Class A CDL drivers - questions

[..]

The unemployment numbers have gone up again in GA.

I've been a school bus driver since Aug of 2009. I can only do this for so long whilst I seek employment similar to what I was doing.

Considering getting my Class A CDL. Is it better to get as many qualifications as possible? HAZMAT etc.

Are there are companies to NOT work for?

Are there any companies who will train to hire? Do you know of any in the north metro Atlanta area?

I've read that the best gig to have is no touch freight. Is this correct?

I'm quite happy to be away from home for extended periods. Is this a good thing or bad thing? Would I be abused by the company? Do you end up working a crap load of hours for not much $ per hour rate doing this?

Any forums worth looking at?

You can email me at the hotmail.com place  britman453@ if you don't want to voice your opinion on this public forum.

Thanks.

[oxfordhog]

Check your e mail and give me a call or contact me via the forum.  The two expats, you and I, on this forum have info to share   

[Kaiser]

There are several members of this forum that either currently are or have been truckers who can provide first-hand advise.  Smokin' Joe and musclehead are two that immediately come to mind.  Hopefully they'll chime in or you can PM them for more info.

[Stormrider65]

It's up to you on what endorsments you want but as many as possible will make you more wanted.    Myself, I have hazmat doubles/triples, tanker.  I have pulled 53', 57'(when they were legal in some states).   I pull tankers right now.  It's a new experience.  Been doing it for 7 years now.  I have a total of 16 years of over the road and local jobs.  Also been an owner/operator for 4.5 years.   Be aware, you have to go through a strick background check for your hazmat.  And yes, it does cost some money.  Depending on the company, they will reinburse you the cost.  I went through a truck driving school for my CDL.  4 weeks of school.  Pretty simple stuff.  Some companies want you to have at least 6 mos to 2 years over the road(OTR) experience to qualify for a local job.  The one thing you can do is go to your local truckstop, and in the entrance there should be metal racks and boxes of small booklets that advertise truck driving jobs nationwide.  Everybody has their opinion of what companies suck and which ones don't.  J.B. Hunt, Swift, Schneider, Covanent, are the most disliked on the road, even though they are some of the bigger ones.  No touch freight is not bad at all.  Lumping(unloading) you own freight is a big hassle, unless you want the exercise.  Sometimes you can rent your lumper and pay him or her to do it.  Sometimes its expensive.  And if its a union customer, be prepared to pay more than normal.  Opinions differ on this.  There are plenty of jobs out there for OTR and will keep you out for weeks at a shot.  Good or bad is how you can handle being gone for a long time.  Depending on the company, the abuse is always there, again depending on how much you can put up with.  The new hours of service right now are driving for 11 hours, working for 3 hours. totaling 14 hours a day.  10 hours break then start all over again.  They also have a new regulation out called CSA 2010 i believe.  Basically, it states that the driver is more responsible for the condition of your equipment.  Its a bunch of BS but you will hear different opinions.  If you need to talk to me send me an email with your number and we will talk.  I'm in Fort Worth Texas.  Be safe and God Bless.

Walt

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I drove over the road when I was a young man it was the most next to nothing job I ever had. It did help me get my job with Uncle Sam hauling heavy over-size equipment however that's the only good thing that came out of it. Always remember the trucking company's will tell you anything and lie like dogs while doing so.I have a class AM with XPT endorsements I can drive anything that's out there . US Express and  Colonial Freight in Chattanogga both train you while you earn. These two companys are owned by brothers that hate each other. To be honest I'd sell weed before I got back in another truck and go over-the-road ....It SUCKS....I will say if you do go trucking get a couple years under your belt and I might be able to help you out with driving for the goverment...It's a Teamster job and it's been good to me. Some folk's on this site seem to have a problem with the union....I say it's the only way to go if you plan to drive for a living.

[six2go #152]

Jeez Joe, you're passing up the opportunity to deliver those Dunnie E III's by the trailer load to a lot of folks. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Jeez Joe, you're passing up the opportunity to deliver those Dunnie E III's by the trailer load to a lot of folks. 

I think they should give the Dunflop E 3 away with free mounting...I still would'nt have one on any of my bikes 

[Sharkey]

You've got mail

[Marcel]

Gov't Trained on their dime.

Joe told me you are not going to like hauling groceries and shiiiite.

He was right, but still have my Class A CDL's and no hazmat, but can haul double's triples and tankers.

No it's not what you think as a ex-cowboy wantabe.

It is glomourized to the max.

18 wheels movin on.

I was lied to from day one.

But Teton Frieght if all else fails, is I heard a good company from a driver who had a heart attack

and could drive no more.

SO there's one.

Al

PS Commercial Truck Driving has a higher mortality rate than  Police Officers do.

Thought you should know the facts.

[..]

As a compnay driver do you have to pay the "Lumper" out of your own pocket?

If so that sucks unless the wages are good enough to absorb the cost.

[Marcel]

I hauled GM Auto Parts and stuff from Mitsubishi to Warehouses.

They had there own unloaders/loaders never touched any frieght.

If you get stuck hauling groceries that could not be true.

Usually it was a drop and hook operation that kept you moving.

It all depends, ask before you hire on.

Check them out by others means.

Talk to drivers.

AL

Drive OTR for a period of 2 years and then Joe may be able to get you on with the Gov't.

Good way to see America if you go long haul.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

As a compnay driver do you have to pay the "Lumper" out of your own pocket?

If so that sucks unless the wages are good enough to absorb the cost.

" IF " .......I was to go trucking again over-the-road I'd go flat-bed with side's truckers call them covered wagons ( much easier to deal with the heavy nasty tarps with a side kit on the trailer ) .You can bet the river bottom farm if you pull a van you will haul groceries nothing sucks more than hauling groceries. If you pull a flat bed 98 % to 100 % of everything you haul will be unloaded by equipment ( no touch ) . Here's the deal that got me one week I'd make $800.00 a week the next I'd be sitting waiting on a load and lucky to make $200.00 that week that was in the early 80's .After you get some road time you can move to better companys however a new comer will be stuck with the company's that go through drivers like Tiger does through white women. Main thing to remember they ALL lie to you about everything....You'll get that home every weekend <-----Total BS   ....You'll get that $50,000 plus first year <-----Again total BS.......The list goes on and on....The better company's don't need drivers cause the drivers they have stay there and noway a rookie with no OTR will hire in .

[Raverez]

Did the Schneider OTR dry van Job training thing in 2003 while on a leave of absence. They hauled everything. I did unload a few times, but was able have them pay for the lumper, usually by saying that the warehouse "required it". They weren't all that bad in getting me home every other weekend, only missed it once and they made up for it the next week. pay was about $30-34,000 a year for the first year. Don't know what it is now. Probably a little more. Once you get the system down, you can keep rolling and getting paid. You do have to commit to at least one year of working for them.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

  You do have to commit to at least one year of working for them.

What happens if you don't stay a year ?

[..]

  You do have to commit to at least one year of working for them.

What happens if you don't stay a year ?

Thanks Joe,

It seems like there are so many gotch yas for the unaware.

[Marcel]

When I was trying to go the Trucking Route to pay the bills, you had to pay the money back.

If you left the Trucking Firm.

If you pay for the training out of your pocket and do the training on the weekends.

Lots of Trucking Schools out there, Atlanta Metro area should have oodles to choose from.

The trucking company you go with will reimburse you that money, but guess what you better

stay that year.

Pay for it yourself and then you can shop around for a company and then if you don't like that

company, you simply quit and go for another.

Mine was free from Uncle Sam.

Then it was 3,000 bucks.

Probably more now.

[musclehead]

yep what Joe said, if you train with a company and you have a falling out and leave you'll still owe for the training.  I'm hauling groceries and I don't mind it, I know joe says no way but it depends on the company and I'm easy to please. all I need is home when I ask for it, pay me what you owe me, and get me miles. ( my miles are falling off a bit right now, seasonal I think )

you'll have to start with a rookie company I spent 2 years at werner ( yes they suck)

keep your nose clean and start shopping around immediately for a new company, but don't jump from company to company thats a career killer ( they think you'll have a bad safety record )

I don't pay for the  lumper, or at least I get reimbursed for them ( paid 220$ one time for about 10 pallets, they just asked if that was the correct amount)

thats the other thing the company I haul for now doesn't do all the little rat hole customers that most grocery haulers make thier drivers go to. where they jump on your running boards and ask for money to lump or they might even rob you.  I've not unloaded one load for this company, but if I want to I could, but nah i get paid to drive. I run alot of loads for tyson and walmart, chicken out to the left coast and produce back to the middle.

you won't get rich but I made enough last year to pay the bills, my first two years was a different story all together. we damn near had to go live under an overpass

[Raverez]

If for what ever reason you don't stay the required time, you end up owing the company for the training. There are many trucking forums for drivers on the web. although like everything else, everyone has different opinions. If you go to an independent school, they usually have company recruiters come and look for drivers to sponsor, which means they'll reimburse you but you need to stay with them for a period of time. and like everything else, you get out of it what you put into it. Don't expect to get rich or have a normal life.

[..]

Here's a pretty honest series of videos from a OTR driver

http://www.youtube.com/user/journey95#p/u/18/FTLlDbmJ9Uk

[czuch]

One of the best jobs I've ever had. Drove past every off ramp that led to everything I've ever wanted to see. Good people, morons,theives.  99% great folks. Theyre all there. You'll see stuff you cant imagine or make up. Stay away from eats,(groceries) they have a shelf life. Stay away from New York.  Stay off "union forklifts" Jersey City truck stop was entertaining in the 80's, dont know about now.
Work local now, love it. Do it.

[..]

I've been reading the OTR forums and I've now gone off the idea.

Sleeping in a cab when it's 90F and 80% humidity is not my thing. No idle rules mean no A.C at night.

Plus it seems my sleep apnea - yes I use a CPAP - would be held against me whilst looking for a driving job.

[Gear Jammer]

I've been reading the OTR forums and I've now gone off the idea.

Sleeping in a cab when it's 90F and 80% humidity is not my thing. No idle rules mean no A.C at night.

Plus it seems my sleep apnea - yes I use a CPAP - would be held against me whilst looking for a driving job.

Probably a wise decision.