How did you get started in trucking (experienced drivers please)

[Jackrabbit379]

I never dreamed that I would be a truck driver. I made some poor decisions when I was younger, and if I would have had my head on straight when I graduated from high school, I would have got a teaching degree and coach football somewhere. At the same time, if that would have happened, I may not have been able to do some of the things I've done.

My grandparents used to farm in southern Oklahoma. I spent a lot of time with them, and I used to ride on the combines when the wheat was ripe. I was about 5 years old the first time I rode on a combine. I have a picture, and it was an old International Harvester combine without the cab. My dad used to sell Primrose oil, and he knew a family that owned/operated a custom harvesting crew. Once I got old enough to know more about the wheat harvest, I've always wanted to go. I went on my first year of harvest when I turned 20, and I got my class A that year. I turned 21 that July, and when we got home in the fall, I had to renew my license in order to keep it. I went on wheat harvest for 6 years. Only problem was, it was seasonal, and it was getting harder to find work in the winter.
After I got home from what was the last year I went on harvest, I was at one of my high school alma mater's football games and I ran into a friend of mine (my sister grew up with his sons) that runs linehaul for a local LTL company. I told him that I was looking for work and he said that he might can help me. About a week later, he called me and gave me a number to call, and I've been working for the same company ever since.

[Mackman]

Where to start.

I’m a 4th generation driver in my family. I never went to a trucking school also. I rode with my dad on the weekends and during the week when I didn’t have school. Like a dumbazz i quit high school at 17 years old.( I did get my GED) I got a job as a laborer for a paving and excavating company. As soon as i turn 18 i applied for my CDL class A permit.
At the time my dad had a 34’ dump trailer. I took my driving test in that. Passed the test and been driving ever since. The paving and excavating company I worked at I drove a single axle dump truck with a 20 ton tag along trailer. I moved anything that would fit on it. Backhoes, bulldozers etc. etc. When the full time lowboy driver would take a day off I got to drive the lowboy.
Then from there I got a job driving a honey dipper ( Septic Truck). It was a 4,000 gallon tanker. I did that for about 2.5 years. Then the company got a tractor trailer. It was a 6,300 gallon 39’ tank trailer. I had it made with that.
My Next job was driving a lowboy and tri/axle dump truck for another small family excavating company. I’m still real good friends with these guys. I rent a yard spot off them to park my tank truck.
Then with the help from my dad and the people he knew. I went out and bought my own tri/axle dump truck. The money is not as good as I thought it would be. But I’m making out ok. I will never work for anyone again. Once you work for yourself I could never go back to working for someone.
Aug 1^st of this year I bought out a local small (very small) Septic company. Now I also do septic tank and cesspool pumping. I’m starting to get into doing septic repairs as well. Hopefully in the spring I’m going to take a couple classes to learn how to install septic’s. The profit margin is a lot better in the septic field then in dump trucking. So I’m trying to grow the septic side of things and slowly get out of dump trucking.

Another thing that makes people look at me funny is. They ask how long i been driving. I tell them 10 years. They see how young I am and they ask how can I have 10 years exp. Well im 28 and got my cdl at 18. You do the math lol.

[rmv42158]

Hey Mackman. How can I PM you? Sorry Im a newbie and was hoping I could pick your brain? Sorry to highjack thread!

[Mackman]

Hey Mackman. How can I PM you? Sorry Im a newbie and was hoping I could pick your brain? Sorry to highjack thread!

You have to have so many posts( i think 50) before you can PM. But you can email me at powerstroke96350 at aol.com