Got the interview

[Double L]

I got an interview with Illinois Family Farms next Tuesday at 9:30am. She asked me if I had a CDL and I told her just the permit. I asked they provide a truck for the road test and she told me that they prefer not to and that they do it for employee's who have established theirselves. So now I got to figure out a way to get a truck to get my CDL.

[golfhobo]

What happened to the estranged Father and his truck?

I gotta hand it to ya, Larry..... you have more persistence than anyone I've ever known!

Okay, you're out of High School now, right? Have you considered paying 6 months tuition to a community college and enrolling in their truck driving school? THEY HAVE trucks! Within, 6 months, you can complete an "accredited" training program and been tested and awarded your CDL.

Then drop out of "college" if that is what you want, and go Trucking! But, while you are there, take those diesel mechanics courses! In fact..... I recommend you FINISH the program and get certified IN diesel mechanics! That way, if you can't find a job because of your AGE and inexperience, you can STILL find a good paying job with a company that may LATER put you in a truck!

You are still VERY young! Don't expect all your dreams to come true before you can even DRINK!

I would be the LAST on here to try to squash your dreams, but it MAY be possible that you lack the guidance of a father figure when it comes to career choices and the PATH TO GET THERE.

You are a VERY bright young man! Get a job working on CARS (if nothing else) so you will know ALL the differences. Then, get a diesel mechanics certificate which will earn you MORE money than many of us drivers make! Take the college offered CDL training and use THEIR trucks to get your CDL AND your limited experience. Then, take your overly qualified self out into the marketplace! You will be welcomed with open arms!

I don't want to play the race card here. You KNOW I'm not about that! But, you should qualify for nearly EVERY program available to HELP pay for your "higher" education. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.... and DON'T try to circumvent the process!

There is a very GOOD reason why 18 year olds aren't OFTEN allowed to drive big trucks! And it has MORE to do with LIFE experience than driving experience! But..... it has ALOT to do with the lack of DRIVING experience!

You cannot argue with the logic there! Especially where INSURANCE companies are involved! Heck.... you KNOW that you pay more for CAR insurance than us OLD FARTS do! And the rates are much HIGHER for a CMV!

Now.... if you disagree with eveything I've said..... I have an option for you. Pack up a few small bags and buy a bus ticket (or hitch a ride on a CMV) to California! I can give you at least 3 "highways" or routes that you can rent a car and drive in ONE day. There are MANY signs visible from the road advertising for CDL Drivers - Training provided! You don't EVEN have to speak Spanish, but it helps! They will TRAIN you and help you get your full CDL! Then you will make a decent living hauling produce from the fields to the Coolers! It's a START!! :shock:

I doubt you will see these opportunities in the area where you live! But, they are OUT there..... in SEVERAL states! I see them ALL THE TIME! IF there were all that many Mexicans with permits or brains enough to fill the positions, there would be no signs! But, they are there! Anyone on this board who has ever BEEN there, expecially Produce haulers, will back me up on this!

You MAY get a job on a dump like Mackman did..... or you may NOT! Depends on the economy in your area, and the number of experienced drivers desperate enough to take those jobs AWAY from you! But, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs available to you in ANY of the produce growing areas of this country!

Salinas, CA... Oxnard, CA..... Bakersfield, CA.... Yuma, AZ.... Nogales, AZ...... Laredo, TX..... McAllen, TX..... Selah, WA..... Yakima, WA...... and MANY more! You just have to have the cajones to pick up and MOVE!

Heck.... they MAY even grow something besides impudent teenagers in YOUR area! (just joking.... don't take it personal!) You need to quit looking for Truckng companies, and start looking for PRODUCING companies. And I DO mean PRODUCE! EVERY shipper of produce needs drivers to bring the stuff into the cooler from the field! WE are called "line drivers." THEY are called "field truck drivers." THAT could be where your start comes from!

You MAY be paid in "chickens" like many preachers have been in the past and for years! But, it is a start!

I have no doubt that, if you started at the BOTTOM with one of these companies, you may soon find yourself at the TOP! You have DRIVE! But, all the drive in the World, will not overcome insurance "policies" nor industry prejudice! (both AGE and RACE.)

Okay, I'm OUT of ideas for now! But, I will NEVER be out of admiration for you, nor BEST WISHES for you! You put MOST of these "wusses" to shame! IMHO.... if ANYONE deserves a chance at this career.... it is YOU!

My biggest regret is that I am not the Arrogant owner of a 3 truck "company" like BigDiesel.... and can't offer you a chance to PROVE yourself!

"Carry on my wayward son!" "There's no BEER until the day is done!"

[Rev.Vassago]

i agree with hobo



There is far more demand for diesel mechanics than there is for truck drivers. In the next few years, that demand will continue to increase, because more and more companies are fixing what they already have, rather than trading it in on new.

"Carry on my wayward son!" "There's no BEER until the day is done!"

And you're out of the truck, and you're off duty.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

i agree with hobo

Let's see, where's my glasses......ok here they are......

[Double R]

i agree with hobo

There we go, now we can all see it

[matcat]

OMG The Rev agreed with someone, let alone it be GH!!!

[Roadhog]

:? ...that wasn't the Rev. personality...that was the NotSteve personality.
With so many dominant personalities...its a wonder the guy doesn't try to throw himself from his truck while it's rolling.

[Double L]

It's not a lack of a father, hell he has been in my life since day one. He just never wanted me to drive a truck and was always against. He is finally coming around though, he said he'd let me use his truck but the rate for the loads he was getting out this way are sh*tty so he won't run any loads out here until the company raises the rates and the dmv said I had to give them 2 week notice before I can take a road test. I gave a thought to diesel mechanics! It's cheaper to fix what ya have and run the wheels off her than to trade it on something new every few years. With the price of fuel and the new emissions it's cheaper especially with so many unknowns with the new emission trucks. Yeah I'm still in high school but this is my last year and they offer a work study program where I go to school for a couple hours and then go to work for the rest of day so that is why I want to do something driving a truck IF possible. Thank ya for the kind words Hobo and did I read what Rev said correct? "He agrees with Hobo"

[Rev.Vassago]

did I read what Rev said correct? "He agrees with Hobo"

Nope, you read it wrong. Trust me.

[Double L]

did I read what Rev said correct? "He agrees with Hobo"

Nope, you read it wrong. Trust me.

No sir I didn't, I'm starting to wonder if the fumes from your truck being on fire is messing with ya.

[Rev.Vassago]

did I read what Rev said correct? "He agrees with Hobo"

Nope, you read it wrong. Trust me.

No sir I didn't, I'm starting to wonder if the fumes from your truck being on fire is messing with ya.

Someone hacked my account. Yeah, that's it.

[Double L]

There is still hope! The reason I say this is cause I just got to thinking about what she said. "We prefer not to provide trucks for the road test but do for people who have established themselves here" (I'm sure I twisted it around somewhat). I've heard that hauling grain is hard work with alot of waiting and I think that she said this for the reason of why take the risk of providing a truck for the road test to an outsider with the chance of them quiting once they find out how hard and dirty hauling grain can be and they rather provide a truck for the road test to someone who has been with them for awhile whether it be working in the shop or something like that and use to the hard work and know that if they let them get their CDL that they won't quit. I'm gonna go up there with the mind set that I'm not gonna get the job and I'm gonna tell her I've always wanted to drive a truck since I was little and I'm determined to do it by any means neccessary and if it means I have to prove myself out in the shop or something then I'm willing to do it to show that I'm a reliable asset to your company and that I won't quit cause I got a little dirt on me or sweating too much. I'm gonna tell her driving a truck isn't exactly just driving a truck while enjoying music and the air condition. Yeah the title says "truck driver" but with hauling grain you have to get out and unload the product and roll or unroll the tarp and get inside and sweep it out and make sure it's clean or do a wash out. It's apart of the job and I'm not afraid to get sweaty and dirty! Hopefully she'll reconsider and let me use a truck for the road test. Ya never know! :wink:

[Roadhog]

I'm NotSteve.

I'm Rev....I'm NotSteve.


shut up...you shutup :evil:

[RebelDarlin]

WTG Larry! Now go into that interview and impress the hell out of them!

BTW, I agree with Hobo and Rev too! :wink:

[Double L]

WTG Larry! Now go into that interview and impress the hell out of them!

BTW, I agree with Hobo and Rev too! :wink:

Thank you and it's hard not to agree with them. I plan on impressing them alright, I'm gonna tell them I know why they won't provide a truck for the road test and gonna share my knowledge and wisdom with them! Hell I may end up yacking their ear off.

[Jimbpard]

WTG Larry! Now go into that interview and impress the hell out of them!

BTW, I agree with Hobo and Rev too! :wink:

Thank you and it's hard not to agree with them. I plan on impressing them alright, I'm gonna tell them I know why they won't provide a truck for the road test and gonna share my knowledge and wisdom with them! Hell I may end up yacking their ear off.

(For your own good) Dont be a know-it-all. Nobody likes a know-it-all. Good luck! 8)

[Double L]

Thanks and yeah your right, I didn't plan on acting like a know it all though well try not to anyway.