To all you experienced drivers.......
#11
02-16-2007, 04:17 PM
Originally Posted by homer
i thought someone would say they started when they were 10 years old and gone 30 million miles and am just sick of what everybody is doing. must be at another blog
Better....lol
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#12
02-16-2007, 05:17 PM
Problem with the above post is he is serious.
That said, the best money and best way to gain experience is not to go to anyone that has to advertise to attract you. Knock down doors to those that do not need advertise like a pizza shop and good things will come. Prove yourself to someone that has given you the opportunity to do so. Respect that person, their company and their equipment and you very quickly will be a labeled a professional that is portable to use that credibility to any outfit if you desire. You'll never forget the guy that gave you that shot that brought us all to where we now are. I have no business connection at all to the guy that gave me the shot, and he will be using my lakefront cottage rental for a week whenever he wants it for him and his family. I wouldn't have that property if it wasn't for him.
#13
02-16-2007, 05:20 PM
Originally Posted by driverboy
Problem with the above post is he is serious.
That said, the best money and best way to gain experience is not to go to anyone that has to advertise to attract you. Knock down doors to those that do not need advertise like a pizza shop and good things will come. Prove yourself to someone that has given you the opportunity to do so. Respect that person, their company and their equipment and you very quickly will be a labeled a professional that is portable to use that credibility to any outfit if you desire. You'll never forget the guy that gave you that shot that brought us all to where we now are. I have no business connection at all to the guy that gave me the shot, and he will be using my lakefront cottage rental for a week whenever he wants it for him and his family. I wouldn't have that property if it wasn't for him. Who did you think was serious?
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#14
02-17-2007, 12:24 AM
Originally Posted by ssoutlaw
I started when I was 9, and got 35m miles under my BELT and I am just sick of my industry today....lol Better....lol  I do re-call you said you had over 35,000,000 miles however.kc0iv
#15
02-17-2007, 02:05 AM
Thanks for all the replies and stories of how you got started. Things are quite different today!
I someday hope to get into LTL freight, but looking at some of the requirements for these LTL carriers, it seems like they all want at least a year or two of experience. Its hard to believe that all of these younger guys you see pulling doubles for an LTL carrier must have drove for one of these big companies to get the experience required, but that must be how they did it. You guys said a lot of you learned on the job. I wonder why these LTL carriers require all this experience to be hired rather than having students ride along with someone for a while and learn on the job, then have to pass a test or something. I guess its to protect them. Any comments, feel free. Thanks in advance.
#16
02-17-2007, 02:07 AM
Originally Posted by jnk2001
Originally Posted by GMAN
Things were much different when I started driving in the early 70's. I drove a straight truck for a manufacturer for about a year. From there I moved into 18 wheelers or semi's, as we called them then. We all learned on the job. My training consisted of an experienced driver sitting in the jump seat and going around the block, literally. He showed me where everything was located, such as the air brakes were and told me how to double clutch. After that, I drove the big trucks. I think that is a good way to learn.
All I had to do was take a form that said I needed the license from my employer. We had 2 classifications. Chauffeurs and Special Chauffeurs. The regular Chauffeurs license was for driving a taxi or something with passengers. The Special Chauffeurs was for 18 wheelers. If you had to take a road test you could do so in a 4 wheeler. Things have certainly changed. |
