For the new guys or in contemplation stage..
 

I thought I'd start a thread here for the new guys. I've read some of the problems some have run into early on and became discouraged and quit. I recommend any experienced drivers to chime in at any time and submit your tips and recommendations as well.

I will begin by stating that it's late October, the economy sucks and will probably still get worse before it gets better. The trucking industry is good when the economy is going good and growing. There are plenty who try the job, and find it's not for them and quit, so there's always holes that need to be filled, but for the remainder of 2008 and probably 2009, most are going to complain things are slow. Too slow? Well that depends on your patience threshold and what segment you may find yourself in, and what you figure you must gross in order to justify your being away from home weeks at a time and how many of your kids' soccer games you may miss.

But, I'll leave the topic of "Is Driving Right For You?" to another subject line and assume you've made the choice, your in school or soon to be done and ready to hit the road. First let me say you have my utmost respect for getting to this point and still devoted to your career decision.

Now, print these tips off as they are submitted, because you will quite likely run into all of them sooner rather than later ...

Don't go into any major city without knowing for sure how to get to your stop(s) -with a truck- especially Chicago, NYC and all of it's burroughs, and many towns in the Northeast.

With regards to NYC, if you do not have EZPass in your truck to pay the tolls, do not even think about going into the city without at least $100 cash in your pocket, $200 if you may need a lumber.

This probably is now outdated, but do not try this job without a cell phone, with a good plan.

Back to eZPass, if you don't have it, you may want to have $200 in your pocket if your going into and back of New England, NYC, etc from the midwest. The toll roads are VERY EXPENSIVE for the big trucks.

In the winter time, when travelling along or north of I-40, always keep informed of weather conditions, current and forecast for where you are going. Sometimes you can deviate and go around or ahead of incoming systems and save yourself hours, days perhaps. All to often that 2 hour stop earlier that day in the sunshine may well cost you dearly in lost time because you didn't make it there before the weather got bad. Always make hay while the sun shines in the winter time when you know a system is moving in.

Just because the truck in front of you bypassed the scale, doesn't mean they're closed. With a truckers atlas, brief yourself on where scales along your route are until you get to know them.

Construction detours are a fact of life. Expect them and don't panic when you come up on an unexpected one.

Don't make a u-turn in a controlled access roadway or other 4 lane road except at a light.

Know your trucks fuel guage and range, and until you're sure it's accurate don't cut your fuel too close and always top off unless your company instructs you otherwise. Especially in winter.

In winter during bad conditions, don't be surprised to see major truckstops out of fuel (again top off when you fuel)

If pulled into an inspection station or scale house and they ask you to come in, don't bring in anything they did not specifically ask for. When talking with them, ALWAYS be polite, courteous, and respectful and answer their questions calmly, and don't volunteer any unnecessary information.

When you arrive somewhere and they tell ou you'll have to wait 2 hours, don't go off on them or you will wait 2 hours or more. Typically, the wait will be less.

Patience is a necessity in this job, quite often. If you're not a patient person, you could be in for a world of anxiety and stress.

Back to an earlier point, a calm and easy-going and respectful attitude will make your life much more pleasant as opposed to always having and displaying an "attitude".

You can't always run on your preferred schedule, but find a preferred schedule and try and manage your time effectively so that you can run consistently and not burn yourself out early on.

More to follow ...

Thanks for the info. I am starting out my next career as a driver. I have yet to decide to go to a private school or through a truck co. school. I am currently calling various trucking co. and seeing what they have to offer. I have a hard time paying $4,500. to a private school and then go out for 4-6 weeks w/a trainer at $350- $500. Most tell me it's best to pay my own way, so I am leaning toward that. It's so tough to get a good handle on various companies because ther is so many lies, and misleading info out there.
I have been in the construction business for many years, I feel its time to get out. I am looking for a good company to start with, money is not as important as mutual respect and doing what you say your going to do, thats how i've ran my business and I respect everyone that does the same. These are some of the companies I'm checking out locally here, Swift, May, Willis Shaw, Cargo Express. All of these except for May have Training available with about the same commitement. The school I am considering is Sage, they are local as well and are PTDI cert. school. I am looking for all the input I can get from you guys out there. You guys have done it and i value your input. If you were to start out all over what way would you go, and i am commited to the trucking business, and if you know of a great company to start with I would love to talk w/ them- Thanks

LA, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and other major cities ... do whatever you can to avoid going thru or around during rush hour. rush hour in these cities might be defined as 6:00-9:00 and 15:00-19:00. Again I can't stress how a half hour stop can end up costing you an additional hour or more in some situations. Think ahead and keep an eye on the clock.

There are times to let your log book lag and update it later to your benefit, and there are times when you need to keep it current, regardless. Learn to recognize times, ways, and methods to utilize the log book to your advantage when possible. But that's a topic I will avoid in this discussion. 15 minutes here, there, every day, adds up at the end of the week especially when the miles are good and demand is high.

If your south of I-70 and need to fill up, and your bound for temps potentially below, 20 degrees, use a fuel winterizer such as Power Service. And if your anywhere and the temp will fall to 5 or less, always keep your fuel treated, even if you have to pay for it out of your pocket for the time being. Again, think ahead, days ahead, as you're fueling in the wintertime and may soon find yourself in northern climates.

Don't make yourself miseable trying to save the company a few dollars. If they won't put in an APU for heating and cooling, then idle if it's not a reasonably comfortable temp outside. Catching a cold or flu, or sleeping in a sweat is not worth it, and you won't get a good rest.

LA and most of CA is a cool place. A lot of drivers here have an aversion to CA but not this one. Traffic is a bitch at times, but the streets are wide and truck friendly in most areas. If you see a small taco stand or hamburger joint down in Orange County, stop in, the food is usually good and inexpensive and fast. But I do recommend ALWAYS keeping your log current. You'll see Level 1 inspections being done at an off-ramp in LA county at 2:00pm, but there's a lot of trucks so your odds are good of getting out with no problems.

If you find yourself in Orange county empty at 5:00pm with no load and they tell you it'll be morning before they can find you a load ... if you see a motel with truck parking, buy a room. You can forget about finding parking at a truckstop, and drive all the way out to Ontario, and MAYBE find a spot? Get a room, and a six pack or go to the bar and relax and get a good nights rest, because you'll have a full day tomorrow.

Back to the previous tip ... You have to treat yourself occasionally especially if your not home very weekend. Be it a nice steak dinner one night at a real steak house (Not Petro) or a room one night preferrably on a weekend when your trying to get your restart. If your ever in amarillo one evening, stop in at the Big Texan.

Learn how to economize when you eat. You don't always have to eat the buffet for $9.99, when the $6.99 burger will do. And do you have to have that $1.85 tea or coffee when there's free water? Eating right and without breaking the budget on the road can involve a long, detailed discussion in and of itself.

Getting into a Wal-Mart or other shopping center parking lot can be an adventure at times. Just be careful and pay attention to the layout the best you can and if in doubt, don't attempt it.

If you stop in a closed weigh station in NC at 11:00pm to sleep ... you think you hear the "wup-wup" of a siren at 4:00am, that's probably your cue to quickly wake up and move on down the road.

More to come

The trucking climate is changing rapidly in this declining economy with no real light at the end of the tunnel. I don't feel I have a sufficient grip on what the carriers are now doing who have at least until recently provided OTJ training. My first reaction is to suggest Schneider, but I've heard rumors they're cutting back on their training program. But they have an outstanding training and trainee program, and a solid national reputation from what I've gathered over the years.

I'm not sure how to advise you. Trucking always takes a big hit in mid December and lasts through much of the next several months, and this year/next will be much worse than normal. A lot will be bailing out and finding there's no parachute. Just be careful is all the advise I can give you.

Once you make the leap, and get signed on, get through your training and get your own truck, stick with it. Keep that first job AT LEAST 6 months. Hopefully driving is in your blood, and you can get through the first 6 months accident free. But I think that first job is critical that you stick it out otherwise future hiring may be difficult.

If you're going into a grocery warehouse be prepared for anything and be on time. If you don't want to have to touch the freight, have lumper money. I'm sure if you asked around you could get some wicked grocery warehouse stories here. They're not as bad as they used to be, though.

Get Sirius or XM radio

Be prepared to discover that there are a lot of drivers out there who have no sense of right and wrong, and no respect for others who may be listening on the radio and have to listen to them rant and rave over nothing. I learned that when I had my 7 year old son in the truck with me, I had to keep the radio off so as to keep him from hearing the trash that comes from nowhere at any given time. I'm actually ashamed to call myself a truck driver sometimes because of the association with the few bad apples that give us all a bad name.

Invest in a good radio such as a ConnexHP. You won't find good radios in the truckstop. You'll have to go to a CB shop, they cost a little more, but the transmission quality at further reaches is worth it.

So true and the TA's in Ontario charges $20 to park if you don't buy fuel or food over $20. Watch out for the hotels off I-10 in Fontana (Cherry St and Citrus Ave. exits). they are lot lizard paradise. They beat on your motel room door all night. I use the CheckInn card when I am out there and have a free night. Rates $30-40 a night

Don't stop anywhere in the LA area where the curb is painted RED. They will tow you away with no questions asked. We had a driver get towed while he was in the sleeper parked on the street waiting for the place he was delivering to open. He offered to pay the tow bill and have the wrecker unhook his truck, they said no and gave him a address where to pick up his truck. Can't remember but it was around $500-600 to get his truck back.