need advice from exp. truckers
kEN Colburn
U could drive local but then u need a truck schooll probably which with
what u make, u probably couldn't afford now. What about night schooll at
jr.college?
--
Gimme a bike, a laptop, a gun and a Leathermen's tool and i can
go anywhere and do anything. ezwr...@netcom.com
jb
> I am 26 yrs old and working in retail. I am supporting a family of
>5 on about $15,000/yr. I could finish college in about a year, but my
>wife doesnt work so I dont have the time or money to do that right now.
> I am considering a career in trucking but I am unsure if it is the
>best thing for my family. I dont want to be away from my family but I
>cant survive much longer on what I make.
> I have read ads where companies offer paid training if you work for
>them. Is this the best way to go? What are some good companies that do
>this? Also I was wondering: How much money can you make starting out?,
>and How much time do you spend away from home? I know varies between
>companies but I just want to know on average. Also I would appreciate
>any other advice, good and bad points, etc.
> I have always thought that I would like driving a truck but it is a
>tough decision so any advice will be very appreciated.
> Thank You,
> Stephen Kelley, Knoxville, TN
Russell Patterson
> I am 26 yrs old and working in retail. I am supporting a family of
>5 on about $15,000/yr. I could finish college in about a year, but my
>wife doesnt work so I dont have the time or money to do that right now.
> I am considering a career in trucking but I am unsure if it is the
>best thing for my family. I dont want to be away from my family but I
>cant survive much longer on what I make.
> Thank You,
> Stephen Kelley, Knoxville, TN
Once you start driving a truck and as long as your driving, the
chances of you being able to go to school are almost nil. Consider
that fact before you make the jump.
Russ Patterson ( Been down that road and still paying for it)
jb
> I am 26 yrs old and working in retail. I am supporting a family of
>5 on about $15,000/yr. I could finish college in about a year, but my
>wife doesnt work so I dont have the time or money to do that right now.
> I am considering a career in trucking but I am unsure if it is the
>best thing for my family. I dont want to be away from my family but I
>cant survive much longer on what I make.
> I have read ads where companies offer paid training if you work for
>them. Is this the best way to go? What are some good companies that do
>this? Also I was wondering: How much money can you make starting out?,
>and How much time do you spend away from home? I know varies between
>companies but I just want to know on average. Also I would appreciate
>any other advice, good and bad points, etc.
> I have always thought that I would like driving a truck but it is a
>tough decision so any advice will be very appreciated.
> Thank You,
> Stephen Kelley, Knoxville, TN
heres a few things to think about;
why do companys have a driver shortage when there offering 40k a year?
how much is you time worth? remember this is a 24 hr per day job, it
starts from the time you pick up your rig till the time you return it
to the owner
what about food and toiletries on the road? food alone avg's about
$10.00 per meal x 3 per day x7 days, x's roughly 40 - 50weeks a year-
figure it out. oh by the way no more 3 martini lunches come tax time
either
what about privacy? are you prepared 4 D.O.T. to search you personal
belongings ? now b-4 the flack starts flying from any one in this
group lets be honest here most D.O.T. are state troopers and you do
have the rite to refuse a search HOWEVER the trooper will just get a
warrant and he's in your truck PERIOD.
what about tickets log book ect? ca. and i could be wrong because i
refuse to run there any more begin at about $700.00 driver responsible
how about combat pay ? we go into some of the worst sections of this
country.
what about down time ? most drivers are paid milage
oh and just for your personal info this is just of the top of my head
in about 3 minutes. this list could go on for days maybe even years or
decades.
my best advice is stay in school and bite the bullet for now this is
not a bussines to get into rite now maybe in a few years (maybe)
there is just to much termoil out here with all the rate cutting- ,new
drivers have no concept of what it realy costs to live on the road let
alone they have no concept of self worth or unity. so with out some
guidance they find themselves listening to a transport recruiter or a
driving school putting visions of grandure in there head.
good luck
emho
pay by the mile. The more miles you drive the more money you
make.What you have to consider is you dont run miles sitting
home with the family.It is a trade off. If you dont mind missing
that little league game or that dance recital, or taking the wife
and kids to the park etc. then go for it. If these things are
important to you stay away from trucking.Trucking is like a
desease, it gets in your blood. I have been at it 25 yrs and
I really wouldn't advise any young man or woman to do it. It
means driving all night when you are sleepy and tired so the
load can get there on time. Driving all weekend when everyone
else is at the lake, I am sure you get the picture. If you are
now going to college, keep at it . Take a part time job, let
the wife do some part time work.Set a plan and work the plan.
It will pay off in the long run if you have planned your edu
wisely. This is just one truckers opinion you will surely get
many others. lots of luck.
Sandy Seeds
In misc.transport.trucking you wrote:
> I am 26 yrs old and working in retail. I am supporting a family of
>5 on about $15,000/yr. I could finish college in about a year, but my
>wife doesnt work so I dont have the time or money to do that right now.
> I am considering a career in trucking but I am unsure if it is the
>best thing for my family. I dont want to be away from my family but I
>cant survive much longer on what I make.
If it is at all possible your wife and/or other adult family members
should also go to work. As another reply said: develop a plan and work
that plan. Get your education if it's at all possible. At the age of
30 you will be entering the next century which will be demanding more
education of those who rise to the top.
> I have read ads where companies offer paid training if you work for
>them. Is this the best way to go? What are some good companies that do
>this? Also I was wondering: How much money can you make starting out?,
>and How much time do you spend away from home? I know varies between
>companies but I just want to know on average. Also I would appreciate
>any other advice, good and bad points, etc.
JB Hunt accepts new hire drivers from either their own or from certain
approved commercial driving schools. After you have graduated, you
will spend 7 weeks on the road with a trainer and earn $42 per day in
the van division.
However, the Flatbed Division has a different approach for "On The Job
Training" pay. I encourage you to check the Knoxville newspapers as
the Flatbed Recruiter will be giving seminars in Knoxville on February
1st; and the following Monday thru Wednesday in Nashville, Jackson and
Chattanooga.
We are starting up 2 small dedicated flatbed fleets based in both
Knoxville and Jackson, TN. These will be regional fleets, so you
could expect to get home, or thru the house, almost weekly.
> I have always thought that I would like driving a truck but it is a
>tough decision so any advice will be very appreciated.
>
Starting out in any profession is always at the bottom. Your earnings
will increase with your experience. I see no reason though for you to
not double your earnings once you are qualified as a First Seat Driver
(IMO).
Best of luck,
Sandy
---
Sandy Seeds, Terminal Manager
JB Hunt/Flatbed Division/Tampa
_______________________
sa...@mci.newscorp.com
Mike O'Connor
>swke...@ix.netcom.com(Stephen Kelley ) wrote:
>
>> I am 26 yrs old and working in retail. I am supporting a family of
>>5 on about $15,000/yr. I could finish college in about a year, but my
>>wife doesnt work so I dont have the time or money to do that right now.
>> I am considering a career in trucking but I am unsure if it is the
>>best thing for my family. I dont want to be away from my family but I
>>cant survive much longer on what I make.
>>them. Is this the best way to go? What are some good companies that do
>>this? Also I was wondering: How much money can you make starting out?,
>>and How much time do you spend away from home? I know varies between
>>companies but I just want to know on average. Also I would appreciate
>>any other advice, good and bad points, etc.
>>tough decision so any advice will be very appreciated.
BatRastard
In your posting you asked for advice, so heres my 2 cents:
I am 33 years old and I have been driving a truck for 10 years
as both a local driver in the Chicago, IL area and as an over the road
driver. If you want any kind of a family life, then a career as a truck
driver is not for you . As negative as this sounds, I say this out of
experience. My wife and I have been married for 6 years and we have 2
daughters. When I met my wife, I was an over the road driver and most of
our worst times occurred while I was still a road driver.
I have been a local driver for the last 4 years with Overnite
Transportation, but I had to pay my dues as a road driver first. The job
as a local driver is hourly pay, but most road drivers are paid "by the
mile" which is to say for every mile the truck moves. If you are sitting
you probably not getting paid. You also have to drive whenever the freight
needs to be moved, if you get the load at 6pm in Cleveland and it has to
be in Milwaukee at 6am the next day, then you'd better be ready to drive
all night because that's what the customer and your company are going to
be expecting. After a while this gets to be pretty grueling schedule. Not
to mention boring and lonely.
I have a friend who recently signed on with JB Hunt's free
training program which lasted about 6 weeks. She had nothing but praise
for the quality of the training and the professionalism of the training
staff.(I have also heard equally good comments about Schneider's program.)
My friend is 33 years old and is a pretty tough and independant person who
has always been a bit of a loner, but in her own words: "I never knew how
lonely and deppressed I could be until I finished training and started
driving by myself". She hates the life on the road but she still loves the
truck driving part. She is currently looking for a local driving job, but
her lack of experience is a big hurdle since most places want at least 2
years experience.
I don't mean to bad mouth all truck driving jobs( there are a
lot of good opportunities in the trucking industry), but there is a down
side.I hope Ianswered some of your questions.
Rebecca Dodge
Yeah-there's a positive, if you want to call it that. You get to get
away from your family of 5 for a long,long,long,long,long time-like 4-5
weeks at a time. & you don't have to listen to your wife bitch when the
kids are sick or the plumbing breaks or the heating doesn't work &
she's got no one there to help her. Take it from a wife's point of
view. Leave the trucking alone till the kids are grown. Those babies
need a full-time father too, not just a mother. You'll miss all their
growing up-good and bad times. After they grow up & are gone, you &
your wife can both learn how to drive a truck & both go on the road
together.
Finish school--then you can be a degreed truck driver. You can even go
to school while you're on the road (several colleges even have
correspondence courses-some even f/masters) & have something to do with
your time while you're waiting on those loads. So what if you're 50
when you go back. What better thing to do with your time?
Good luck with your retailing--& get that degree. You'll need it!!
DANGELO960
everyone says ???
Thanks, Dennis
dange...@aol.com
Jim Ricks
I wasn't aware everyone says that. In fact I wasn't aware ANYONE said it.
As Always... __| -----------------------
Take Care... __/||| | If You've Got IT, |
|-_|||| |_A Trucker Brought IT_|
Jim ()|----() () () ()
Akeem1
(DANGELO960) writes:
>Is Werner the best to drive for (compared to the other big companies)
like
>everyone says ???
>Thanks, Dennis
I drive for them for 3 years as a company driver. Purchased my own truck
and leased back to them. went down hill from there. I guess if you dont
mind the east coast all the time and not worried about when you get
home....then sure there ok
Akeem1