Looking for tips from OTR vets

[tryinit]

Since the manufacturing base has all but disappeared, I need a new line of work.
Going to school, will likely start driving for PAM.
I'm no pup anymore and this will be a whole new world for me.
Hoping for some advice, suggestions or cautions from you guys.
Anything appreciated.
Thanks

[Russellmania]

[Dispatcher]

I wish you all the best in this new career. You are going to need it. You are entering not only a new career but a completely new life.

Trucking has drastically changed over the last 27 years, since deregulation. There are still a few good driving jobs to be found, but very few. Truck driving "was" a good career, but not now. I would never recommend anyone getting into this business now.

[SunR]

I'll second everything Russ said and I get where Dispatcher is coming from.

Trucking school isn't where you learn to be a truck driver- it's where you learn to pass a test. I suggest finding a company that has experienced trainers since they are the ones who will be teaching you what it's really about. I don't know PAMs reputation as far as that goes but I know that Swift and a lot of other companies use brand new drivers as trainers which is more like the blind leading the blind (and if you've seen them backing up or even maneuvering around the truck stops you know thats a good analogy!) than training.

It's not what it used to be, but that is both good and bad. The trucks are way more comfortable. But the quality of people out here seems to be going down hill.

[Blank_doubt3274]

A few questions fer ya:

1) Do you have a Friend base that you could depart from for extended periods of Time?
2) Are you Married or have a Lady/Man Friend(Lover, whatever) that you can leave for extended periods of Time?
3) Do you have a soft heart in that when people ask you for money you'll gladly give it to them??
3b) Do ya like to help people because you feel this is doing them some good??
4) Have you ever worked on a vehicle to effect its maintenance or have you been before, a mechanic or worked in the one of the many Construction Trades??
5) How extensive has your travelling been in other areas of driving??
6) Where would you like to go and where would you not like to go??
7) Have you ever been to NYC or Chicago and observed the Truck traffic in these cities?? If so does it look like fun??
8)How many Truck Drivers have you personally spoken to at Truck Stops and other places??
9) Have you spoken to ANY Drivers other than on-line??

There are quite many more questions that can be asked BEFORE getting into a "school" and subsequently into a Drivers position.

Questions YOU need to ask Companies BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING:

1) How long is the training process--some companies have a two week minimum, where others are substantially longer.
2) How much do you charge for Training in the unlikely event that I do not complete it or stay for the seemingly required YEAR to effect its elimination??
3) How much am I to make while Training??--most companies have a set amount regardless of mileage covered. Can you live on say $350.00 a week BEFORE TAXES for up to 6+ weeks?? I cannot.
4) What are your running lanes??--A LOT of companies require Drivers to go to the North East especially in the Winter and if one hasn't been there, then one might not enjoy the many negative aspects(to me) of going there: Idling restrictions for one. Can you go to Canada??
5) Do you allow Pets or Family to ride along??--many companies allow neither for safety and/or possible interior damage.
6) How many yards do you have??--A lot of drop yards denotes a lot of freight yet does not indicate a lot of movement. Also in this query ask about where maintenance requirements are performed.
7) What do you pay for shorthaul--less than 300 miles??
Do you cut me for having to Bobtail somewhere??--some companies have two distinctly differing pay rates.
9) Do you pay for Lumpers or do I pay and get re-imbursed(at some distant point)??

and finally 10) What kind of equipment do you use or what Model/Manufacture of Truck shall I be using??ANYTHING(except Trailers) from the 90's, AVOID THIS COMPANY!! If the Tractors are over 6 years old, there have been a few Drivers thru it and it ain't worth the hassle!!

I hope the BEST for ya in yer quest for adventure in a different Field from Manufacturing.


For the REAL TRUCKER adventure, go to a local Truckstop and have a Shower, then enjoy some of the cuisine offered in the (if available) restaurant while bantering with the others.
Stick around for the night crawlers: Hookers, and other scum, plus the bums with all their "stories" of misfortune.
This may just give you the view you need before becoming one of the many of US. EVERY Truck Stop is different except for the chains like T. A., Flying J, Loves, Petro, Pilot, Wilco/Hess.
_________________
All Women are Ladies till they prove otherwise.

[sunshine]

Excellent post, Blank I have seen a lot of changes in my 17 yrs
out here on the road. You will also miss bithdays, weddings, holidays
anniversaries etc. Don't even get me started on some of the changes

How many of you have noticed a change in your delivery and pickup
times. I have. Seems so lately everybody wants to go home in the
middle of the afternoon 2-3 pm WTF. A lot of the big dealer repair
shops aren't open on weekends and holidays. It's getting near impossible
to get any work done on a weekend. With the exceptions of a TA or Petro

My suggestion to people who think they want to become a trucker
is find somebody you know and see if it's possible to go out with
them for at least 2 weeks. 2 weeks will give you good feel of life
on the road.
_________________


https://www.facebook.com/melanie.knaut

[swissy]

[Blank_doubt3274]

Thank You sunshine and your name aptly fits!!

There are shops (Freightliner) that claim to be open on weekends however finding someone that claims to be a mechanic/technician is a hunt at best, like trying to locate the proverbial needle.
The Trash Americas will ONLY perform those menial tasks that do not involve anything extraneous such as changing the Air Compressor Line from The Air Compressor back to the first receiving Air Tank. These mechanics(term used very lightly) are so dismal in their actions that it makes one wonder why t. a. has shops at all.
They refuse to do this, they refuse to do that, nor will they acquire the part(s) in case the Driver wants to do the repair. Therefore they are only a "selective" repair facility for Freightliner unlike what they claim.
Petro has always been amazingly superior to Trash America in everything including Showers, yet within the last year they have become uncomfortably similar. Maybe this is why trash america wanted them.
Flying Jism ain't any picnic either.

In addition to what swissy pointed out:
If one needs a tire fixed, this event can still take up to or exceed 4 hours depending entirely upon when one arrives and in what laughable mental status these mechanics are in.
Just a mere Filter(s) and Oil change can leave one hanging for quite some time because of the ineptness involved.
For fun, go to ANY t. a. that has a shop and merely observe these geniuses in action. Talk to the Drivers waiting to discover just how long they've been there BEFORE some mental midget of a mechanic even started on their respective vehicle.
It's simply amazing to me when anything simple doesn't take more than 2 hours from initialization to finalization.

I have nothing bad to say about t.a., one merely has to read thru what I write.
I'll probably be at some t.a. before the end of this month.
Oh well, that's Trucking!!
_________________
All Women are Ladies till they prove otherwise.