experienced truckers- ?

[NorthMSDriver]

Knowing what you know now, what would be the 3 most important things you would look for in a company starting out as a student driver?

Appreciate the replies and wisdom.

[GMAN]

Pay, home time, and how they treat their people. There are a couple of other things I would check out. Equipment and how it is maintained, benefits, growth potential or opportunity for advancement (if that is something I was interested).

[Useless]

When I started looking, my first two concerns were safety, and the quality of training offered. The way I see it, no matter who you drive for, and regardless of what pay is offered, you still have to serve an apprenticeship. If you do well, then other doors of opportunity will open rather quickly.

On the other hand, if the company that you drive for pays four cents a mile more than other (for beginning drivers) but pays little more than lip service when it comes to safety and compliance, as well as supporting a driver's decision to shut down when weather conditions or other conditions warrant it, then the chances of getting into accidents and preventable situations increases. Those kinds of things can close the doors of future opportunities before they are even opened.

Much the same can be said for the quality of trainers that a company employs.

Based upon my personal experience, a company that places a true emphasis upon high safety standards and quality training is a company that is more likely to treat their people well.

[NorthMSDriver]

Some good advice. Really helpful.

[Soladad]

I agree with Useless. The training you get with a company can make or break your future. CDL school just teaches you basics. A good trainer is very important. Please remember however, that just because a driver decides to be a trainer doesn't mean he is a "good" trainer. Drivers are drivers first and most, if not all, have never done any teaching in a formal or informal setting. It takes time for a driver to become a good trainer. Also the company attitude in training is important. Talk to the major carriers (Roehl, Schneider, etc) and use your gut feelings when making your decision.

Soladad

[knightwolf71477]

I would also agree with the training thing. If you are train right and safe you will have other opportunities put before you in no time.

Now you to help you decide if you have a good trainer or not I am going to give you a few pointers, and knowing GMAN he will also have a few pointers that I more than likely overlook.

First look at the trainer, does he look like a pro or does he look like the guy that holds the sigh at the intersection. While you can not judge a book by its cover, you can still get an idea of how this guy's truck is going to look.

Second, when you talk to this guy does he talk too you or at you. Are you two going to get along with the way he thinks verses the way you think. Also is he going to point what you did wrong and why, or is he going to scream and holler that you ain't suppose to do that.

Third thing to look at is the condition of his truck. Is it messy or clean? While you can't judge everything on this either but you can use it as a factor. I had 2 trainers when I started and the second one is the one I feel really trained me, but God his truck was a mess but it was not trash everywhere he just loved to read so it was nothing but books and clothes in his truck. Also does it look like he gets the maintenance done on it.

Now you went through all that and you decided that you can make it work. Here are a few pointers on what should be going on while you are out there with the trainer.

Does he sit in the jump seat or is he sleeping while you are driving. If he is sleeping how is he training you and making sure you are doing it right. Is he showing you how you can make the job easier, i.e. floating the gears, fighting fatigue, etc.

I know there are more pointers and as I said GMAN and a few other will catch it and point them out too. I would cover more but I do 't making long winded post and I also have the cat attacking my wife so I got to close this for now.

[NorthMSDriver]

Thanks guys

[BanditsCousin]

I agree with Gman, except add "equipment" to the list 8)

[Taglio]

Ask lots of questions, dont be shy to take up thier time to be informed. If they get short with you....then they dont really wanna answer...

[Rev.Vassago]

Benefits, pay, and attitude of the dispatch.

[classicxl]

attitude of dispatch, pay equipment

[NorthMSDriver]

I am have been hired on with Ashley Distribution. Got Lucky to get on with a really great company.
I have met the trainer and he said he trains, not sleeps. He said his job is to make me the best possible in 6 weeks. They pay 500 dollars a week through training, wow. That will help alot because I am broke not working and going to school. I will start first week in January. Graduate school 12/20.

Thanks for the insight, Roll on safetly amigos.

[shadowsknight]

Ashley is a great company and I love their black and gold Vovlo 780's. One thing to keep in mind is that you will have to learn to drive and back into very tight places and back into parking lots in the middle of traffic. They deliver to furniture stores and most of them were never set up for trucks....big or small.
I've never worked for them but I use to deliver to some of the same stores as their drivers.

[NorthMSDriver]

Yeah, It is going to be alot of fun at some of those stops. I am going into this as positive as possible, because if this career doesnt work for me, I dont know what i will do. But, yeah your correct about the tight spots. My pops worked for Ashley for 3 years and has warned me. But he is happy i got on with a respectable company.