my son wants to be a truck driver

[DavidNolan598]

He almost attended an England session, but i convinced him not to go. So where does a father look to learn some basic info about truck driver life and the industry.

I want to to help my son get into the industry and even if he doesnt want my help, understand what its all about?

Can you suggest any good reads?? "Secrets of the trucking industry" or stuff along that line.

What about Isothermal Cummunity Collge / Sage Trucking school? HAs anybody heard of it?

Can a 21 YO new driver actually get hired out of school withouth knowing somebody?

Thanks

Dave Nolan, Brick NJ

DavidNolan598@yahoo.com

[GMAN]

Welcome to the forum. The minimum age that a person can drive a commercial vehicle is 21. Most carriers require drivers to be at least 23-25 years old. Before doing anything I would suggest you find out if he can even get hired until he gets a little older. There is a company listings on the top of this page. Follow the link and you can find the minimum hiring requirements for most of the major carriers. Some who do hire inexperienced drivers include Swift, Stevens, Covenant, Millis, Roehl, US Xpress and CRST. These are not the only ones, but are mentioned on this forum by many who have gotten started.

There is a lot of information on this forum about what to expect as a new driver. We have a diverse group with differing degrees of experience. If you have specific questions feel free to ask. Better yet, get your son to come on here and check things out for himself. Some of us own trucks and hire drivers. Others are starting out like your son. There are also people who only have an interest in this business. Whatever their reasons, everyone has an interest in trucking.

If he wants to driver otr then he will start with a trainer for a few weeks to a few months. Once he gets a year or two under his belt he will have more doors open to him. He will need a clean mvr and criminal history. Anything other than one or perhaps two minor traffic offenses will make it difficult for him to find a carrier. Good luck.

[Orangetxguy]

He almost attended an England session, but i convinced him not to go. So where does a father look to learn some basic info about truck driver life and the industry.

I want to to help my son get into the industry and even if he doesnt want my help, understand what its all about?

Can you suggest any good reads?? "Secrets of the trucking industry" or stuff along that line.

What about Isothermal Cummunity Collge / Sage Trucking school? HAs anybody heard of it?

Can a 21 YO new driver actually get hired out of school withouth knowing somebody?

Thanks

Dave Nolan, Brick NJ

DavidNolan598@yahoo.com

Yes. Right now, IF he wants to work a bit harder than most truck drivers, there are oilfield service companies hiring for anyplace and everyplace there is oil well drilling occurring. From Northeastern PA to Deep South TX to Northwestern North Dakota.

At 21 he could probably get Haliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Weatherford, or 2 dozen other such companies to pay for his schooling plus, that is how short handed they are.

Have him make calls and see what those companies are willing to do.

[GMAN]

That is a good point, Orangetxguy. I don't seem to think about the oil fields. He may also check with his local state employment office. They may also have companies that would pay for his training or have a program where they will train him. He may even be able to get online and check jobs at the state employment office in your area. You didn't mention where your sone lives, but where you live can impact whom you can work. Some carriers only recruit out of certain areas.

[Orangetxguy]

That is a good point, Orangetxguy. I don't seem to think about the oil fields. He may also check with his local state employment office. They may also have companies that would pay for his training or have a program where they will train him. He may even be able to get online and check jobs at the state employment office in your area. You didn't mention where your sone lives, but where you live can impact whom you can work. Some carriers only recruit out of certain areas.

I'm guessing that since the kid is 21, he wants to see some sights and feels driving truck interstate is the way. We all know that he is 2 years to young for the insurance companies. The oilfield service companies, they are self-insured for the most part, and young men whom are in good shape and drug free they love to death.

The young man can get into the right job, find that he not only likes the people and the work....but the travel as well. Good hands get sent all across the country by plane to drive trucks at different districts (re; terminals) If a hand is really good, they are gong to ask him to get his passport, and then he is off to the money races, working International. Yes...it is a long shot, but I have known several dozen such "Long-shots". It takes about three years to prove one's self fit for International work.

Just a suggestion for the young man. He could expect to make in the neighborhood of $65,000 working a full year with any one of the companies I mentioned plus a dozen others.

There are a couple of "leach" companies he wants to stay away from if he does take a look. Frac Tech and Select Energy Services.

Key Energy Services, Nabors Drilling, Pioneer Resources, Chesapeake Energy, H & P Drilling, Grey Wolfe Drilling...and a dozen others are all hiring nationwide. Just about every single service company is providing housing and meals, or a daily per diem of $100. That per diem is totally different from what everyone knows in the trucking industry. It is cut as a separate check and is call "Cost of Living". You think....$3,000 a month. Right? You will spend just about every dime of it and these companies know it.

[GMAN]

I have delivered equipment, machinery and pads to some of those pipline construction sites in several states. It would help if he mentioned where his son lives.

[willismith]

Hi DavidNolan598, First of all Welcome to forum. I am agree with GMAN and Orangetxguy. They are right.

[Orangetxguy]

He almost attended an England session, but i convinced him not to go. So where does a father look to learn some basic info about truck driver life and the industry.

I want to to help my son get into the industry and even if he doesnt want my help, understand what its all about?

Can you suggest any good reads?? "Secrets of the trucking industry" or stuff along that line.

What about Isothermal Cummunity Collge / Sage Trucking school? HAs anybody heard of it?

Can a 21 YO new driver actually get hired out of school withouth knowing somebody?

Thanks

Dave Nolan, Brick NJ

DavidNolan598@yahoo.com

Since he posted his location with his signature....I just assumed the kid lives where he does.

[DavidNolan598]

Hey Guys, Thank you very much. I did not expect this much feedback, and its all very good. You guys are gentlemen indeed. For you guys to take your time and respond to a total stranger is awesome.

Im sorry, my son is in Rock Hill South Carolina. I think he has a good driving record. I know he got one ticket and hopefully thats all, but i doubt he'd tell me. He left NJ about a month back. Im in Brick NJ but I work for the military and we are being BRAC'ed to Aberdeen Proving Grounds (off I-95 at the top of Md)

He was very excited about the CREngland training thing, but i read a lot of stuff online and so he didnt go this turn. Rock Hill is about 40 mins south of Charlotte NC. There is a community college truck driver program located about 70 miles away at ISothermal community college, and I think Sage trucking is the vendor that does the driving program.

I will pass this info on and Ive been trying to get him to be proactive, because I think thats probably what you need to be a trucker on the road. You are pretty darn independent and probably have to be resourceful.

My ideas i gave to him were these (#1-#9): But I think there is a world of info right here. Im going to point him to this page.

1. Call Isothermal (or whoever you want) and ask if you can go down and
have a talk with Mr Bridges. Tell him you don't know anything about it as an industry, or as a
vocation. He's been there many years.

2. Open up the phonebook, call a local trucking company and ask to speak to
Human Resources. Ask for an appointment and go ask them how they hire their
drivers, and how a young man gets started. Ask if they hire out of schools,
and if they do, what schools? Ask questions. Like do schools get
accredited? Are there accredited truck schools? How long is it? What endorsements do I get? How do I get
tandem, and tanker endorsements? Blah blah.. you can think of 50 good questions

3. Go to the library and request any books they have about the trucking
industry.

4. Join any of the zillion truck driver forums online. I'm on one of them.
Ask questions.

5. Call moms uncle - the driver that drove for 30 years.

6. maybe stop at a rest area and see some decent looking trucker, tell him
you'll buy him dinner if he will sit with you and talk about trucking.


7. You can listen to someone you mentioned below, or you can develop your
own plan, do some research, talk to people.

8. Another approach is to immediately get two pt jobs.. wrok a fewm months,
and then join a service and go to the Armys truck driving school thru the
Guard. In fact, they Army has a Troops to Truckers Program to fill the
shortage of truckers with guys rotating out of theatre.

9. Check with the Better Business Bureau for their independent rating of
truck driver courses. You probably cant go wrong taking the one offered
through the local community college. Normally college cooperative programs
are better than industry specific ones.

Im going to direct him to this page and maybe he can join a forum and ask his own questions. Im just trying to help him and also keep him from potentially wasting money. The lady at CRE told him he'd start out at 53K and full benefits. Im not sure how they promise that

Thanks Guys

Dave Nolan, Brick NJ

[mgfg]

David, have you son keep looking. There's far better carriers that CR England out there. They are close to the bottom of the barrel actually. Just look at these numbers!

Carrier Overview

Those numbers are nothing short of atrocious.

[Mackman]

tell him to look for another line of work. There is a good thread on here i have to find it. There is a reason the turn over rate is 100% plus.

[golfhobo]

Welcome to CAD, Dave. Hope your son will join up, too.

Tell him to stay away from England! That 53 grand is what they promise he'll make if he lets them sucker him into their Lease Option. Like a 21 yr old really needs the pressure and responsibility of owning his own truck! [most of them wash out after they buy the truck for England!]

I knew he was close by when you mentioned Isothermal. I've never visited them, but I hear good things about them. Sage has a great reputation and is the "vendor" as you say at several good community colleges around the country. He couldn't do much better than them.

But, with him in SC, I don't know if he'll get in-state tuition. Can he relocate to NC? Definitely have him go talk to them for all kinds of good info. I drive thru there every day and often see their trucks on the road. They have pretty good equipment. Some schools do not.

Don't know if they still have any money... but, the Workforce Investment Act paid all of my tuition to the school I went to here in NC. Have him check with the local employment office about it.

As you can see, his age could be a problem... but not a total deal breaker. Does he have any college education? If not, he might consider a two year associate degree program at Isothermal with the SAGE school toward the end. That way he'd be approaching the right age when he gets his CDL and still have something to fall back on. Getting a CDL at his age without prior employment promises would be a big mistake. 3 months without a job and your CDL is toilet paper! Gotta start all over.

That P/T job you mentioned could easily be done at a UPS distribution center. That's how many UPS drivers get their start. 2 years on the docks while going to school, and he walks right into a union job with UPS. Very good money there.

Personally, I think the library would be a waste of time. I don't think us truckers are a hot topic for book writers. And change that Rest Area to a Truck Stop. A young man walking up to a trucker at a rest stop is a VERY bad idea (if you know what I mean.)

I drive for FedEX Ground and there is a terminal in Charlotte. All our trucks are Independent Contractors and many have several trucks and hire drivers to drive them. I will ask around about whether they would consider a newbie of only 21 yrs. The company may have an age requirement.

Getting hired right out of school is not much of a problem... except for his age. Most "mega carriers" send recruiters to the schools just before each class graduates. Isothermal probably has a "placement program" as well (or instead.)

But remember.... going to school or getting the CDL too soon can be a waste of time and money. If he does either and then can't get hired for 6 months to a year, he will have to start all over.

Hope this helps.

Hobo

[Mackman]

Take a look at this. Alot of good info.
Whats wrong with trucking??

[GMAN]

One thing you posted that got my attention was a speeding ticket. One ticket is not usually a problem unless it is for excessive speeding. If he was doing 15 mph or over it might cause him a problem getting on with a carrier until it drops off his record. Most carriers will allow 2 moving violations. Some will allow up to 3. Most carriers look for a clean MVR. Before spending any money on training I would check around and see if he can get on with any carriers at his age. I agree with hobo about him getting his education. It would be a good fall back plan should trucking not work out for him. Not everyone can handle this lifestyle. Some don't deal well being away from home from 1-2 weeks at a time. There are threads about this business and what it is like being an otr driver. Living in South Carolina he should not have a problem getting on with most carriers.

[geeshock]

Isothermal CC, you by chance from the NC area? They are prety good, even though all I did was use them to get requalified. As for the age most will hire is 23. Whatever you do, don't let him do CR, their trainers are the worst. They have the mentality of useing the trainee as a seat warmer and a way to get extra miles, thats it.

[MichiganDriver]

tell him to look for another line of work. There is a good thread on here i have to find it. There is a reason the turn over rate is 100% plus.

+1

He'd be better off going to school and learning something, anything. If he's into trucks for some strange reason, then he could be a mechanic and make a decent living and live a normal life (as in making it home every night).

[repete]

+1

He'd be better off going to school and learning something, anything. If he's into trucks for some strange reason, then he could be a mechanic and make a decent living and live a normal life (as in making it home every night).

I used to have a "normal life" and busted my azz working on cars, big trucks and heavy equipment till I couldn't do it any more now I drive a truck and the easyest job I've ever had get paid good and home every night. IT CAN BE DONE.
If Jr wants to try his hand, good for him, lots good stuff here just get him to check it out

[mitchno1]

hey you blokes getting like to sound like your fellow americans in Layover.Com , how about giving helpful advice like you usualy do and encourage people to join the industry

[eyewannafly2]

I see that no one has mentioned Millis Transfer as a possibility for a new driver. I just finished the school in Trenton(Hamilton), OH. There were only 2 in my class and the second was 21 years old. The are hiring in most states east of the Mississippi and were recently certified as a top pay carrier. By listening to the drivers in the terminal most of the drivers for Millis are happy with them and have been around for several years. As I have stated I am a new driver. Before the class I had not even been in a tractor, let alone drive one.
The class is fairly inexpensive with only $500 needed up front. There is an additional $2000 for the class that they will finance at no interest until it is paid. They will also "charge" for the trainer after you go on the road. If you stay with them for a year that "charge" is forgiven. I say inexpensive because the schools in the Indianapolis area are wanting $5000-$6500 for the schools that replied to my calls. And they can't guarantee a position after finishing the course.
I have been wanting to drive for the last 20 years and have never given in to the temptation. Jumped into it and I am ready to go out with my trainer.

[Orangetxguy]

I see that no one has mentioned Millis Transfer as a possibility for a new driver. I just finished the school in Trenton(Hamilton), OH. There were only 2 in my class and the second was 21 years old. The are hiring in most states east of the Mississippi and were recently certified as a top pay carrier. By listening to the drivers in the terminal most of the drivers for Millis are happy with them and have been around for several years. As I have stated I am a new driver. Before the class I had not even been in a tractor, let alone drive one.
The class is fairly inexpensive with only $500 needed up front. There is an additional $2000 for the class that they will finance at no interest until it is paid. They will also "charge" for the trainer after you go on the road. If you stay with them for a year that "charge" is forgiven. I say inexpensive because the schools in the Indianapolis area are wanting $5000-$6500 for the schools that replied to my calls. And they can't guarantee a position after finishing the course.
I have been wanting to drive for the last 20 years and have never given in to the temptation. Jumped into it and I am ready to go out with my trainer.

Exactly how much are they gonna "charge you" for that trainer....and what are that trainers certifications?