Hello from new CDL grad

[fcb98292]

Married man, 43, new CDL with 160 hours of school, including 80 hours out of the yard, and all endorsements, close to Seattle. Time to get the scoop on the industry and your job from you instead of relying on driving schools and other sources of biased information. I have read some here but want to ask direct questions.

Trucking would be my second career. I was a computer database guy for 20 years. Could stay there, but the imported foreigners with poor habits are making daily life less-than-fun at the office. I got my CDL to see if trucking would be fun, and if LTL or OTR would be my choice. Still have not decided. I am a light sleeper and cannot sleep to anyone else's music. I am married and want to stay that way. I have kids and want to see them grow up. Is this a no-brainer for me to stay LTL, or is there experience you can share to change my mind?

Other truckers have come to the school to talk about realities of living OTR. Like I said, I am happily married, have no interest in lot lizards or the parties that go on in some circles. So, OTR doesn't seem workable, but regional may be a better option.

The other door open to me is going into private investigation. Or, back to computers and co-workers who bathe weekly and brush teeth less frequently.

Thanks for the words, and thanks for what you do. I will ask more questions later.

[kantgetryte]

Here's an idea-Christmas is right around the corner and what could be a better gift for your co-workers than a toothbrush and a bar of soap? Trucking used to be an adventure, now it's just a job! Sounds like ltl is what your looking for,hope you have very good backing skills-good luck in whatever you chose

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by fcb98292

Married man, 43, new CDL with 160 hours of school, including 80 hours out of the yard, and all endorsements, close to Seattle. Time to get the scoop on the industry and your job from you instead of relying on driving schools and other sources of biased information. I have read some here but want to ask direct questions.

Trucking would be my second career. I was a computer database guy for 20 years. Could stay there, but the imported foreigners with poor habits are making daily life less-than-fun at the office. I got my CDL to see if trucking would be fun, and if LTL or OTR would be my choice. Still have not decided. I am a light sleeper and cannot sleep to anyone else's music. I am married and want to stay that way. I have kids and want to see them grow up. Is this a no-brainer for me to stay LTL, or is there experience you can share to change my mind?

Other truckers have come to the school to talk about realities of living OTR. Like I said, I am happily married, have no interest in lot lizards or the parties that go on in some circles. So, OTR doesn't seem workable, but regional may be a better option.

The other door open to me is going into private investigation. Or, back to computers and co-workers who bathe weekly and brush teeth less frequently.

Thanks for the words, and thanks for what you do. I will ask more questions later.

the "parties and lot lizards of OTR trucking".........??

who's pooped into your shorts..........???

if you're gonna believe EVERYTHING YOU HEAR, then trucking is NOT FOR YOU........

but then again, NOW you can't seem to decide to stay awhile or go "into" private investigation.....?? ...or BACK INTO computers....???

i guess you got money to burn, AND NO RESPECT for those of us that drive trucks. i mean, you sound like you just "flippantly" took up truck driving as a "second career"..........(as YOU SAID)

did you think that you could just find a job easily these days, with HIGH unemployment, and hundreds of out of work PROFESSIONAL drivers right now.........??

if you want an LTL job, you had better BE BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE APPLYING for that job............and i highly doubt that you are, with "just 160 hours of "training".......

i KNOW of what i speak.............as I AM A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, and "i see" this type of personallity ALL THE TIME..........

you should have gotten "the scoop" of the industry, BEFORE you went to school...........

[fcb98292]

Originally Posted by pro1driver

if you're gonna believe EVERYTHING YOU HEAR, then trucking is NOT FOR YOU

What is someone supposed to believe, until they've asked and listened, asswipe? You think a new CDL would be better off just believing what the school says, and not asking real truckers these questions?

Originally Posted by pro1driver

but then again, NOW you can't seem to decide to stay awhile or go "into" private investigation.....?? ...or BACK INTO computers....???

If someone else has options you don't have, is that any reason to try and pee in their window? And again, are you trying to say it would be better to just accept whatever is on the Internet instead of asking the people that actually know?

Originally Posted by pro1driver

i guess you got money to burn, AND NO RESPECT for those of us that drive trucks. i mean, you sound like you just "flippantly" took up truck driving as a "second career"..........(as YOU SAID)

If I had money to burn I would pull a Darryl Dawkins, just buy a rig and set out fearlessly, as if clients would just be attracted to a new Volvo with a waterbed in the sleeper. A second career is not a second job. I have been busy for 20+ years. Perhaps you have mixed me up with someone who cannot keep a job.

Originally Posted by pro1driver

did you think that you could just find a job easily these days, with HIGH unemployment, and hundreds of out of work PROFESSIONAL drivers right now.........??

Oh I see, so you're screaming at your keyboard because you think I would displace an established driver. What did YOU care about that issue when YOU started driving? You hypocritical whiner...

Originally Posted by pro1driver

if you want an LTL job, you had better BE BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE APPLYING for that job............and i highly doubt that you are, with "just 160 hours of "training"

Got news for ya. 160 hours of basic school is more than any other school in the nation. Did you drive dumpers, buses, reefers, flatbeds with loads and 53' freighters through a scale tipping 105k lbs when YOU learned how to drive? Did you have ALL your endorsements including Hazmat by the time you finished 40 hours OTR training in school? Didn't think so...

Originally Posted by pro1driver

i KNOW of what i speak.............as I AM A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, and "i see" this type of personallity ALL THE TIME

Oh, I don't doubt you've got years on me and a few extra pounds of bitterness on top, but what you don't have is anything to give unless there's something in it for you. Your own words convict you right there.

Originally Posted by pro1driver

you should have gotten "the scoop" of the industry, BEFORE you went to school...........

Right, right, mr. instructor. And I was to have learned all about the industry by asking truckers like you who have more to complain about than two bored hens in a midnight diner... yeah, uh hu. Go tell it to your Qualcomm.

Well damn, who the hell crapped in your Wheaties and poured your trucker bomb back into your juice bottle? If you are just a dilapitated trucker who wishes he was home screwing his wife instead of leaving that to the Maytag man, then fine, but I openly asked for information and experiences, not some rash of that you get away with writing on a wall in the Iowa-80 bathroom.

However, I am grateful that someone like you replied to this thread. It gives me perspective about how the industry sets with some truckers. However, there have got to be truckers with more productive answers than you. I've met some of them. Like the one who arranged a driving test with his company, then an offer of .35/mi with 13k miles/mo guaranteed, paid benes after 4 weeks training, in a '10 Volvo. Thanks for helping me make up my mind.

Oh, and sorry to offend you about the lizards. I wouldn't want to take a chunk out of their business by dissuading you against screwing fat, diseased strangers who leave your DNA in a puddle behind the Flying J. Or worse yet, keep it to blackmail you later. Oh yeah.

Done with you.

[Woodpecker]

I still like that mexican guy !!

Hay Prodriver..... Do you teach in Ohio ?

[easttnhillbilly]

Here goes ltl usually requires 2 years verifyable trucking experience before they will hire OTr usually means out 14 to 21 days a month with only 2 days at home 13k miles a week with freight like IT is is not going to happen if your a lite sleeper don't do team driving and if you want to see your kids grow up don't go into truck driving