questions for experienced guys

[gula187]

ok guys i started to go forward with being a trucker but i been hearing mixed opinions here are some questions for the experienced guys...
1. is it true that the first couple years i will only make about 25-30k no matter what the recruiters say?

2. Schneider is only hiring experienced drivers?

3. who has the best school for driving?

4.
is there any advantages or disadvantages owning your own truck while working for a company?


i talked to a Schneider recruiter a while back and she told me i will make about 50k because i will start in a tanker because i live close to the tanker station in baton rouge,Louisiana
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[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by gula187

ok guys i started to go forward with being a trucker but i been hearing mixed opinions here are some questions for the experienced guys...

ask, and ye shall recieve.......

1. is it true that the first couple years i will only make about 25-30k no matter what the recruiters say?

this is dependant upon YOU.....you work, you earn.....now too remember that when you start, determines the amount you EARN that year......for instance, start in MAY, and work till december, that's all you earn.....start in january and go till december, that's what you earn......so your earning potential varies with YOUR start date......

now, as for a yearly "base" pay, i'd say its a begining figure to work with, the ($25-30k) just to get you into the truck, over your last dead-end job.

2. Schneider is only hiring experienced drivers?

no, they DO HIRE students, but from what i have been "seeing here" on these boards, that's got a limit too, as the classes fill up REALLY QUICK.......but they also DO HIRE experienced drivers, if anyone really wants to work for this company.

3. who has the best school for driving?

this is "subjectional" as to who/whom you listen to. some say Schnieder, some say Werner, some say TMC, some say Maverick, and the list goes on....the student that "does well" and gets hired on full time, is of course going to praise God Almighty for the company that hires him/her. the others that get tossed out for one reason or another will simply bad-mouth a company.....

4.
is there any advantages or disadvantages owning your own truck while working for a company?

yes.....or......no........

it depends on YOU and how YOU EARN your money.....right now with the ecconomy being the way it is, many first-time owner-operators are going broke/bankrupt.........even highly experienced but business management poor owner-operators are going broke. it takes some REAL education to be an owner-operator and to run it like a business, because IT IS a business.......if someone "just wants to be an owner-operator" and NOT HAVE any substaintial business background or experience, that person will soon fail.......

some "advantages to being an owner-operator and leased on with a company is that the company (usually) finds loads for you, but will charge a nominal fee for this service. you also get (again, usually) discounts on insurance, plates, maintenance items as well. each contract is different, again, a good business person WILL READ all the fine print, not just sign on the bottom line.

i talked to a Schneider recruiter a while back and she told me i will make about 50k because i will start in a tanker because i live close to the tanker station in baton rouge,Louisiana
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this is horse puckey.....she was basically already assigning you to a division, a division in which you may not want. you would have had NO choice. i do not like this. if i were to sign on with someone, I WANT MY CHOICES of which division i'd WANT.......

just because you might live closer to one division, doesn't mean you have to accept THAT division.....

as for the 50k, she's (i think) telling you that's what you will EARN after being there for (about) 1-2 years, not right out of school....

[DemolitionMan]

I think pro1driver did a really good job answering your questions...I just wanted to throw something else in for you to think about. I went the route of starting with Pepsi. I obtained my cdl through them, and signed a contract stating I would stay there for a year or owe them $750. I got my endorsements awhile later, and at a year and a couple days later i was gone to a major ltl carrier. Hard work, short and long hours (depending on the day), great pay, and i was home every afternoon.

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

Originally Posted by gula187

ok guys i started to go forward with being a trucker but i been hearing mixed opinions here are some questions for the experienced guys...

What recruiters??

ALL companies prefer experienced drivers.
For confirmation or other information please see: :: Pumpkindriver Homepage ::

Depends entirely upon for what one seeks.
Some schools last as little as 2 weeks, and some go through 6 weeks+.

Are you financially independent in that you have a mere $50k in reserve for Repairs, Fuel, etc.??
YOU buy all fuel.
YOU pay all fines/penalties.
YOU are responsible for all repairs.
An Engine can set ya back a mere $17K, depending of course upon what type of engine: Detroit, CAT, Cummins, etc.

ALL recruiters lie to some extent and are simply in place to fill empty seats. This has been confirmed thru Decades of Truckers.
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I concur with pro1driver regarding all questions.
I added my answers for additional information.