First job offer and no trainer. Am I crazy to accept?

[steverb1]

Next monday I'm supposed to go OTR for 7 days with a driver observer in the passenger seat. If he says I can drive then I'm hired. It's been 4 months since I completed driving school. Am I going to blow it or do I have a chance? I know my backing up is probably going to be slow until I get more practice. I would have preferred to have a driver trainer but haven't been able to find a company soon enough to take me on.

[Fozzy]

Heck, most company's trainers are less than observers.. If you feel that you can make this work and the observer is a decent guy, go for it.

[jnk2001]

Next monday I'm supposed to go OTR for 7 days with a driver observer in the passenger seat. If he says I can drive then I'm hired. It's been 4 months since I completed driving school. Am I going to blow it or do I have a chance? I know my backing up is probably going to be slow until I get more practice. I would have preferred to have a driver trainer but haven't been able to find a company soon enough to take me on.

Let ppl know what company this is, a lot of ppl don't like going out with trainers.

[flyinphoenix]

Next monday I'm supposed to go OTR for 7 days with a driver observer in the passenger seat. If he says I can drive then I'm hired. It's been 4 months since I completed driving school. Am I going to blow it or do I have a chance? I know my backing up is probably going to be slow until I get more practice. I would have preferred to have a driver trainer but haven't been able to find a company soon enough to take me on.

Read your own post and figure it out U nozzel.........If your afraid to drive then don't do it!

[steverb1]

Let ppl know what company this is, a lot of ppl don't like going out with trainers.[/quote]

Panu Bros. is the co.
Problem is I have to quit another job first and if They don't think that I'm a good enough driver to be on my own then I just gave up a $25.00 an hr. job for nothing.

They don't want to spend any money out of their own pocket to train new drivers.

[jnk2001]

Let ppl know what company this is, a lot of ppl don't like going out with trainers.

Panu Bros. is the co.
Problem is I have to quit another job first and if They don't think that I'm a good enough driver to be on my own then I just gave up a $25.00 an hr. job for nothing.

They don't want to spend any money out of their own pocket to train new drivers.

That's 52,000 a yr. No one will guarantee that much in the trucking biz. 52,000 would be pretty much top end. Doubt you'd make that your first year.

dude, don't give up 25 dollars an hour...are you crazy?

[dle]

Can you stand to loose half of your pay that you make now? for the next 1-2 years?

I tried a quick search in SAFER for Panu Bros. - couldn't find anything.

Is there a reason you haven't talked to applied to other companies?

I get the impression that you are unsure of this situation yourself - to me thats a good reason to run from it.

[Orangetxguy]

Let ppl know what company this is, a lot of ppl don't like going out with trainers.

Panu Bros. is the co.
Problem is I have to quit another job first and if They don't think that I'm a good enough driver to be on my own then I just gave up a $25.00 an hr. job for nothing.

They don't want to spend any money out of their own pocket to train new drivers.[/quote]

Steve, are you working in Canada....at Canadian $25.00 an hour?

Pannu Brothers have nice looking equipment for sure...mostly KW t-800's with the 76" aero package I believe....but do you really want to give up that job for them??

[Cluggy619]

If you getting $25/hour, and i don't care what you are doing, stay with that job.

YOUR NOT GOING TO DO BETTER BEING A COMPANY DRIVER!!!!

Now, I know you here talk about drivers making good money....but it's not 25 per hour. Unless you own your truck, you not going to get close.

So now I have to think that your just not happy there. Happiness is very important within a job, so i can see why you want to change careers.

So I guess I will need more info on why you would want to take a huge drop in pay to be a truck driver. And it is a huge drop untill you get a few years in this industry. This is a general statement. There are a few exceptions. Very few.

[steverb1]

Hi thanx for the comments.

It is true I hate my job. It's hard and labor intensive, plus it's indoors and the air is no good. I'm 54 and don't want to do it until I'm 65. If I don't make a break now it will be too late.

Panu offered me .42 mi. and 10,000 miles a month. That works out to be about $1,000 a week. I know I have to put in longer hours but part of the job is seing the country and it would be a lot more pleasanter than my current job. Besides if truck driving doesn't work out for me I can always go back. :sad:

[steverb1]

I forgot to add, truck drivers I know said they made $60,000 last year and one took a month off.

[jnk2001]

I forgot to add, truck drivers I know said they made $60,000 last year and one took a month off.

So, is Pannu Bros by the Costco in Abbottsford?

[saddlebum1972]

Dont count on 60 a year. dont drive a truck for money at all. Drive because its a lifestyle that you want. Long days,long nights. Secluded and lonely. ****ty attitudes. 4 wheelers that owe you their lives and never realize it. High fuel prices and higher food prices at truck stops.
Nobody does this job and sticks with it because its secure. We do it because our Dad's brothers or whatever did it. We do it because we watched Convoy one time too many.
If you wnat to drive because you dont want to work in an indoor job thats labor intensive,then dont drive a truck. Thats exactly what you'll be doing.

[inmate1577]

Labor intensive? Are you serious?
Unless you are chaining flatbeds, what is the "labor intensive" part?
Ok, occasionally I have to shift my ass in the seat...
Whew! I'm tired!

[Cynduck]

Personally I think it is pretty scary to think of someone out there on the road without a trainer just out of school. Granted there are a lot of trainers out there who are worthless but at least there is someone there if you get into trouble.

Most schools teach you how to pass the CDL test. Driving for real is a whole different ball game. Do you have accidents or something preventing other companies from being willing to train you?

Also, if a company doesn't want to spend money training you but will send you out on the road fresh out of school... what does that say about their committment to their drivers?

[Random_Facts]

Hi thanx for the comments.

It is true I hate my job. It's hard and labor intensive, plus it's indoors and the air is no good. I'm 54 and don't want to do it until I'm 65. If I don't make a break now it will be too late.

Panu offered me .42 mi. and 10,000 miles a month. That works out to be about $1,000 a week. I know I have to put in longer hours but part of the job is seing the country and it would be a lot more pleasanter than my current job. Besides if truck driving doesn't work out for me I can always go back. :sad:

Not to be the Johnny rain cloud over here..but quick question..they offered you 42cents a mile, and 10,000 miles a month <-- is that a typing error? (that seems a bit high) >.> just wondering thats all.

[shanhamm]

dude, don't give up 25 dollars an hour...are you crazy?

I see your point....

But i'm giving up making $29.67 an hour ON THE CHECK!!!! plus driving time ( between $25 and $65 a day) and $10 an hour in my pension, paid by my employer, and $7 an hour for health care paid by my employer....

Why??? I want to be happy again, I love to drive!!!

[steverb1]

dude, don't give up 25 dollars an hour...are you crazy?

I see your point....

But i'm giving up making $29.67 an hour ON THE CHECK!!!! plus driving time ( between $25 and $65 a day) and $10 an hour in my pension, paid by my employer, and $7 an hour for health care paid by my employer....

Why??? I want to be happy again, I love to drive!!!

Thanx for the comments. Cynduc I have 100 hrs. behind the wheel and 140 classroom. I know it's not alot but more than most schools and we were taught how to drive and not the test route. I would have loved to have someone teach me some winter driving skills but most trucking companies want to find drivers that don't already have their license so they can teach them right from scratch. They also like them a little younger.

Random Facts, no typo, that's what they told me.

Shanhamm, bravo for you. It takes guts to leave a secure job for a new career and you have surely given up a good job and benefits.

I hope it works out for me and I'll give it my best shot. If I succeed and I like driving then I will have made the right choice.

To the poster that asked if Pannu was in Abbotsford. Yes on Bradner rd.

[heavyhaulerss]

if your not happy where you are it is worth considering leaving. i'd rather make a lot less & be happy then make a lot more & be unhappy. as long as i could afford to do so. as long at the trucking co has as good benefits, e.t.c. i would consider. talk it over with others like family. wife maybe. being happy & looking forward to going to work & better than any high paying job to me. good luck