how many guys actually drive truck on here?

[BRICKNICK]

Originally Posted by cabs

Wish I had a set to get my own truck. There is money out there if you find the right gig. All the work still going on down the shore a flatbed or a lowbed would probably do alright

Well besides all the tons of work due to superstorm sandy, I have work lined up with a reefer and a flatbed that I did before I got outta trucking. And a friend of mine has a dump truck tgat he runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The truck never turns off. It runs sand n stone for sandy storm repairs during the day and does paving at night. He's was doing so good with the one truck he bought two more and now all 3 are running non stop. It's crazy how something so negative like a devastating hurricane can generate so much work and do so much good for the local economy.

[glorydays24]

I tip my hat to all of you and any truck driver. You are the ones who make it possible for us non-drivers to get what we want and need. THANK YOU!!!

Big John

[Dreamweaver]

I've driven OTR for 26 years, in fact I'm sitting in my truck right now...

I have also been an instructor at a driving school. I know this industry inside and out and currently...

I can tell you with no experience your only hope to get into trucking without school would be to know someone with a truck and their own authority or be lucky enough to find someone desperate that's willing to fudge some paperwork. The government says new drivers going to school have to have a minimum of 160 hours of to get their CDL, HOWEVER... they do not require schooling. Anyone 21 or over (18 in most states for Intrastate only) that can pass the written and skills tests can have a CDL. The problem arises with the Insurance companies. With the exception of self insured large companies like CR England, Swift, Central and a few others that have their own schools, most all other companies that will hire drivers with no experience are required to only hire drivers that have graduated from Accredited driving schools.

Here is the important part... "Accredited Driving School". The companies listed above and all the others that have their own driving schools are NOT accredited and until you have one years driving experience with them no one else will accept their driving school. That's not to say going to one of those companies is out of the question, just go into it realizing that no matter what line of BS they will tell you, their school means nothing to anyone but them. The advantage to going to a place like that is that you usually don't have to pay for the schooling if you stay for at least 6 months to a year. The disadvantage besides that of what I just spoke, is that they often pay you less in order to "Repay" them for your schooling.

Your average Accredited school in the US will cost you around $4000.00 to $6000.00 and last 3-4 weeks but after that providing your driving record is good and you have no DUI,DWI, weapons charges, or drug charges on your record. Going this route your options for jobs is GREATLY increased, most companies these days do hire student drivers.

Next you need to be aware that all companies, driving schools, ect. will make this job out to be the best thing since sliced bread. They will tell you you can make 65-70K your first year, and that you will get to see the country and go places you always wanted to go... BULL S!@#... You will be closer to 30-35k for you first few years and unless/until you fall into that right job, you'll be hard pressed to make much more than that. Specially with the way the hours of service rules are these days. I have been doing this basically non stop for 26 years, and up till I got the job I have now the most I ever made was $37000.00. Obviously that can be more depending on the job and the area you run.

As for seeing the country, well that's not a total lie. You will se quite a bit of it as you pass it by at 65. I do know some drivers that take the time to call a cab or rent a car and go see things from time to time. But remember the pay thing I talked about. Well you don't get that much if you don't keep the door closed and the wheels turning. Plain and simple, truck drivers are paid by the mile so you need to drive miles to get paid.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

Mike J

[Lil Giants]

Originally Posted by Dreamweaver

I've driven OTR for 26 years, in fact I'm sitting in my truck right now...

I have also been an instructor at a driving school. I know this industry inside and out and currently...

I can tell you with no experience your only hope to get into trucking without school would be to know someone with a truck and their own authority or be lucky enough to find someone desperate that's willing to fudge some paperwork. The government says new drivers going to school have to have a minimum of 160 hours of to get their CDL, HOWEVER... they do not require schooling. Anyone 21 or over (18 in most states for Intrastate only) that can pass the written and skills tests can have a CDL. The problem arises with the Insurance companies. With the exception of self insured large companies like CR England, Swift, Central and a few others that have their own schools, most all other companies that will hire drivers with no experience are required to only hire drivers that have graduated from Accredited driving schools.

Here is the important part... "Accredited Driving School". The companies listed above and all the others that have their own driving schools are NOT accredited and until you have one years driving experience with them no one else will accept their driving school. That's not to say going to one of those companies is out of the question, just go into it realizing that no matter what line of BS they will tell you, their school means nothing to anyone but them. The advantage to going to a place like that is that you usually don't have to pay for the schooling if you stay for at least 6 months to a year. The disadvantage besides that of what I just spoke, is that they often pay you less in order to "Repay" them for your schooling.

Your average Accredited school in the US will cost you around $4000.00 to $6000.00 and last 3-4 weeks but after that providing your driving record is good and you have no DUI,DWI, weapons charges, or drug charges on your record. Going this route your options for jobs is GREATLY increased, most companies these days do hire student drivers.

Next you need to be aware that all companies, driving schools, ect. will make this job out to be the best thing since sliced bread. They will tell you you can make 65-70K your first year, and that you will get to see the country and go places you always wanted to go... BULL S!@#... You will be closer to 30-35k for you first few years and unless/until you fall into that right job, you'll be hard pressed to make much more than that. Specially with the way the hours of service rules are these days. I have been doing this basically non stop for 26 years, and up till I got the job I have now the most I ever made was $37000.00. Obviously that can be more depending on the job and the area you run.

As for seeing the country, well that's not a total lie. You will se quite a bit of it as you pass it by at 65. I do know some drivers that take the time to call a cab or rent a car and go see things from time to time. But remember the pay thing I talked about. Well you don't get that much if you don't keep the door closed and the wheels turning. Plain and simple, truck drivers are paid by the mile so you need to drive miles to get paid.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

Mike J

That's the straight skinny of what it's all about. Great explanation Mike.

[Lmackattack]

Originally Posted by Dreamweaver

I've driven OTR for 26 years, in fact I'm sitting in my truck right now...

I have also been an instructor at a driving school. I know this industry inside and out and currently...

I can tell you with no experience your only hope to get into trucking without school would be to know someone with a truck and their own authority or be lucky enough to find someone desperate that's willing to fudge some paperwork. The government says new drivers going to school have to have a minimum of 160 hours of to get their CDL, HOWEVER... they do not require schooling. Anyone 21 or over (18 in most states for Intrastate only) that can pass the written and skills tests can have a CDL. The problem arises with the Insurance companies. With the exception of self insured large companies like CR England, Swift, Central and a few others that have their own schools, most all other companies that will hire drivers with no experience are required to only hire drivers that have graduated from Accredited driving schools.

Here is the important part... "Accredited Driving School". The companies listed above and all the others that have their own driving schools are NOT accredited and until you have one years driving experience with them no one else will accept their driving school. That's not to say going to one of those companies is out of the question, just go into it realizing that no matter what line of BS they will tell you, their school means nothing to anyone but them. The advantage to going to a place like that is that you usually don't have to pay for the schooling if you stay for at least 6 months to a year. The disadvantage besides that of what I just spoke, is that they often pay you less in order to "Repay" them for your schooling.

Your average Accredited school in the US will cost you around $4000.00 to $6000.00 and last 3-4 weeks but after that providing your driving record is good and you have no DUI,DWI, weapons charges, or drug charges on your record. Going this route your options for jobs is GREATLY increased, most companies these days do hire student drivers.

Next you need to be aware that all companies, driving schools, ect. will make this job out to be the best thing since sliced bread. They will tell you you can make 65-70K your first year, and that you will get to see the country and go places you always wanted to go... BULL S!@#... You will be closer to 30-35k for you first few years and unless/until you fall into that right job, you'll be hard pressed to make much more than that. Specially with the way the hours of service rules are these days. I have been doing this basically non stop for 26 years, and up till I got the job I have now the most I ever made was $37000.00. Obviously that can be more depending on the job and the area you run.

As for seeing the country, well that's not a total lie. You will se quite a bit of it as you pass it by at 65. I do know some drivers that take the time to call a cab or rent a car and go see things from time to time. But remember the pay thing I talked about. Well you don't get that much if you don't keep the door closed and the wheels turning. Plain and simple, truck drivers are paid by the mile so you need to drive miles to get paid.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

Mike J

Agreed 100%. And don't forget about the lease special they give these new drivers with the " dream to own their own rig" never seen that turn out as a dream but more of a nightmare..

[JAMMER]

Why don't you just go and get a job on a dock for someone. Driving around the yard moving trailers will give you some skills. Or join the Army and when you get out you can use the army license to get the CDL. Way back when you would go to work for a freight company and practice moving trailers around the yard. Then you go and get a class 1 permit and go with a driver on a few trips to get some needed experience and then take your drivers test but now days you need an act of congress to get a license. Some of these drivers they are turning out of these driving schools are a joke. I was going down the thruway one day and blinked the lights to let a truck back in an one of these school wonders said what are you blinking the lights at me, I said if you don't know go back to school. With the invention of supper highways a lot of driving skills have gone to the way side. The company I use to drive for wouldn't let you get on toll roads like the NYS thruway always ran 2 lane highways these school drivers would be lost and never get there on time. If they ever saw the old Jacob's ladder in Mass they probably wet there pants coming of that 2 lane hill. Ed