Hi! Tampa Bay guy doing research.....

[bAd KaRmA]

I am looking to learn as much as possible here. Tons of info and the site layout is nice.

I am not a trucker yet. I am currently researching schools in my area (Tampa, FL).

I submitted an application to Roadmaster here in Tampa a few days ago. The cost of the school is going to be $6,400. A bit high from what I seen others have paid. I understand that Roadmaster is a decent school and they have a good placement percentage.

As for companies after school....I am still unsure of that. Some look good on paper and then you hear plenty of horror stories. I will continue to lurk and read as much as I can. Knowledge is power, right??

I originally intended on running as a team with my brother-in-law, but he backed out since he got a raise at his current job. I was pretty bummed out because I know that "Teams" is the way to go and he is a good guy and we get along pretty good.

Anyway, just wanted to say Hi and start lurking more often here and there and see what I can learn.

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by bAd KaRmA

I am looking to learn as much as possible here. Tons of info and the site layout is nice.

I am not a trucker yet. I am currently researching schools in my area (Tampa, FL).

I submitted an application to Roadmaster here in Tampa a few days ago. The cost of the school is going to be $6,400. A bit high from what I seen others have paid. I understand that Roadmaster is a decent school and they have a good placement percentage.

As for companies after school....I am still unsure of that. Some look good on paper and then you hear plenty of horror stories. I will continue to lurk and read as much as I can. Knowledge is power, right??

I originally intended on running as a team with my brother-in-law, but he backed out since he got a raise at his current job. I was pretty bummed out because I know that "Teams" is the way to go and he is a good guy and we get along pretty good.

Anyway, just wanted to say Hi and start lurking more often here and there and see what I can learn.

first, hi back..........

now as for teams, the money is good if its a husband/wife team, or boyfriend/girlfriend team BECAUSE, all that money stays with-in the same house.....otherwise, you split the money and its (to me) just like driving solo....
would i ever go team (again)..?? NO...

i like MY independence as to when, why, where, and for how long I want to stop someplace or keep moving....with teams, its what else, a team effort which includes giving in to the other..

as for roadmaster, yes i have only heard of them too, but some times i hear horror stories about them. the cost...??

well it ONLY cost me $3,000 for a 16 week course, 22 years ago.......more time for the money compared to how fast SOME schools are pumping out newbies...


as for companies, first and foremost, EVERYBODY has a gripe about something..you will ALWAYS hear BAD things first, before you ever her good things.......you take a job that is offered to you...then you DO the job.....then you decide if YOU like the company based on YOUR experiences...

we can all tell you problems, and whatever we have experienced from one company to another.....BUT if you were to base your final decisions on what WE say, then you could be missing out on a great opportunity on the company that pre-hired you..

pre-hired basically means a company has done a little bit of a check on you and liked what they see.......but after you accept employment, the REAL background checks start.................you can still be DENIED a job from there....

[Comftblynumb]

One thing you should keep in mind when reading these boards on various companies is that there are 2 sides to every story. You do hear horror stories about all the companies but take it all in with a grain of salt.

I worked for a large OTR outfit that doesn't exist anymore. I ran my brains out and was never left to sit and rot. I made alot of money and thought I had the best dispatcher in the world. When I met up with other drivers though, I only heard complaints. Some would be sitting in truck stops while I breezed in and out of the area. Couldn't understand until they moved me to another dispatcher's board. THen suddenly the whole company seemed to change. Left to sit on the weekends, wait all day for a load to learn it was 200 miles delivered in 3 days etc. The same company can be very different with the smallest change.

You should pay attention to the things most important to you. Is equipment most important to you? Pay rate? Mileage? See who has the things you desire the most and just jump in head first. The chances that you will retire with the first company you choose are very slim. Just try to commit yourself for at least a year. If you bounce around never lasting 3 months in one place , that is worse than having accidents. (almost).

Too bad there is no magic answer like "Go so Such-n-such company, they are the best for students". You will find people blasting the company you like and praising the company you hate. That is what experience is, learning the hard way.

Good luck to you, have fun with it.

[TruckHappy]

Call Schnieder, they have thier own school, you won't have to pay a dime, just commit to a 18 months of employment with them.

[bAd KaRmA]

Thanks for the replies!

I got word back that my application went thru and Roadmaster accepted me. I am trying to get some help with WIA and I understand they will give me a voucher for $1,500 for school. That's great! I won't have to worry about paying that back anyways.

I also stopped and picked up the book so I can study and get my permit. I figure I will try and take it in a week or so as I am jumping thru hoops for WIA.

[bAd KaRmA]

Question............

Would you all say that the trucking job market is saturated?? Not enough trucks out there?? I know there have been some owner operators that have called it quits because of fuel prices.

Is there enough Freight to go around? You guys sitting for longer than normal to get a load?