Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

I am probably going to take a lot of heat for this post by the old guys on this board with this post but oh well. I have only had my cdl for a little over a year and have only 5 months otr and 6 months local. I worked for Schneider otr and Coca Cola local and I can tell you that both have things I didn’t like as well as things I did but neither one is perfect. No company in the world is perfect and there will always be someone who hates them and someone who loves them. I have read all about how bad all these trucking companies are and I’m sure they all have problems but they are in the business to make money and that’s the bottom line. The way the economy is and it’s only getting worse, the days of the mom and pop companies and being treated like family are just about over. I’m sure some drivers have hooked up with a good family oriented company in the past and maybe they are still there but in the future these companies will be gobbled up by the giants. As for the newbie’s on here looking for some good advise, stop reading this b/s on here. You need to decide what’s best for you and find a company that fits your needs period. If I told you what I thought about Coca Cola you would not even apply but there are drivers there with 18+ years. Schneider has 12000 or so drivers and there are only a few hundred on these boards so you figure it out. Not all drivers post messages and not all drivers are being screwed by there companies. I’m sure there are some who are happy and making a decent living? I’m going back otr next week and have it narrowed down to 3 companies and yes everything I read here on all 3 are negative but I have to decide what’s best for me. I have personal reasons for my decision to go back otr and I may be making a mistake but it will be my mistake.We are all different individuals and our experiences, likes and dis-likes are different. I know I will have to start at the bottom and a large company feels better to me than small now. The major factor I used in deciding who to start back otr with is the dang bus ride to orientation. 2 of the 3 will take me over 26 hrs and I can drive 2hrs to the 3rd. I will be back in a few months after I get settled in and let everyone know what mean monster of a company I choose and how bad they are treating me. Until then I hope all new drivers read this and stop getting there job hunting advise from here and make your own informed decisions. The internet and yes the truckstops and talking to drivers works alot better than reading all this negitive b/s. If you only research here you will be to scared to ever apply anywhere. Good luck….

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

Let's just wrap this thread up right here.

How is talking to drivers at the truck stop or cb any different than here?


As for everything you hear, you take it with a grain of salt.

I think what he means is that, you get a better answer from the driver that works for that company rather than someone that has never driven for the company. I know this thread is not going anywhere, been there done that too many times. If someone asked me what i thought of my company i'd tell em the truth, why make it look good when its not.

It all boils down to finding a carrier
where you can get decent weekly miles
and make a living.

(And a decent truck with a Tri Pac system ) :mrgreen:

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

I have to agree! For the most part you need to judge the company yourself. What might not be good for me just might be awesome for you!

I get your point plan and clear.

It's like starting a new job and someone just has to say so and so is a itch and so and so is an alchy. Well let that new person make their own judgement, it sure make you look better by not saying that stuff to a new person. I guess it's related somewhat the same.
The new person just might be best friends with that "itch" because she found she isn't such an itch (get my point :roll: )

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

Am I high?

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

Now why in God's good Name would you think that?! :lol:

We all live by our decision-making abilities. I (for one) applaud you for arriving at your conclusion. Time will tell if you've made the right one. If so -- GREAT! If not -- learn from your mistake and keep on truckin'! :)

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

Not really. :lol:

No offense Cat6869, but I'm starting to scratch.... :)

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...+year+itch&r=f

Is that the sort of 'itch' she refers to?

Yes sir, you are right. No one should listen to you concerning job hunting advice.

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

Not even a year under your belt and you're already on your third company?

60% average churn rate means they burn through 7,200 drivers per year. Which is why, despite the economy in the dumpster, I hear Wayne Lubner on the radio everyday looking for drivers.

So I guess pay, bennies, and hometime had nothing to do with it? Hell, you didn't even go for the big red rooster cruiser behind door number 4!

Yeah, instead get your career counseling from a guy who's bounced around 3 outfits in less than a year.

Re: Advise to newbies from a newbie...
 

The only difference between many of the OTR companies is the color of the truck. You'll hire on with the company that provides you with the path of least resistance.

That's your definition of least resistance. Right?

You might not make it because you're not cut out for it. You might not make it because you rub or get rubbed the wrong way. Or, you could make it, for any number of reasons . .

The best advice you'll find here is: DO NOT SIGN ON TO A COMPANY FLEECE! That message is repeated unanimously throughout this and many other boards. Some folks don't survive the OTR training and plenty don't make it 3 - 6 - 9 weeks or months. The last thing you need is a binding commitment to a business you want to be out of yesterday.

I put up with our "uncool" counterparts because they're right. There is plenty of room for improvement. We need to make OTR more equitable for Drivers. But I don't disparage the uncool. I wouldn't trade places in a hundred years . . for today at least. I might wake up tomorrow and say "I think I'll switch to local" or I may wake up in the Virgin River Canyon on my way to Vegas and think there is no place on earth I would rather be.

Whatever floats your boat.

I'm happy for you. You've seen a little of this and you've seen a little of that. For the time being, you're coming back for a little more of this. I hope it works out wherever you settle.

even tho i'm bout to have to due a year of otr trucking and hear people like lebron CFM and mackman bury it every single day.. DAMN!! Lebron that was like vicious dunk the real lebron would do over some one like jordan farmar.. a rookie who just poppin off... but damn that was brutal!!! kid he you have a point and he does... taking advice from a guy on his third company in a year is kind of mind boggling... but he does have a point about listening to guys on hear bout companies they have never driven for...

why do you have to do OTR trucking???

Indeed, likely because he signed a year contract.

no i didn't sign no type of contract.... due to where i live in the state of virginia and also due to the type of trucking i want to get into one day (lumber hauling) roehl flatbed division is the only one i really seems i could put up with and jet.. no where near making it into a career with them.. with all due respect to the LTL guys and Beverage Haulers, i dont want to go down that line of trucking cause it wasn't the type i grew up around, if it was all about the money i'm pretty sure LTL is the way to go, but there's no line haul opp. for a student and i dont want to start at the bottom doing pick up and deliveries... the only other option i have is a grocery haulers position with supervalu going to the baltimore/dc and tidewater area, which i'm taking in consideration but haven't really decided... i'm 21 with no kids or nothing so just saving my money for a year and while my lady at college going otr doesn't really bother me.. taking showers at truck stops while doing otr do!!! lol but if something magical doesn't happen, like a nice position with a local lumber company or hell even tyson foods.. more than likely i'll be doing OTR for a year!! not excited about, not sad about it.. but i just know it is what it is..

I bounced around because I read this B/S you put out and when something went wrong I thought oh no here it comes. The fact is I'm 41 yrs old. I spent 4 years in the Air Force 84-88 (went to basic at 17 yrs old), 19 years at a prison with the State of Georgia 88-07 (working) and then Schneider and Coke 07-08. I bet if you told the truth you have had way more jobs in you life than me. So career counseling from a man that has had 4 jobs in 24 years is probally not a bad thing.

Career advice.

http://www.crengland.com/drvsrv/inde...e=driver_intro