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Well, I THOUGHT I posted this here.....but I guess not.
This was taken by
thesonicgod around March, 2007, in Rogers, Minnesota. I was there for more than a day. I picked up a load somewhere southeast of St. Paul. Then stopped at the truck stop in Rogers for some sleep. Only to have some idiot back his trailer into my driver side mirror (hence why there's a black mirror while the passenger mirror is blue). Long story short, company had me call the cops, got a police report. And in the end, they sent Kenworth over to replace the mirror (cop said if I leave the truck stop with the busted mirror, I'll be ticketed for safety violations).
After that, SG got online, and I figured, why not....and he was available, considering he was a busy person at the time....I think he still is. :)
Anyway, me wanting to share and show my ugly mug.
This was taken by
thesonicgod around March, 2007, in Rogers, Minnesota. I was there for more than a day. I picked up a load somewhere southeast of St. Paul. Then stopped at the truck stop in Rogers for some sleep. Only to have some idiot back his trailer into my driver side mirror (hence why there's a black mirror while the passenger mirror is blue). Long story short, company had me call the cops, got a police report. And in the end, they sent Kenworth over to replace the mirror (cop said if I leave the truck stop with the busted mirror, I'll be ticketed for safety violations).After that, SG got online, and I figured, why not....and he was available, considering he was a busy person at the time....I think he still is. :)
Anyway, me wanting to share and show my ugly mug.
Category Photography / Human
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 853px
File Size 175.3 kB
Well, it all depends on how your planning to jump in. With the current economy, driving jobs are getting slim. Despite advertisers and want adds are saying they need drivers. The reality is, they are low demand for drivers right now due to the low demand of freight. They would most likely hire you, but you'll quickly find yourself sitting at a truck stop for days, making NOTHING.
And I had my moments making nothing sitting at a truck stop. That pic of me was taken when I sat there for more than a day. I made NOTHING sitting there. Despite I could not move cause of a safety violation and waiting to get the safety defect fixed (mirror), I made NOTHING.
The trucking industry can make and break you. I say, take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Cause if it sounds too good. Then there's a problem.
BUT, if you still want to give trucking a shot. Here's my suggestions to get into the field with little strings attached to you and satan....er....the trucking company you may apply for employment with as a rookie.
This is a biggie, SHOP AROUND for truck schools and go it YOURSELF. Pay for it, finance for it, anyway you can. Cause if you go into the programs trucking companies offer. You'll find yourself stuck with them for 2 years with the worst training with the HIGHEST cost. If you go your own way, you are NOT tied to the first trucking company you work for. The only thing they'll tie you to is they'll offer to help PAY for your truck school loan each month at a certain amount. Either way, the first company will help. But if you find out you don't like the company, you can leave without a way for them to hound you. Cause if you go to the company's truck school, and you leave prior to the time you agree to work with them. You WILL be hounded so hard that it will hurt.
Once your done with truck school.....and you did it on your own and not through a trucking company. Do allot of research for a company you may like to start with. Do realize that you'll be making the lowest pay scale. Last I checked, it was 24 cents a mile. It may not seem bad if you had a load where you'll driving 11 hours a day at 65 MPH on your 14 hour work day (you'll learn about log books soon enough). May seem allot if you get at least 7 days of it. But there's a high chance you may only drive between 1000 to 500 miles. My worst 2 weeks was 50 miles...in two weeks. I shit you not.
Main thing you want to be sure about is, "How do they upkeep their trucks?" Nothing sucks than to have a truck that breaks down on you every week in the middle of nowhere. And your stuck sitting for hours in a desert with little water and NOTHING close by. Waiting for that tow truck.
"How do their drivers feel about their company?" There are allot of head hunting programs in companies that temp drivers to try to sell you their company. Look for ones who are happy to give you both the good and bad. But avoid the ones who just want to bitch about their company. Last thing you need is to be sold to a hellish company. Yet you don't want to miss out on a place where it could be decent due to some one who's just unhappy cause the company is watching him since he was caught double logging (which is illegal).
"How responsive are the planners and dispatchers with getting you home on the requested date and time you sent them?" Nothing sucks than to be two weeks late to your Doctors appointment, and the idiots decide you'll be happy to have ANOTHER week away from home with a high mile load going in the opposite direction. I had this happen to me TOO MANY TIMES. Main reason I stopped due to my medical problems. Other than that, I would still be doing the job. I loved it. Either way, make sure the company respects your request for home time. Give them at least 2 weeks advance. But do NOT give them a chance to screw you over. You may need to do "favors" sometimes. Like take a load a little ways from home. But as long they got a good load home planned. It won't be bad. And sometimes, it would gain you favors for a super good load when you get back. But do be careful. I had moments where I did favors and instead of getting me home, I was out for an extra week. It's okay to be a day or two late. It's not okay to be a week. But do realize there are times when you may be one or two days late. But if these guys are on the ball, you should be there on time. If not, a day early. Which I had happen to me with one dispatcher, I miss him.
"How compliant are they to the law that YOU must follow?" Cause all the laws are focused on the DRIVER. YOU will be held responsible for EVERYTHING. So last thing you need is a company to force you to do something, and have them fire you when you decided to put your foot down. YOU are the driver. YOU must be safe. YOU will be ticketed and jailed if you break the law, NOT the company.
Finally, "where do they fill up?" I know it sounds stupid, but my last company used to have a VERY good fuel stop list where you can fuel up. Tons of parking, and really good, hot meals. But by the time I left, they fucked it up and made us go to super cheap truck stops where there's hardly any room to park, and little to no food. It may sound petty. But when a truck stop is your only place of refuge that you can park and get a shower and do laundry. You want your options there. You can still park at any truck stop that you choose. But you won't get a free shower there. Every truck stop gives the driver a FREE shower for fill ups more than 50 to 75 gallons. And those truck stops have frequent fuel cards. So those showers are good anywhere within that chain. And they last for 2 weeks. I used to have so many shower points that I stopped where ever I choossed and was always clean.
OH! And, "What's MY responsibility that should be THEIR responsibility." I had one company that paid for all their trailer washouts and rig wash. But then I had a company that expected "ME" to pay for it. And when your hauling food (mostly refrigerated trailers), you MUST wash those trailers out before shippers would use them. Especially after that trailer had a HAZMAT load in it. Trailer washouts are only 30 bucks a shot. But they DO add up, especially when your hauling a refer. Same with truck washes. Though it's not important to the customer. But for YOU, it is. Especially when YOU use the equipment. Cause after a week with rainy, wet weather, that rig will be so dirty. You could go into the truck stop, shower up, put on clean clothes. Got to it, and your clothing is dirty again. You will be all over that rig like your bed.
I am running out of ideas. But these are apparent in my mind. Hope these help for getting started.
OH, get a truckers map book. They are cheap at truck stops, especially at Pilots and Flying J's. Also, if you can afford it, get a GPS. You can NOT rely on it. But damn, it sure does help for real time and guiding you.
And get a cell phone. Never, never, NEVER fully depend on directions from the company. There will always be discrepancy. I always use my GPS, check google earth, truckers road atlas, AND get directions from the customer. USUALLY customer directions will be correct for guiding a big rig legally and safely to their docs. But always find ways to do some discrepancy checks. I had times where I had to call the cops to help direct traffic to turn me around....or give me directions to safely do so. I got turned around in Oakland, CA. And Chicago, IL. I got directions for a turn around in Buffalo, NY. Trust me, AVOID those situations. They are embarrassing, and some cops (like in Buffalo) WILL NOT come out to save you.
I hope these help. I really would like to help new drivers with issues that NO ONE addresses at truck school and at company orientations. Now if you want me to bitch and compliment the companies I worked for. I'll do that if your interested. I worked for Werner Enterprises, based out of Omaha, NE. And Marten Transport LTD, based out of Mondovi, WI.
And I had my moments making nothing sitting at a truck stop. That pic of me was taken when I sat there for more than a day. I made NOTHING sitting there. Despite I could not move cause of a safety violation and waiting to get the safety defect fixed (mirror), I made NOTHING.
The trucking industry can make and break you. I say, take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Cause if it sounds too good. Then there's a problem.
BUT, if you still want to give trucking a shot. Here's my suggestions to get into the field with little strings attached to you and satan....er....the trucking company you may apply for employment with as a rookie.
This is a biggie, SHOP AROUND for truck schools and go it YOURSELF. Pay for it, finance for it, anyway you can. Cause if you go into the programs trucking companies offer. You'll find yourself stuck with them for 2 years with the worst training with the HIGHEST cost. If you go your own way, you are NOT tied to the first trucking company you work for. The only thing they'll tie you to is they'll offer to help PAY for your truck school loan each month at a certain amount. Either way, the first company will help. But if you find out you don't like the company, you can leave without a way for them to hound you. Cause if you go to the company's truck school, and you leave prior to the time you agree to work with them. You WILL be hounded so hard that it will hurt.
Once your done with truck school.....and you did it on your own and not through a trucking company. Do allot of research for a company you may like to start with. Do realize that you'll be making the lowest pay scale. Last I checked, it was 24 cents a mile. It may not seem bad if you had a load where you'll driving 11 hours a day at 65 MPH on your 14 hour work day (you'll learn about log books soon enough). May seem allot if you get at least 7 days of it. But there's a high chance you may only drive between 1000 to 500 miles. My worst 2 weeks was 50 miles...in two weeks. I shit you not.
Main thing you want to be sure about is, "How do they upkeep their trucks?" Nothing sucks than to have a truck that breaks down on you every week in the middle of nowhere. And your stuck sitting for hours in a desert with little water and NOTHING close by. Waiting for that tow truck.
"How do their drivers feel about their company?" There are allot of head hunting programs in companies that temp drivers to try to sell you their company. Look for ones who are happy to give you both the good and bad. But avoid the ones who just want to bitch about their company. Last thing you need is to be sold to a hellish company. Yet you don't want to miss out on a place where it could be decent due to some one who's just unhappy cause the company is watching him since he was caught double logging (which is illegal).
"How responsive are the planners and dispatchers with getting you home on the requested date and time you sent them?" Nothing sucks than to be two weeks late to your Doctors appointment, and the idiots decide you'll be happy to have ANOTHER week away from home with a high mile load going in the opposite direction. I had this happen to me TOO MANY TIMES. Main reason I stopped due to my medical problems. Other than that, I would still be doing the job. I loved it. Either way, make sure the company respects your request for home time. Give them at least 2 weeks advance. But do NOT give them a chance to screw you over. You may need to do "favors" sometimes. Like take a load a little ways from home. But as long they got a good load home planned. It won't be bad. And sometimes, it would gain you favors for a super good load when you get back. But do be careful. I had moments where I did favors and instead of getting me home, I was out for an extra week. It's okay to be a day or two late. It's not okay to be a week. But do realize there are times when you may be one or two days late. But if these guys are on the ball, you should be there on time. If not, a day early. Which I had happen to me with one dispatcher, I miss him.
"How compliant are they to the law that YOU must follow?" Cause all the laws are focused on the DRIVER. YOU will be held responsible for EVERYTHING. So last thing you need is a company to force you to do something, and have them fire you when you decided to put your foot down. YOU are the driver. YOU must be safe. YOU will be ticketed and jailed if you break the law, NOT the company.
Finally, "where do they fill up?" I know it sounds stupid, but my last company used to have a VERY good fuel stop list where you can fuel up. Tons of parking, and really good, hot meals. But by the time I left, they fucked it up and made us go to super cheap truck stops where there's hardly any room to park, and little to no food. It may sound petty. But when a truck stop is your only place of refuge that you can park and get a shower and do laundry. You want your options there. You can still park at any truck stop that you choose. But you won't get a free shower there. Every truck stop gives the driver a FREE shower for fill ups more than 50 to 75 gallons. And those truck stops have frequent fuel cards. So those showers are good anywhere within that chain. And they last for 2 weeks. I used to have so many shower points that I stopped where ever I choossed and was always clean.
OH! And, "What's MY responsibility that should be THEIR responsibility." I had one company that paid for all their trailer washouts and rig wash. But then I had a company that expected "ME" to pay for it. And when your hauling food (mostly refrigerated trailers), you MUST wash those trailers out before shippers would use them. Especially after that trailer had a HAZMAT load in it. Trailer washouts are only 30 bucks a shot. But they DO add up, especially when your hauling a refer. Same with truck washes. Though it's not important to the customer. But for YOU, it is. Especially when YOU use the equipment. Cause after a week with rainy, wet weather, that rig will be so dirty. You could go into the truck stop, shower up, put on clean clothes. Got to it, and your clothing is dirty again. You will be all over that rig like your bed.
I am running out of ideas. But these are apparent in my mind. Hope these help for getting started.
OH, get a truckers map book. They are cheap at truck stops, especially at Pilots and Flying J's. Also, if you can afford it, get a GPS. You can NOT rely on it. But damn, it sure does help for real time and guiding you.
And get a cell phone. Never, never, NEVER fully depend on directions from the company. There will always be discrepancy. I always use my GPS, check google earth, truckers road atlas, AND get directions from the customer. USUALLY customer directions will be correct for guiding a big rig legally and safely to their docs. But always find ways to do some discrepancy checks. I had times where I had to call the cops to help direct traffic to turn me around....or give me directions to safely do so. I got turned around in Oakland, CA. And Chicago, IL. I got directions for a turn around in Buffalo, NY. Trust me, AVOID those situations. They are embarrassing, and some cops (like in Buffalo) WILL NOT come out to save you.
I hope these help. I really would like to help new drivers with issues that NO ONE addresses at truck school and at company orientations. Now if you want me to bitch and compliment the companies I worked for. I'll do that if your interested. I worked for Werner Enterprises, based out of Omaha, NE. And Marten Transport LTD, based out of Mondovi, WI.
Do realize that as if this year. A CDL holder MUST go through truck school AGAIN in order renew your CDL ever 5 years.....or was that ten? Either way, once mine expires and they expect me to go to truck school again to keep it, I am not going to. In this industry, you don't drive for 6 months to a year, you are right back where you started. In order to move up, you need to stick with it. Get out of it, and you'll quickly find yourself back at the bottom. You can thank the public for giving the drivers such ridiculous hoops to jump just to be a driver.
I recommend NOT getting your CDL unless your very sure to do it. You'll just waste your money in the long run of your not using it. You can't just keep it forever. Not only that, but you must upkeep your medical card every 6 months to 2 years. All depends on your health. Either way, it cost me 246 bucks in Indiana to renew mine on my own. While in November, it cost me 100 bucks to renew in Seattle. So each state also have a different price for this needed part of your CDL.
Also, since I had driven for more than a year. Allot of companies not only will hire me as a new driver. But they'll also will try to put me in ANOTHER truck school to help "refresh" my skills. Really, don't get the CDL unless you are going to jump in the field within 6 months of getting your CDL. Getting it and not touching it for more than 6 months is going to give you grief.
I recommend NOT getting your CDL unless your very sure to do it. You'll just waste your money in the long run of your not using it. You can't just keep it forever. Not only that, but you must upkeep your medical card every 6 months to 2 years. All depends on your health. Either way, it cost me 246 bucks in Indiana to renew mine on my own. While in November, it cost me 100 bucks to renew in Seattle. So each state also have a different price for this needed part of your CDL.
Also, since I had driven for more than a year. Allot of companies not only will hire me as a new driver. But they'll also will try to put me in ANOTHER truck school to help "refresh" my skills. Really, don't get the CDL unless you are going to jump in the field within 6 months of getting your CDL. Getting it and not touching it for more than 6 months is going to give you grief.
Oh, I forgot to mention. You don't have to move to work with an out of state company. Matter of, most companies have a few terminals all over. Werner have a terminal in Lithia Springs, GA. And Marten have a terminal in Forest Park, GA. Covenant main office is in Chattanooga, TN.
SO yeah, the other thing you need to look for in a company is, "How many terminals they have, and where are they located." Cause the more terminals they have, the more places you can pull in for repairs, see an office head. And if you live near them, where you can park your tractor on your home time. Cause allot of over the road companies will let you take your truck and trailer home.....which is good if you have a huge lot. Bad if you live in an apartment. Which brings my next thing to consider.....
"Where can I park my rig?" Look around, is there a truck stop that is willing to let you park your truck and trailer over night for more than one night by itself? Is there a drop yard or customer that your company can let you drop your trailer off so you can only worry about the tractor? I used to pay an storage and RV parking lot to allow me to drop off my tractor there for storage. And when I leave, I leave my car behind in my assigned spot. 70 bucks, but it was a secure lot.
Ah well, up to you. I am doing my best to be unbiased and allow you to do the decisions. Really, I loved the job myself and I don't want my jaded experience to persuade you NOT to try the field out. But I do stand firm on "don't get the CDL unless your serious about doing it." Cause the FED's changed the laws at the start of this year to make every CDL holder go for a mandatory retraining when their drivers license expires. And it's pretty much going back to truck school.
But if you join a decent company and you can live on the road for 2 weeks to months at a time. No family. And you really enjoy driving. I swear, it's good and rewarding. But it can easily put you into the hole. My first year with Werner, I litteally racked up 5 grand on them......I paid that off last year.....and I started with them in 2005.
Anyway, take care.
SO yeah, the other thing you need to look for in a company is, "How many terminals they have, and where are they located." Cause the more terminals they have, the more places you can pull in for repairs, see an office head. And if you live near them, where you can park your tractor on your home time. Cause allot of over the road companies will let you take your truck and trailer home.....which is good if you have a huge lot. Bad if you live in an apartment. Which brings my next thing to consider.....
"Where can I park my rig?" Look around, is there a truck stop that is willing to let you park your truck and trailer over night for more than one night by itself? Is there a drop yard or customer that your company can let you drop your trailer off so you can only worry about the tractor? I used to pay an storage and RV parking lot to allow me to drop off my tractor there for storage. And when I leave, I leave my car behind in my assigned spot. 70 bucks, but it was a secure lot.
Ah well, up to you. I am doing my best to be unbiased and allow you to do the decisions. Really, I loved the job myself and I don't want my jaded experience to persuade you NOT to try the field out. But I do stand firm on "don't get the CDL unless your serious about doing it." Cause the FED's changed the laws at the start of this year to make every CDL holder go for a mandatory retraining when their drivers license expires. And it's pretty much going back to truck school.
But if you join a decent company and you can live on the road for 2 weeks to months at a time. No family. And you really enjoy driving. I swear, it's good and rewarding. But it can easily put you into the hole. My first year with Werner, I litteally racked up 5 grand on them......I paid that off last year.....and I started with them in 2005.
Anyway, take care.
I actually miss trucking.....but not the bullshit that came with it. Hehehe, this photo was taken at a TA in Rogers, MN. Saddly, I preffer most TA's over other truck stops, cause most of the time they have more parking and cooked meals. Though I preffer Petro. Sadly, last I heard, TA owns them too.
Ah well, where in Utah did you work? I been to the TA that's west of Salt Lake off of I-80 allot. I like it mainly cause I usually can find parking. Damn Flying J next door got a small lot. Ah well, I left Marten mainly cause they started to go with Pilots and Loves as much as they could for their fuel stops. Those places suck. But hey, they got cheap fuel. Ah well, I guess.
Ah well, where in Utah did you work? I been to the TA that's west of Salt Lake off of I-80 allot. I like it mainly cause I usually can find parking. Damn Flying J next door got a small lot. Ah well, I left Marten mainly cause they started to go with Pilots and Loves as much as they could for their fuel stops. Those places suck. But hey, they got cheap fuel. Ah well, I guess.
I left cause my boss was screwing me out of money and no one really believed i knew my shit, so the last 2 weeks i worked there i beat the head mechanic in commission (working less hours and doing the lesser paying jobs). Needless to say, he was pissed and my boss was upset i decided to leave. I loved my job, but those how had the control did everything they could to slow me down.
Ah, one of those types of bosses. Yeah, those types always ruin things. And the thing is, why the competition? Then again, I guess there's a bit of competition if you all are on commissions and have a certain quota they demand you to meet. I never understood that, the quota thing. But meh, what ever, I guess, main reason I didn't last long in Epson as a refurbisher. Meh, I seem to find too many jobs that is some how set up to fail.
Ah well, hope you got something else that's better when it comes to being less stressful and stable.
Ah well, hope you got something else that's better when it comes to being less stressful and stable.
I am now working at a hotel here in Washington, just south of Seattle, called Federal Way. I work the night audit shift for Quality inn and suites. Its not a bad job for now but till one the employees moves to NV i am stuck with only 24 hours a week and min wage. At least its a job.
Yeah, know how that is. But it's a job. I am a security Guard up in Swedish in Seattle. I hate it, but it works for now.
Heheehe, I used to work for Holiday Inn Express for 4 years up in Marysville off of exit 199 on I-5 in Marysville before I gone into trucking. It's now a Comfort Inn. Hehehe, ah well. Such is life.
Heheehe, I used to work for Holiday Inn Express for 4 years up in Marysville off of exit 199 on I-5 in Marysville before I gone into trucking. It's now a Comfort Inn. Hehehe, ah well. Such is life.
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