any comments? RoadHard2003

Comment By:
roadhard2003 on Mon, Nov 13 2006 @ 7:48 PM [EST]

I don't know much about Christner.They don't get up in my neck of the woods too often.A company I had driven for had bought some of thier old trucks and had lots of problems with them. So they do know when to get rid of trucks!! Another place to go to see how a company is doing safety wise is Safersys.org. It takes a little looking around but you can get an idea how they are doing.

Comment By:
Roadhzrd on Mon, Nov 13 2006 @ 8:07 PM [EST]

one company you might want to give a call after completing truck driving school is crete carriers i would not go to schneider to get license i made that mistake, unless you don,t mind being seriouslly exploited for a year. their training is good but you can get that training at another school.

Comment By:
joe on Tue, Nov 14 2006 @ 1:10 PM [EST]

Dang guys, he just asked for some advice and you write a whole book about the subject. VM, now you be nice or I will have to get mean and you tend to sulk so play nice for a little while. Roadhzrd you are going to have to ride herd on him because I haven't been able to get on line for a while. Roadhard get onto http://vaqueromuerto.com and http://roadhzrd.com and you will see what trucking is about from the short haul and the long distance viewpoint because they both express their experiences in a totally honest way. I am an owner operator so I feel that they can help you more than I can. My blog is http://lenutt.com and I go everywhere that the money and the roads take me.

Comment By:
loconuez on Thu, Nov 16 2006 @ 11:42 PM [EST]

Ok, I'll play nice Loconuez, you know I am big softy under all this pent up rage I have. I have many faults I admit. A bad temper is one of them. I'll be good to our future drivers, I promise. VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Sat, Nov 18 2006 @ 7:48 AM [EST]

Who said you can't get two drivers to agree on anything? Great post drivers, and very commendable cameraderie.

Comment By:
Loozlugnut on Fri, Dec 29 2006 @ 10:36 AM [EST]

I wish I had known about the MPG-Cap when I first got involved in this industry. My bottom line would have been at least 20%fatter, and my boss would probably be worth ten times that number. check it out www.mpg-goal.com nothing this good has happened to truckers in two generations.

Comment By:
norrean goal on Tue, Jan 09 2007 @ 2:57 PM [EST]

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