Advice For a Recent School Graduate

[CMate]

Hello All

Newbie here. I've been reading a few post daily on this board for about 2 weeks now and I must say it is very informative.

This is actually my first post so bare with me because I'm not exactly sure about the meaning of some of the abbreviations that are used here.

Ok, so let me try to explain my situation. I live in Columbus, Ohio and I received my Class A CDL's in Febuary of this year. I've been in the concrete industry for the last 15 or so years(I'm currently 39) and every year I had to worry about being layed off during the winter months. Finally after graduated Roadmasters I feel this should be a problem. At this point I still don't have any actual road experience aside from my school training.

I've been working in the concrete field up until this point but I feel its time I made a career change for the better. Idealy I would like to maybe have 5-6 days on with possibly 2 days off or perhaps home daily like mostly everyone who has a family but as a recent grad I'm not sure if that is possible starting off.

My question is as a recent graduate with no actual road experience aside from my school training, what could I realistically expect to make in my first year and what companies would some of you recommend?

At school their were companies like Werner, Swift, US Xpress, Stevens, etc... Who had their recruiters show up daily and bring us lunch if we listened to their recruiting pitch but after reading this board the last few weeks it seems that most of those companies are not exactly a great place to start.

I've also received a offer from a company called Mamo Transportation out of Osceola, Indiana. They are a "Drive-Away Company" and they said I would be an independent contractor. They say they have guys fresh out of school who took home $1200 weekly and more experience drivers bringing home somewhere in the neighborhood of $2500-$3000 weekly. I was also told that getting home from these locations would be my responsibility which worried me because it could get pretty expensive i would imagine depening on where I was coming from. All of this sounds a little too good to be true so I did a little research but can't seem to find much at all on this company.

Well anyway, any info you can give to a rookie like myself would be greatly appreciated and thank you all in advance.

[Jimbpard]

TMC and Maverick (both flatbed) usually get you home on the weekends.

Skip that Mamo junk. Sounds like a real gypsie outfit.

[ohiomohawk]

Schneider has an account with a Sears or JCPenny distribution center in Columbus and you are off weekends. They also have a Walmart account at Washington Courthouse. Call Schneider and they can give you the details.

There are so many trucking companies in Columbus. You should not have a problem finding work.

[Colts Fan]

I would pepper the Columbus area with resumes, applications, etc. Like ohiomohawk said, there are many trucking companies in the Columbus area. You have a definite advantage over many others because of the freight lane in which you live.

Take a look at Con-Way Freight. They most likely have a terminal close to you. They will train you right out of school. BOL.

[freebird]

Welcome to the forums!
Graduated in February......don't set on the sidelines too long, carriers may require you to take a refresher course.
Sort of a use it or lose it type thing!
Best of luck!

[bluebeetle]

Actually not using your CDL in the first 90 days will require that you go back through a school and not a refresher course. Your best bet is to contact Schneider (they have their own school) and go from there. If you are serious about becoming a truck driver then do it. Don't waffle on it because you are unsure. You have already put a lot of resources into this decision either go through with it, or stay doing the cement truck thing and put with the seasonal layoffs.

[CMate]

Hey, thanks for all of the speedy responses.

I've already taken some of your advice and yes it seems some of the companies mentioned require that a driver be no more than 90 days out of driver training school which means I will need to go back for a 40 hour refresher course. Good for me that Roadmaster doesn't charge for a refresher course.

I'll do my best to keep everyone updated from here on out about my situation in hopes of helping the next guy who may be facing something similar.

Thanks again all.

[Hawkjr]

you waited a little bit to long chief... like they said you might have to go back to school or a refresher, i'm a recent grad my self and every company asks me have i graduated in the past 60 days!! so you might want to get a quick refresher and get on the grind.. but don't take most guys words on here for granted and the big companies... they are guys with experience and make damn good money odds are.. so really why would they want to go otr for weeks at a time?? of course they are going to down it but you have to start somewhere tho right?? don't have to make it a career there but get your experience and bounce!! but like someone said earlier try TMC since u are in the midwest and also try so LTL outfits.. most hire out of school grads!!

[wsclinger]

CMate.
First off congrats on graduating. I have been wanting to do the same thing as you but still life has gotten in the way and I've not gotten enrolled yet, though I have been checking the local schools and will be headed to Southern States Community College Truck Driver Academy in Obetz when I apply, (160 hrs of trainning under $4K). As others have told me on my other posts, we're in a very good location for trucking companies and I would definitely get your resume out to ALL of them. You never know what 'unlisted' opening you may be at the right place at the right time for.
I have checked out Schneider, Swift, and the other coolie companies and everything I've heard, which seems to be the same from them all, is that they promise you the sun, the moon, and the stars, and all you get is the rocket up your *****. You may also want to check the larger companies in the area that have their own fleets, which would get you in as an employee with that company and not be a contractor hauling their freight for them.
My home is in Delaware, OH and I hope that within the next 3-6 months to have gotten my trainning and be driving for a solid company. Who knows, maybe we'll even eventually be working for the same outfit or at least we'll be in the same brotherhood. Also, personally, even though I'm 51 years old, and I know the work is a little harder, my preference would be Flats or Refers...

BOL

[CMate]

CMate.
First off congrats on graduating. I have been wanting to do the same thing as you but still life has gotten in the way and I've not gotten enrolled yet, though I have been checking the local schools and will be headed to Southern States Community College Truck Driver Academy in Obetz when I apply, (160 hrs of trainning under $4K). As others have told me on my other posts, we're in a very good location for trucking companies and I would definitely get your resume out to ALL of them. You never know what 'unlisted' opening you may be at the right place at the right time for.
I have checked out Schneider, Swift, and the other OTR companies and everything I've heard, which seems to be the same from them all, is that they promise you the sun, the moon, and the stars, and all you get is the rocket up your *****. You may also want to check the larger companies in the area that have their own fleets, which would get you in as an employee with that company and not be a contractor hauling their freight for them.
My home is in Delaware, OH and I hope that within the next 3-6 months to have gotten my trainning and be driving for a solid company. Who knows, maybe we'll even eventually be working for the same outfit or at least we'll be in the same brotherhood. Also, personally, even though I'm 51 years old, and I know the work is a little harder, my preference would be Flats or Refers...

BOL

wsclinger

Thanks for the info and glad to hear you will be making the change as well.

Obetz is only about a 15-20 minute drive from my house. But Roadmaster is only about 5 minutes away. It cost me over $5k for my schooling there.

Their are a lot of Terminals within 10-15 miles of my house like a Schneider Terminal, Swift, Averitt, Covenant, Knight and NEMF just to name a few.

I hope within the next month or so to have made the transition from former Concrete employee to Full-Time Truck Driver.

Good luck to you and everyone else on here as well.

[wsclinger]

CMate,
Good luck to you also and keep me informed as to where you end up landing. Sounds like you are in the heart of the coolie's camp with all those terminals close by. Unlike me, being in Delaware, not too many terminals here, but hey, if we're into driving trucks for a living, then driving back and forth from home to the terminal should be a snap...LOL...

Again, good luck, be careful out there, and if you're ever on the north side of Columbus just let me know and we'll grab a cup of joe or a bite..