I love to drive, advice would be appreciated.

[IRISHGYPSY]

I love to drive. A disagreement with my parents kept me from getting my first drivers license until I was an adult, and years later, I still feel joyful every time I get behind the wheel.

My favorite job EVER was as a courier for Larson Express, of Chicago [small package pickup and delivery, in my own car], which I loved. I got to drive a lot, worked independently, usually didn’t know where I would be going next, and got to think on my feet all the time.

I was sent information by pager/text-message, used that to fill out all necessary paperwork, used maps to figure out where the pick-up was and how to get there, where the drop-off was and how to get there, and how to combine jobs when working more than one at a time [3 to 5 was average]. Then I drove wherever necessary, dealing with whatever obstacles might come up, and fulfilled the contracts, often receiving new jobs along the way and working them in. I contacted Larson Express [by 2 way radio or telephone 800-number when out of range] only to acknowledge receiving a new job on the pager, to report having delivered a job, or [rarely] if I had a problem I couldn’t resolve independently. I went to the office once every week or so, when I passed nearby, to drop off my copies of paperwork and pick up blank forms.

I drove all around the Chicago-Milwaukee urban corridor, from downtown Chicago [including the Loop and Lower Wacker and Lower Michigan], all over Northeastern Illinois, Northwestern Indiana, and Southeastern Wisconsin, averaging 200 to 500 miles per day, and loved every minute. The only thing I found myself wanting was to go further; North of Lomira, WI; West of Madison, Beloit, & Rockford; South of Kankakee; East of Gary & Merrillville.

Previous jobs I liked have been: delivering pizzas for Dominos all over Racine and Kenosha Counties, and delivering the Chicago Tribune into vending machines all over Racine County.

I’ve also enjoyed driving friends and family [who think I’m nuts, because most of them hate driving] on trips throughout the mid-west, and to Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City.

When family issues required me to leave the job with Larson Express, I kept wanting to drive again, so when I got a chance I learned to drive a truck, then more family problems led me to take my present non-driving job to be close to home.

My child has grown and moved out, my best friend died in Spring of 2000 and my mate died in Fall of 2001. For the last few years I’ve been dazed, eating, sleeping, and working; going through the motions of life, just through habit.

I feel like I’m waking up now, and while I need [and want] to work for a long time yet, there is no more reason to keep THIS job except just to have ANY job. Family issues no longer exist. I find that I still want to drive.

I keep reading newspaper stories on the worsening shortage of truck drivers, especially long haul drivers, and the lack of women drivers [I'm a 40+ female]. It made me think that maybe some company is looking for a person like me. Even now, reading that the high fuel costs are making trucking impossibly expensive, I think stuff still needs to be moved, so a way will be found to get it done, and drivers must still be needed.

Although I have a CDL, I’ve had zero experience driving a truck since I got it, [Summer,1996] so I probably need a refresher course, which I cannot afford working at my present job, which barely covers living expenses. My license is class ABCD with N [tankers] and T [Double and triple trailers] endorsements. I originally had the H [hazardous materials] endorsement, and could get it again, but when I renewed my license, I didn’t take the time to retake the Haz-Mat test. I have also let my medical card expire.

I rarely drink at all, only take drugs for medical reasons, and have never had a drunk driving ticket or arrest.

Long ago, within a few years after I learned to drive a car, while working 2 jobs raising a child and going to school, I had my license suspended for getting too many points [too many violations in a short time period], and had an occupational license for a few months so I could continue to work.

Most recently, after many safe years, in 2005 I was ticketed for failure to obey a stop sign causing a property damage accident. I coasted through the sign, 2 blocks from my home, when my foot slid off the brake while trying to relatch my seatbelt, which I just realized had not latched properly and had come loose. My car hit and dented the other car in the intersection, with neither of us seeing the other until too late due to a building built much too close to that corner. My mistakes were; driving without breakfast after being up all night, not checking the belt better before leaving the driveway [it had done that before], and then not pulling over and stopping first when I found out it was loose.

I've been lurking and reading for a while and several people on this site seem to give very well thought out answers to other questioners. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, in advance.

[shoeman]

Ok Irish, I will put in my 2 cents here. I dont have time or the motivation to answer all you questions but I am betting you would be well suited for a city operation of p/d and remain local. Seems like you liked that interaction with people and driving in parts of town that I would just as soon suck on a barrel of a pistol, so good luck. I'll let others answer the rest of your questions as I am suspect of your post cuz it looks familiar to me and I've been down this road before!

well first off there is no shortage of drivers. there are alot. only shortage that exist is Smart drivers and Professionals.

If you decide to get into it you will want the haz-mat license. its a must have for any carrier that is competitive. and makes it easier for you to switch to a better job when you get a chance.

Basically' you have a CDL with 0 experience. nothing a big company cant handle as most like Schneider and Us xpress have there own schools.

Im leaving Swift out as after 18 years of driving i put them in another class of trucking company's ie friggen dangerous !

OTR company's like Schneider and USX drivers normally start out with a trainer for 3-4 weeks. this may have changed but i was a trainer for USX in 95-99 so i know a little about them, but its been a few years

Women in Trucking Association

Lady Truck Drivers - Women in Trucking

both of these website are well known and probably have alot of useful info a women can use.

i started driving OTR in 1990 and haven't ever stopped. I've worked for
Monfort Trucking 1990 -1991
Southwest Motor freight 1991-1996
Harold Ives TRucking : 3 months in 1996 .23 cents per mile.. wtf was i thinking
US Xpress :1996 - 1998
Roadway Express 1999 - whenever i retire... hopefully

OTR driving is alot of fun if you keep a good outlook, alot of drivers have negative attitudes and are generally just whiny and mouthy little twerps

just remember to always to be safe and pay attention to what you are doing.

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by IRISHGYPSY

I love to drive. A disagreement with my parents kept me from getting my first drivers license until I was an adult, and years later, I still feel joyful every time I get behind the wheel.

My favorite job EVER was as a courier for Larson Express, of Chicago [small package pickup and delivery, in my own car], which I loved. I got to drive a lot, worked independently, usually didn’t know where I would be going next, and got to think on my feet all the time.

I was sent information by pager/text-message, used that to fill out all necessary paperwork, used maps to figure out where the pick-up was and how to get there, where the drop-off was and how to get there, and how to combine jobs when working more than one at a time [3 to 5 was average]. Then I drove wherever necessary, dealing with whatever obstacles might come up, and fulfilled the contracts, often receiving new jobs along the way and working them in. I contacted Larson Express [by 2 way radio or telephone 800-number when out of range] only to acknowledge receiving a new job on the pager, to report having delivered a job, or [rarely] if I had a problem I couldn’t resolve independently. I went to the office once every week or so, when I passed nearby, to drop off my copies of paperwork and pick up blank forms.

I drove all around the Chicago-Milwaukee urban corridor, from downtown Chicago [including the Loop and Lower Wacker and Lower Michigan], all over Northeastern Illinois, Northwestern Indiana, and Southeastern Wisconsin, averaging 200 to 500 miles per day, and loved every minute. The only thing I found myself wanting was to go further; North of Lomira, WI; West of Madison, Beloit, & Rockford; South of Kankakee; East of Gary & Merrillville.

Previous jobs I liked have been: delivering pizzas for Dominos all over Racine and Kenosha Counties, and delivering the Chicago Tribune into vending machines all over Racine County.

I’ve also enjoyed driving friends and family [who think I’m nuts, because most of them hate driving] on trips throughout the mid-west, and to Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City.

When family issues required me to leave the job with Larson Express, I kept wanting to drive again, so when I got a chance I learned to drive a truck, then more family problems led me to take my present non-driving job to be close to home.

My child has grown and moved out, my best friend died in Spring of 2000 and my mate died in Fall of 2001. For the last few years I’ve been dazed, eating, sleeping, and working; going through the motions of life, just through habit.

I feel like I’m waking up now, and while I need [and want] to work for a long time yet, there is no more reason to keep THIS job except just to have ANY job. Family issues no longer exist. I find that I still want to drive.

I keep reading newspaper stories on the worsening shortage of truck drivers, especially long haul drivers, and the lack of women drivers [I'm a 40+ female]. It made me think that maybe some company is looking for a person like me. Even now, reading that the high fuel costs are making trucking impossibly expensive, I think stuff still needs to be moved, so a way will be found to get it done, and drivers must still be needed.

Although I have a CDL, I’ve had zero experience driving a truck since I got it, [Summer,1996] so I probably need a refresher course, which I cannot afford working at my present job, which barely covers living expenses. My license is class ABCD with N [tankers] and T [Double and triple trailers] endorsements. I originally had the H [hazardous materials] endorsement, and could get it again, but when I renewed my license, I didn’t take the time to retake the Haz-Mat test. I have also let my medical card expire.

I rarely drink at all, only take drugs for medical reasons, and have never had a drunk driving ticket or arrest.

Long ago, within a few years after I learned to drive a car, while working 2 jobs raising a child and going to school, I had my license suspended for getting too many points [too many violations in a short time period], and had an occupational license for a few months so I could continue to work.

Most recently, after many safe years, in 2005 I was ticketed for failure to obey a stop sign causing a property damage accident. I coasted through the sign, 2 blocks from my home, when my foot slid off the brake while trying to relatch my seatbelt, which I just realized had not latched properly and had come loose. My car hit and dented the other car in the intersection, with neither of us seeing the other until too late due to a building built much too close to that corner. My mistakes were; driving without breakfast after being up all night, not checking the belt better before leaving the driveway [it had done that before], and then not pulling over and stopping first when I found out it was loose.

I've been lurking and reading for a while and several people on this site seem to give very well thought out answers to other questioners. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, in advance.

Sounds like you want a P&D or local driving job, from what I can see here.

My advice would be to look into a temporary hiring agency that hires drivers. That might be one way to get your foot in the door to driving a rig.

Just my .02 cents.

[pro1driver]

your post was quite long, and as a result, i started falling asleep reading it...but from what i was to ascertain, you like driving, SMALLER vehicles....

driving a big rig through many of those cities/towns you once did with your car or mini van or SMALL delivery vehicle, IS NOT THE SAME as driving an 18 wheeler......

you cannot easily back them up or turn them around. you have "height issues" and "lenght issues" with big rigs.

its a whole new ball game with an 18 wheeler. i strongly suggest that you go for a refresher course. IN FACT no company will hire you since you have ZERO experience since you originally got your license. as for being on the road, you will get worn out real fast. you WILL NOT be stoping at hotels/motels for your sleep/rest. you WILL BE living in that truck...

sorry to hear that some people close to you have since died....but i hardly find that reason enough to want to be a truck driver. its either something you want to do because you want to, or its something you DO NOT want to do...life/death situations are not any reason to get into trucking, you would be sorely mistaken.

i would rather personally recommend that you stick with class B driving jobs since you stated that you

"My favorite job EVER was as a courier for Larson Express, of Chicago [small package pickup and delivery, in my own car], which I loved. I got to drive a lot, worked independently, usually didn’t know where I would be going next, and got to think on my feet all the time."

this way, you'll not get discouraged with driving an 18 wheeler, simply because you "love to drive".......because its a JOB with more responsibility than you could ever imagine........

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by pro1driver

your post was quite long, and as a result, i started falling asleep reading it...but from what i was to ascertain, you like driving, SMALLER vehicles....

driving a big rig through many of those cities/towns you once did with your car or mini van or SMALL delivery vehicle, IS NOT THE SAME as driving an 18 wheeler......

you cannot easily back them up or turn them around. you have "height issues" and "lenght issues" with big rigs.

its a whole new ball game with an 18 wheeler. i strongly suggest that you go for a refresher course. IN FACT no company will hire you since you have ZERO experience since you originally got your license. as for being on the road, you will get worn out real fast. you WILL NOT be stoping at hotels/motels for your sleep/rest. you WILL BE living in that truck...

sorry to hear that some people close to you have since died....but i hardly find that reason enough to want to be a truck driver. its either something you want to do because you want to, or its something you DO NOT want to do...life/death situations are not any reason to get into trucking, you would be sorely mistaken.

i would rather personally recommend that you stick with class B driving jobs since you stated that you

this way, you'll not get discouraged with driving an 18 wheeler, simply because you "love to drive".......because its a JOB with more responsibility than you could ever imagine........

I gotta agree with you on her going with a class B driving job instead of a class A "local" job.

They are easier to drive in major urban/big cities at 40 foot length and 12 ft high then a Class 8 rig at 13.6 ht. , particularly with a 48 foot trailer behind you, as well.

Lots of us are quite capable of that work, but someone with no experience in a big rig has no business in a non-OTR rig, putting urban car drivers and pedestrians (and power/telephone lines) at risk.

I once drove for a company who "trained" a forklift driver/warehouseman to be a delivery driver in a one of thier day-cab 48 foot liftgate rigs.

Needless to say they routed this guy to one of the stores in San Francisco where he proceeded to put out a few blocks of electrcity by knocking an electrical power pole down. This included knocking out the electric buses in the area that use overhead power lines to power the vehicles.

What a mistake that was. I have no idea what the city charged the company for that "boo-boo" but at least no one got hurt.