What company to go with?

[tbogle]

well i just talked to my brother and he doesnt know what to do now. He had mentioned buying a truck and being an o/o and that is one thing i dont know much about so i couldnt help him with that. i dont know if he is really wanting to do this or if this was one of them ideas that last a minute. I am sure that once he realizes how much it cost to do that for the truck and insurance and everything he will be reconsidering it. He is trying to keep away from going into a different industry since he knows this is what industry he wants in. and he doesnt want to ruin his work history bc he is not happy with his job. Unfortunately around where we live there isnt much when it comes to trucking which is why my husband is out on the road, either that or its me and the three kids. Who knows but anyway i did talk to him about this stuff you guys have told me and the suggestions and I do appreciate it all. I agree with most of you on here and i think he would probably be better to just get something for right now and get a work history since all he has is the Navy and then maybe and if this country ever starts getting better he will have a better chance a year or two down the road.

[Matcron33]

don't worry! the lack of no experience will keep him out of that side.. it doesn't matter if he owns it or drives it. no is doing any hiring in this industry...


__________________________________________________ ___________________________________


some men!!! you just can't reach!!!! so you get what we had here last week. which is the way he wants it!!!! weeeelll! he gets it!!! I don't like it, any more then you men.....

(cool hand luke)

[Phreddo]

To channel dave ramsey here for a second, if you have no experience and no prospects, DO NOT BUY A TRUCK. And as if that's enough, DO NOT GO INTO DEBT TO BUY A TRUCK. That beast will chew up a seasoned vet if not properly fed and groomed. The registration alone can cost a few grand depending on the state. Not to mention all the other factors that go into getting all the other permits, authorities, and god only knows what else. I've been driving for 3 years and I can't even begin to guess how to go about owning a truck.

As far as credit, I honsetly don't know how it factors in, i've just heard it referenced in passing that your credit history has the potential to be used during a hiring process. Don't ask me how or why. I find it backwards that someone with bad credit would have a harder time getting a job, seems like they could use the money more. But, I don't do hiring, I just drive.

Just on a personal note, maybe the unemployed can try with the local temp agencies, like manpower or officeteam or whatever. It's an easy way to get into work sooner than later, and you can come and go as you please with little concern for a ding on your record for quitting for a better job. That's gotten me through a few lean times.

[Matcron33]

To channel dave ramsey here for a second, if you have no experience and no prospects, DO NOT BUY A TRUCK. And as if that's enough, DO NOT GO INTO DEBT TO BUY A TRUCK. That beast will chew up a seasoned vet if not properly fed and groomed. The registration alone can cost a few grand depending on the state. Not to mention all the other factors that go into getting all the other permits, authorities, and god only knows what else. I've been driving for 3 years and I can't even begin to guess how to go about owning a truck.

As far as credit, I honsetly don't know how it factors in, i've just heard it referenced in passing that your credit history has the potential to be used during a hiring process. Don't ask me how or why. I find it backwards that someone with bad credit would have a harder time getting a job, seems like they could use the money more. But, I don't do hiring, I just drive.

Just on a personal note, maybe the unemployed can try with the local temp agencies, like manpower or officeteam or whatever. It's an easy way to get into work sooner than later, and you can come and go as you please with little concern for a ding on your record for quitting for a better job. That's gotten me through a few lean times.

I used a temp agency when i was a young buck out of high school. it was great. if you didn't like the job. you could report the problem to the temp agency and they would send you to another job.. I would also use then as a winter job. when it was too cold to work masonary construction. and work was slow. they would really pull me through.. and a temp agency can be a great source for a second or third job..

[tbogle]

well he did decide to go and try to temp agencies tomorrow and hope to find something but he is also going out to the college to see about the driving courses too. The way jobs are around here, hopefully he has some kind of luck finding something. He had heard that if he goes to school and gets his cdl and doesnt find a job within the first year he has to take the course again, is this true? If it is then he is going to wait a while to try to get something set up for after he gets out of school.

[Matcron33]

I would wait!!!! get a job first... he's done heard a ton of no's and until the economy improves. he will still here no for all the trucking companies. I would tell him to chill out for a couple of years. the ressession is going to take a while... so if i was him. I would focus on getting a job any job. maybe a couple of jobs. and recover my life first. if the state is paying for the school. I would suggest being a heavy duty truck mechanic. many truck drivers end up doing that or running a wrecker. and from whati've seen the work is more steady as a mechanic. he will make just as much. be home more. and have every weekend off... tell him not to limit his educational options to one career field... the last thing he needs. is a student loan and no job to pay for it with.... the schools can't promise him a job after words. that is the biggest lie they will tell him... he needs to think about all his options....

[tbogle]

Thats not a bad idea...i dont know if he ever really thought about going into something like that. He has always been one to work on things so i am sure that it is somthing that would interest him. I will have to talk with him about this and see what he thinks.

[Matcron33]

I was kind of in his place 10 years ago... I wouldn't listen to anyone. 10 years million miles later. I am a mechanic in a heavy duty truck shop.. I make the same pay as truckers. and i don't have the double living expenses of traveling. and now I ride a bicycle to work... it saves me tons over driving a car or a moped.. the only real benifit i have with holding a cdl. is i get picked to go out on a wreker run to pick up broke down semi's on the road.. that's all the driving i do... the only other bonus i have. is when i got off the road. I lost nearly 60 pounds...

[OhNoMrBill]

I am confused..........

I was kind of in his place 10 years ago... I wouldn't listen to anyone. 10 years million miles later. I am a mechanic in a heavy duty truck shop.. I make the same pay as truckers. and i don't have the double living expenses of traveling. and now I ride a bicycle to work... it saves me tons over driving a car or a moped.. the only real benifit i have with holding a cdl. is i get picked to go out on a wreker run to pick up broke down semi's on the road.. that's all the driving i do... the only other bonus i have. is when i got off the road. I lost nearly 60 pounds...

In that post you are saying that you gave up driving to be a heavy truck mechanic.

what's my deal??? it's really simple. I have worked for my oldest brother for the last year pulling containers out of chicago. the company he leased the truck to. had the accounts frooze completely.. the container companies owner was getting a divorce. and didn't say anything about it until the lease was signed. so may 1 I was laid off with out any kind of notice what so ever. they never even called me to tell me. and when i called in to see what they had for me to do on that friday. the didn't say anything then.. you would be a really upset from the whole matter. too make matters worse never of them will tell the unemployement office i am laid off. why??? because neither of them want to pay the unemployement benifits i really need. to make matters worse. no one is hiring. and that is a fact. I am 5 states away from home. stuck in the south side of indianapolis. it's really bad here. to make matters worse. neither my brother or the owner of the container company will varify the last year of employment. any local companies here that is hring. won't hire me. because i am not a resident of this corn fead state of indiana.. it's bad. the worst i ever had my whole life.. too make matters really bad. I live in a truck on my brothes lot. have to baby sit the shop why because the crack heads here will rob the place. he will not pay me. and when i asked to be paid. this is what my very own brother told me.. I let you stay on my lot. that should be pay enough. so I have very little money and no where to live. I can't get help from either indiana or florida for welfare,unemployement or any other govornment program... how am I writting this to you. on the computer in the office of the shop my brother owns.. beleieve me. you have no clue on what it's like to be completely left out in the cold. I always wondered why so of the homeless were bitter. Now that i am homeless. I see completely how they feel when the ask for a dollar or hold a sign up begging for help.. and no one will help. so as you can see. I am really not a negative person at all. what happened to me shouldn't of happened. and I haven't done nothing wrong in my life to deserve this..

and i am sorry if my post on the trucking sites seem to be a bit negative. and to truthfull. honesty is just that. honesty. most of my post are to help people with question they have about trucking related jobs.. this is the only post on the internet any where that is meant to be entertaining and fun...

and you can believe me i am on here everyday sending out applications and follow up calls on them.. no one in the trucking industry seems to want to help me.. later when the economy picks up. and they are calling me begging me to come and drive there truck. I have a great memory... and I will recall this point in time in life. and how they turned there noses up at me... I am going through a really bad time in my life rite now... hopfully one day soon. things will get better for me.. and remember you asked..

But in that post you make it sound like you are out of work with no money and no place to live.......

Your advice would be beneficial to the O/P even if you did not fib to make it sound better.

[OhNoMrBill]

I would! but knowing you! you would do more damage then good in that post... next time. leave well enough alone... now you have probably screwed it up... thanx. your a real trooper.. my situation doesn't matter to me when helping some one. so next time! think before you act..

http://www.classadrivers.com/forum/m...ll#vmessage435
Thank's for the private message Matcron33, but I prefer to keep things in the open.

So how is it that I have screwed it up?

[tbogle]

ok so now i am confused. would it be good for him to get into heavy duty mechanic? Would that really help him out in doing what he really wants to do? Whats the point of him going into something that he really doesnt want and thinking the whole time that it would help get him in a truck and then after a few thousand dollars, go and find out that he wasted his money, and is right back where he started.

I would really appreciate getting some honest opinions on this and not making up something to either make yourself sound better or whatever the reason is for you lieing to me about this. What if he did go and become a mechanic and not make as much money and not get into a truck at all? Then all your doing by telling us this is screwing him.

[Matcron33]

Let me see! Damage control!!! chances are. nomoremrbill. has maybe a few years under his belt. Me 10 years as a driver. 34 years of life in the industry. doesn't much matter. some how I doubt you will listen to any advice I have to offer. so I will leave you with this final thought. my 2 older brothers are master mechanics. Truth, It doesn't matter what advice you give your brother. all you can do is watch. he is going to do what he wants to do.. that's all I can tell you..

why didn't nomoremrbill respond to my message! simple.. He is a "Cyber stalker" and he knew i would report him. that would be why... so to the CAD mods. I would keep a very close eye on nomoremrbill.. he entered this thread seen i was in it helping some one. and decided to trash me. bill???? Do you see what i mean by you will do more damage then good?
when they spend $55k for a truck plus up to $8k for school. just to find out. that they can't get the truck leased any where. plus his brother can get a job in that side of the industry either.
I know exactly what i am talking about. I had a friend who thought the same thing. he nearly put his house up for a truck. he had no experience. so I got him a job where i was working then in 2005. he didn't make it 3 months.. and at the end I asked him. what would you have done. if you would have put your house up for a truck??? he had no clue... moral to the story. anybody can own one of these trucks. working it seems to be the trick. so many steering wheel jockies on the road..

to the "OP" get his mvr. criminal record,and work history. put yourself in the place of an employer that has a trucking company.. and ask your self this. would i hire him??? the anwser there should tell you what you need to know..

the time your brother did and the crime is still fresh... so nooooo!!! no one will hire him in the trucking industry. about 2 years from now things will be different. maybe then if your brother is still interested in being a driver. maybe then he can get a trucking job. until then.. he is going to have to do something for a living.. so if he goes to school for another interest. and get a job in that field. he might find that he likes it better.. the reason i suggest a heavy duty truck mechanic. is because you can get a job in nearly any industry with a degree like that.. working on just about any piece of equiptment in the world. and unlike the companies in the trucking industry. most ever employer send mechanics to school for addition training. and the mechanics don't pay for the classes..

really it's up to your brother on what he wants to do with his life.. all you really can do is watch.. the best of luck to the both of you...


truth, well all good at many different things. but we are great at one thing. those who figur it out. make the most in that career field.. so ask him. what is he truely passionate about. and truely loves doing. listen to how he talks about it.. that will help you decide what your brother is really great at... and what career field he should be in..

[mike3fan]

Cyberstalker? LMAO....

Only reason I didn't ask is he beat me to the question, so which is it? your an out of work guy struggling and living out of a truck with no job or your a mechanic and all that heart tugging story was BS?

I'm almost guess our NE friend is back............

[Matcron33]

MR.BILL ???? I shouldn't of come in this thread at all! from what I understand. you might have a month under the belt driving. and that is with a trainer.. your a newbie swift driver. The "OP" origional poster. is trying to figure out what the reall chances are for his brother in trucking! AS AN OWNER OPORATER!!! YOU how ever! are a NEWBIE DRIVER! FOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wonder why you didn't have an opinion on what company might go under next! that's because you don't have one.. you don't have experience to have one... My God!!!

YOUR DAMAGE MR.BILL
ok so now i am confused. would it be good for him to get into heavy duty mechanic? Would that really help him out in doing what he really wants to do? Whats the point of him going into something that he really doesnt want and thinking the whole time that it would help get him in a truck and then after a few thousand dollars, go and find out that he wasted his money, and is right back where he started.

I would really appreciate getting some honest opinions on this and not making up something to either make yourself sound better or whatever the reason is for you lieing to me about this. What if he did go and become a mechanic and not make as much money and not get into a truck at all? Then all your doing by telling us this is screwing him.


read it very carefully mr.bill the above is your damage..

your dumm ast. is going to cost them aaaalllloooooootttt of money!!!! simply because your still impressed that you are driving the biggest thing on the road. and haven't ran anyone over yet!!! crist!!! Mr.Bill!!!!! you haven't even seen any snow. or a patch of ice on the road... you might have 10,000 miles total. put the computer up. and go make swift some money you moron.

and yes I got a job. i started monday. I have to ride a bicycle to work... which is 2 miles down the road from the truck i am living in.... so how is it i lied???? I didn't!!!! MISTER BILLLL!!!!!! You stuck your newbie rookie nose in where it didn't belong. A typical know nothing Swift driver wanna be...

When you cost these people 10's of thousands of dollars. because you are too stupid to keep your nose out of stuff you just do not understand... Then you can take the heat from them. when they have one of these great big trucks setting in there yard with a 1+ thousand dollar a month payment. and no where to lease or run it... why. because you had to make me look like something i'm not... Then maybe you Mr. BILL.... can help them figure out how to pay for it...

[tbogle]

MR.BILL ???? I shouldn't of come in this thread at all! from what I understand. you might have a month under the belt driving. and that is with a trainer.. your a newbie swift driver. The "OP" origional poster. is trying to figure out what the reall chances are for his brother in trucking! AS AN OWNER OPORATER!!! YOU how ever! are a NEWBIE DRIVER! FOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wonder why you didn't have an opinion on what company might go under next! that's because you don't have one.. you don't have experience to have one... My God!!!

YOUR DAMAGE MR.BILL
ok so now i am confused. would it be good for him to get into heavy duty mechanic? Would that really help him out in doing what he really wants to do? Whats the point of him going into something that he really doesnt want and thinking the whole time that it would help get him in a truck and then after a few thousand dollars, go and find out that he wasted his money, and is right back where he started.

I would really appreciate getting some honest opinions on this and not making up something to either make yourself sound better or whatever the reason is for you lieing to me about this. What if he did go and become a mechanic and not make as much money and not get into a truck at all? Then all your doing by telling us this is screwing him.


read it very carefully mr.bill the above is your damage..

your dumm ast. is going to cost them aaaalllloooooootttt of money!!!! simply because your still impressed that you are driving the biggest thing on the road. and haven't ran anyone over yet!!! crist!!! Mr.Bill!!!!! you haven't even seen any snow. or a patch of ice on the road... you might have 10,000 miles total. put the computer up. and go make swift some money you moron.

and yes I got a job. i started monday. I have to ride a bicycle to work... which is 2 miles down the road from the truck i am living in.... so how is it i lied???? I didn't!!!! MISTER BILLLL!!!!!! You stuck your newbie rookie nose in where it didn't belong. A typical know nothing Swift driver wanna be...

When you cost these people 10's of thousands of dollars. because you are too stupid to keep your nose out of stuff you just do not understand... Then you can take the heat from them. when they have one of these great big trucks setting in there yard with a 1+ thousand dollar a month payment. and no where to lease or run it... why. because you had to make me look like something i'm not... Then maybe you Mr. BILL.... can help them figure out how to pay for it...

Ok first of all i dont think we need to be childish on here and going back and forth blaming people for different things. and second of all, what he said is not going to cost us thousands of dollars just because of what he said. I have been with my husband for six years now and from the beginning he was driving a truck. So i do know something about the way the trucking industry is. The only reason i am on here is to find out if there is any company that anyone knows of that would take my brother with the charge and having no experience and with the way this economy is, if he had a chance right now. My husband just started with JB and even though he has the experience but was off the road for 9 months he had problems finding a job that he was wanting, because some wanted to put him back in with a trainer and be OTR. All he was looking for was something to get him home every week and then eventually a local, since we have three kids and he doesnt want to be away anymore. Anway you guys going back and forth about this isnt doing any good. We kinda know what to do but just wanted OPINIONS from other drivers, i never said i would do exactly what you guys say to do.

[Creek Jackson]

MR.BILL ???? I shouldn't of come in this thread at all!

Now I can agree with that!

[tbogle]

well he has called a few different companies and some said no not for another 5 years and he had one that said after he pays his fine (which has to be done in Sept.) then they would take him. I am pretty sure that it was Prime that told him this, but i cant remember. I will have to get back to you guys on that. It sounds like a lot of bs to me though. But, does anyone know anything about prime? Would it be a good company to work for?

Another thing he is wanting to know is, is there anyone that is still with the first company that they ever worked for and if so how long have you been with them? He is determined to stick with the first company he works for no matter what but i think once he gets out there and realizes that he could do better with another company he might just change his mind.

[Skywalker]

"tbogle".... I can see that you are serious and trying to help a family member, so I'll toss in my two cents...

First, if your brother has temper issues....he may wish to avoid this arena, seriously. If he ends up working for a company that does a lot of food warehouses.....his temper or rather restraint will be sorely tested. He has a record and that can interfere with many things, such as his ability to cross the border into Canada. Many companies have that as a requirement. Many companies also require a Hazmat endorsement, which he may be precluded from. Many companies also are not hiring currently. The economy is down very badly right now, and I hope I'm wrong...but it could well get worse before it improves.

Second, if he is not already in possession of a CDL-A and whatever necessary endorsements, then he is going to have a seriously hard time getting in the door. He already has a couple of impediments. Unfortunately he has the criminal record, and if he was "kicked out" of the Navy, he more than likely at a minimum has a Chapter 14 type of discharge or worse. Those are two extremely difficult impediments to overcome in a hiring market where he will be competing with 1000's of drivers with good safety records, tremendous experience, and stable work histories, as well as clean records.

What I would recommend, is that he consider refocusing his desires and move toward a field that has a demand in it. He does not have to "love" the work....his first and foremost concern is fulfilling the requirements of "Maslow's Hierarchy"...( Maslow's Hierarchy ).... One cannot live without food, etc.....

If he does not want to go to college and get a degree, then perhaps he should look at a skilled job....such as diesel mechanic, or something of that nature. If you live near an ocean...being a "marine diesel mechanic" or even a "boat mechanic" capable of repairing the myriad of systems on boats can provide a good living. If he is talented with his hands and can work with fiberglass and gelcoat, and can paint or varnish, or wants to do rigging work on sailboats....he can make a good living as well. To be honest with you....if I was a younger man, I would be doing something different myself. I'm at the point in life where I am looking to retire in a couple of years, and way too old to do the kind of work I like to do... I live on my boat, and keeping it up is enough....

Right now, in this present economy.... I think you might want to get him to "reassess" his goals....I know the company I work for has a hiring freeze, and its indefinite, and there are other companies out there that have frozen hiring as well, and even a few that are actually "downsizing" their fleets. I would have to expect that he would be looking at not being able to secure a seat until the economy recovers to the point where all drivers that have been displaced are back in the seat or left the market....

Its too bad he had problems in the Navy...otherwise I would suggest that he go back in. Its probably one of the only "sure-things" going right now....

Best of Luck to him!!

[Sealord]

Tbogle,
I don't think you've said what your brother's 20 is, but he has a lot of things going against him besides a criminal record, kicked out of the Navy (big red flag), (and yes employers can find out the character of s discharge) and his age. many OTR companies don't hire if the potential driver's age is under 23. It sounds like he really needs to talk to a career counselor like in a state unemployment office. Can he still access VA education counselors? That may be a place to start. He should possibly think about a technical job in healthcare like a lab tech or equipment operator. He's too young to think is only best opportunity is as a driver. Previous poster made good point too. BOL

[tbogle]

He is 21 and the reason he got kicked out of the Navy was because of the allegations against him. As i have posted before, he does not have a temper problem, the reason he got battery was because it was a plea deal. I do agree with all of you on him needing to just try and find something else. I have been trying to tell him this since before he got out of jail. But there is nothing i can do to change his mind, he is a big boy he can do what he wants. I am just trying to help him out. He wont listen to me about finding a different job so I figured I would just get on here and try to see if someone else knows something he could do that we dont know of. I think with the more companies that he calls and talks to, he is realizing that he dont really have a chance but he is still committed to this and trying his best to find something. I think pretty much what is going to happen is he is going to find out the hard way that he really doesnt have any chance right now but i just hope he realizing this before he spends the money on the training at a school.