Crazy Plan?

[Pitter]

O.K. Hwy Knights,

Here's my plan to get into the trucking biz. I'm still more wannabe than newbie as a lot of you have seen so feel free to let 'er rip on what you think of this idea. A little background: I retired from the USAF in October from Seymour Johnson AFB here in NC; I originally hail from mid-Tennessee. I took a job at a new Wal-Mart as a vendor manager which rises to the level of o.k. but without challenge or fulfullment. But...it has allowed me to "interview" the various truck drivers that come in (LTL, OTR, Pepsi, etc) and get a feel for what's going on out there. I've always been a trucking enthusiast (since the age of 3 I guess), longtime subscriber to Overdrive and The Trucker and I've long wondered if I had what it would take to be a pro. Just indicating that I'm not making a fly-by night decision. Anyway, in order to get to that point, here's my idea: attend an 8-week course at a local community college (target dates are 5 May - 27 June). CDL in-hand, I want to move back to Tennessee. I understand I'll have to re-test but I think it would be worth it to get back home after 20+ years away. I hope to get on with a Tenn. based company but my mind is open to most anything. Bottom line: Does it sound like I'll be wasting time with the community college if I'm going to turn around and leave NC soon thereafter? (Additionally, Uncle Sam will foot the bill until October, then I'm on my own). I think the additional academics will be a benefit. Unfortunately, NC has a great Comm. Coll. system and Tenn. doesn't. If you think I oughtta just hook up with one of the big boys for awhile, let me know. All opinions valued. Let fly the arrows.....

[Turtle2464]

Well... I'll start by saying that only you can decide if you are right for this job or not after you try it. It's like the saying goes, "trucking's not for everyone." As far as the J.C. goes, I really couldn't tell ya cause I'm from the west coast and don't know how things are run back there with the lic. and all. Now I've only been driving for 10 years. Like I stated in another post, coast to coast and regional mixed. I don't consider myself a newbie but I'm not as seasoned as most. I grew up in a trucker family and have been in and out of trucks all my life. Backing, sneaking behind the wheel, so I had an advantage coming in and basically a calling. I'll tell you something that my Grandpa said one time that has always stuck with me. It's real simple to figure out what it meant. "Anyone can drive a truck down a flat road on a nice, clear blue day." Basically saying that there's a lot of other things that factor into this job that make it challenging. Listen, soak in, pay attention and ask all you can about everything. You asking these guys that deliver to your work is a good start. Some guys might kid you about it but you can't let that get to you. Like I said, I've been out here for 10 years and in and out of the truck since I was a little kid and I haven't even begun to know everything there is to know. I'm still asking questions to my uncles, cousins and so forth. You ask the guys that have been out here for 20+ years and they'll tell you that they don't even know it all. I know I went way off what you were asking but I just couldn't let this thread go by without me posting this.

[Pitter]

Turtle,

Thanks for the sound advice. My attitude is such that I'll keep my mouth shut and my ears open and soak up everything I can. I can foresee that every mile may hold a lesson so I'll never be a know-it-all. Besides, Pro1driver would point it out to me in no uncertain terms. Be safe out there.

[JLKKLJ777]

The fact that you can get the government to pay for your training is a major feather in your cap!

Most schools are charging several thousand dollars for training so you will be ahead of the game with no debt hanging over your head.

I say get the training right away. It is rather simple to transfer your CDL to another state after you have already passed the road test and have all your endorsements.

As for assessing wether you would be a good candidate for trucking here are a few questions for you;

1. Are you a drunkard or druggie?
2. Have you been convicted of a dui in the past 10 years?
3. Are you trustworthy? (you may be entrusted with freight valued at several hundred thousand dollars on a regular basis)
4. Do you like to drive? (you will be expected to drive 500 or more miles per day)
5. Do you enjoy being alone for extended amounts of time? (a loner)
6. Do you want to see the country? (from the cab of a truck anyway)
7. Are you self motivated?
8. Do you perform tasks well without constant supervision?
9. Do you desire to make 40, 50, 60, 70 grand (or more) per year with benefits?
10. Are you physically capable of climbing in and out of a truck several times per day, drop and hook trailers, open trailer doors, and possibly unload a trailer?

If you answered no to questions 1 and 2 and yes to 3 through 10 then you should make a fine addition to the trucking industry.

Some of the toughest aspects of transitioning to this industry is the time away from friends and family and the loss of a "normal lifestyle."

New drivers may be away from home for several weeks at a time.
Forget about drinking a beer at the end of your work shift. Your life will revolve around work. The load comes first then you eat, sleep, shower, etc.

As the previous poster stated trucking isn't for everyone.

As a former driver trainer I have encountered many different kinds of drivers and each had a different motivating factor for wanting to become a trucker.

I had a few that learned to drive and maneuver the truck very well but were unable to separate their home lives from their work lives. That is to say they could not focus on the job due to issues at home. Everything from suspicions of infidelity to worrying that the wife couldn't fix the plumbing.

To be a good trucker (and have staying power) you must be able to trust your partner back home and be sure they are competent and capable enough to handle things on their own in your absense. This will give you the piece of mind to focus on the job at hand and be the best driver you can be.

As for the actual maneuvering of the truck you CAN do this. It takes patience and ALOT of practice.

The only other thing I would mention is be careful where you decide to move to. Stay close to the interstates and metroplitan areas. These areas will give you the greatest flexability in transitioning to a more dedicated run or even local at a later date (after you have a few years experience).

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by Pitter

O.K. Hwy Knights,

Here's my plan to get into the trucking biz. I'm still more wannabe than newbie as a lot of you have seen so feel free to let 'er rip on what you think of this idea. A little background: I retired from the USAF in October from Seymour Johnson AFB here in NC; I originally hail from mid-Tennessee. I took a job at a new Wal-Mart as a vendor manager which rises to the level of o.k. but without challenge or fulfullment. But...it has allowed me to "interview" the various truck drivers that come in (LTL, OTR, Pepsi, etc) and get a feel for what's going on out there. I've always been a trucking enthusiast (since the age of 3 I guess), longtime subscriber to Overdrive and The Trucker and I've long wondered if I had what it would take to be a pro. Just indicating that I'm not making a fly-by night decision. Anyway, in order to get to that point, here's my idea: attend an 8-week course at a local community college (target dates are 5 May - 27 June). CDL in-hand, I want to move back to Tennessee. I understand I'll have to re-test but I think it would be worth it to get back home after 20+ years away. I hope to get on with a Tenn. based company but my mind is open to most anything. Bottom line: Does it sound like I'll be wasting time with the community college if I'm going to turn around and leave NC soon thereafter? (Additionally, Uncle Sam will foot the bill until October, then I'm on my own). I think the additional academics will be a benefit. Unfortunately, NC has a great Comm. Coll. system and Tenn. doesn't. If you think I oughtta just hook up with one of the big boys for awhile, let me know. All opinions valued. Let fly the arrows.....

i would NOT take the CDL in hand then move away.........

instead, i would take CDL in hand, get a job, stay a while, then move.......

reasons....??

yeah, you say that you don't mind testing again,

BUT you may (or may not) have problems re-testing....

how will you get a rig for the test...??

you MIGHT have to take a road test, NOT JUST a written test mind you, if you leave your state, move away, and have no job........OR experience.............

will there be a "satelite" location of ANY school you attend where you are now, to the new state later....??

see ..?, a problem obtaining a rig.........

you might (or might not) be able to rent one for a day.....as you will need added costs for renting that rig/trailer too, like fuel, insurance, permit, etc,etc.....

stay where you are, get your ed-u-macation, get a job, "TRANSFER" to the other state, hopefully, with the same trucking company..........

[Pitter]

Originally Posted by JLKKLJ777

The fact that you can get the government to pay for your training is a major feather in your cap!

Most schools are charging several thousand dollars for training so you will be ahead of the game with no debt hanging over your head.

I say get the training right away. It is rather simple to transfer your CDL to another state after you have already passed the road test and have all your endorsements.

As for assessing wether you would be a good candidate for trucking here are a few questions for you;

1. Are you a drunkard or druggie?
2. Have you been convicted of a dui in the past 10 years?
3. Are you trustworthy? (you may be entrusted with freight valued at several hundred thousand dollars on a regular basis)
4. Do you like to drive? (you will be expected to drive 500 or more miles per day)
5. Do you enjoy being alone for extended amounts of time? (a loner)
6. Do you want to see the country? (from the cab of a truck anyway)
7. Are you self motivated?
8. Do you perform tasks well without constant supervision?
9. Do you desire to make 40, 50, 60, 70 grand (or more) per year with benefits?
10. Are you physically capable of climbing in and out of a truck several times per day, drop and hook trailers, open trailer doors, and possibly unload a trailer?

If you answered no to questions 1 and 2 and yes to 3 through 10 then you should make a fine addition to the trucking industry.

Some of the toughest aspects of transitioning to this industry is the time away from friends and family and the loss of a "normal lifestyle."

New drivers may be away from home for several weeks at a time.
Forget about drinking a beer at the end of your work shift. Your life will revolve around work. The load comes first then you eat, sleep, shower, etc.

As the previous poster stated trucking isn't for everyone.

As a former driver trainer I have encountered many different kinds of drivers and each had a different motivating factor for wanting to become a trucker.

I had a few that learned to drive and maneuver the truck very well but were unable to separate their home lives from their work lives. That is to say they could not focus on the job due to issues at home. Everything from suspicions of infidelity to worrying that the wife couldn't fix the plumbing.

To be a good trucker (and have staying power) you must be able to trust your partner back home and be sure they are competent and capable enough to handle things on their own in your absense. This will give you the piece of mind to focus on the job at hand and be the best driver you can be.

As for the actual maneuvering of the truck you CAN do this. It takes patience and ALOT of practice.

The only other thing I would mention is be careful where you decide to move to. Stay close to the interstates and metroplitan areas. These areas will give you the greatest flexability in transitioning to a more dedicated run or even local at a later date (after you have a few years experience).

JLKKLJ777, you perfectly nailed my answers on the 10 questions. In specific:
1. Haven't had so much as a beer since 2001 and that was when we were leaving Thailand after a bit of time spent ferrying B-52s into Afghanistan for some Taliban ***-kicking. Before that was 1994; just never developed a taste for it.
2. Not even so much as a traffic ticket since 1988 and that one was my only one ever.
3. I think so but my opinion is biased. I did well in the military in terms of building level of responsibility.
4. A yes again. I've driven a chunk of the country and even drove to Alaska and back (in a car, not an RV). Had a good time with it. But I haven't done it on a day-in, day-out basis; still think I could adapt easily.
5. Another yes. Appeals to my personality type. Basically an introvert.
6. You bet. I'm always curious about what's around the next corner.
7. Yep. All I need is the training to learn the job, then turn me loose.
8. Yep. Possessed of a good sense of initiative; don't like a lot of being told what to do and frankly do't need it.
9. Money? The more the better but with a military pension, I can handle newbie pay and not get financially shuffled out. I was proud of my military service and I would be proud to be a professional truck driver; I'm not proud of my post-Air Force stint at the great beast Wal-Mart. Or maybe I just want my kids to be proud of their old man. I may sound sexist here but it's fine to tell a boyfried or girlfriend that your mom works there but your dad? It doesn't seem right somehow. I think that's my main motivaion right there.
10. Yep, still in decent shape with creeping middle age doing it's thing. I'm mostly sound though.

I'm sure there are certain aspects of my life I'll miss (football season!) but I should be able to adapt. The wife has seen me off to various military operations so she can function pretty independently and after 21 years, we're satisfied with one another. My son will probably be headed to college in a couple of years so there aren't any rug rats to worry about. I think I might be tailor-made for it. Experience will ultimately decide it I guess. Trial by fire. Appreciate the 10 questions. Just sort of reinforces things.