Expediter career ??

mwill29 · Aug 21, 2007

I'm currently thinking of a career change and driving has been a passion. I don't want to drive T/T. On Sat. I got to talk to a P2 H/W team in NC. and they were great to talk to and had good things to say. I spent the weekend reading the forums and I've come up with these questions.
1. Will a fleet o/o assist with me in getting my CDL? I want to drive a straight truck for someone my first year to see if I like it.
2. Can I expect to make a living driving solo if I spend my life on the road? I'm single, no kids and wanting to pretty much live out of my truck, home time not a priority.
3. Would anyone hire/qualify me with no experence? I think P2 would be the ones I'm interested in.
4. Do any of you'll think I have a chance, in general? I'm currently a Master Automobile Technician, clean background and MVR, no DUI's, college educated, pretty much no skeletons. I like in Lex,KY.
I'm not going to ask about $$. I've read enough to figure I can make the money I need.
Thanks for letting me ask. I've found from my reading you'll seem to be good, helpful people and this site has been one of the best information sites I've seen.

terryandrene · Aug 21, 2007

Talk to the folks at expedite solutions; their add is on the EO homepage

mwill29 · Aug 21, 2007

Thanks for your input. I checked out Expedite Solutions but they are only geared for team drivers. If you want solo training it will be for T/T, which doesn't fit for me. With all my research it seems there aren't any positions for a solo driver in expediting. I don't forsee me being in a position to have a team.

Tennesseahawk · Aug 22, 2007

Get your permit. Then do a search on the net for cdl testers. Some of them will have their own truck you can use.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

LDB · Aug 22, 2007

>I'm currently thinking of a career change and driving has
>been a passion. I don't want to drive T/T. On Sat. I got to
>talk to a P2 H/W team in NC. and they were great to talk to
>and had good things to say. I spent the weekend reading the
>forums and I've come up with these questions.

Welcome to the forums and keep reading. You're obviously benefiting from it.

>1. Will a fleet o/o assist with me in getting my CDL? I want
>to drive a straight truck for someone my first year to see
>if I like it.

Most owners want teams in their truck to maximize the return. I don't know if an owner with a lot of trucks might take someone on to keep the truck rolling while the team is on hometime. I don't see it as very feasible but that's the only slim chance I can think of right off.

>2. Can I expect to make a living driving solo if I spend my
>life on the road? I'm single, no kids and wanting to pretty
>much live out of my truck, home time not a priority.

Answered yourself just below question 4 it looks like.

>3. Would anyone hire/qualify me with no experence? I think
>P2 would be the ones I'm interested in.

You'd need to contact the various companies and ask them directly. Some will take zero experience in a straight truck where they won't in a t/t.

>4. Do any of you'll think I have a chance, in general? I'm
>currently a Master Automobile Technician, clean background
>and MVR, no DUI's, college educated, pretty much no
>skeletons. I like in Lex,KY.

You live in a decent area and based on the above are intelligent. Your chances would be as good as any and better than some I suspect.

>I'm not going to ask about $$. I've read enough to figure I
>can make the money I need.
>Thanks for letting me ask. I've found from my reading you'll
>seem to be good, helpful people and this site has been one
>of the best information sites I've seen.

Good luck.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

roadweazel · Aug 22, 2007

There is a privitely owned test site in northern ohio i dont know the name of it. Its a state approved test site. I went there to take my CDL class A road test for Tri-state semi school. You could call the truck schools in the area and find who they send their students to take there test. I know you live in Ky im sure there is something like that down there.

I think i read on here but not for sure there was a Fleet owner that did training and you agreed to work for him for a set time who it was i dont know thoe. Would be worth searching for thoe.

Jason
--
To this day the scariest thing on the earth is a little old lady from Iowa armed only with her auto-moblie.

mwill29 · Aug 25, 2007

Thanks for the input. So far I take it that expediting is not in my future. I figured if an O/O had someone who wants to work hard to make money and was willing to stay on the road with minimal hometime he would be a real asset. I haven't been able to come up with any way to take the cdl test or have access to a truck for hands on experience and driving training. I have a feeling that if I want to drive for a living it will have to be a big truck for Schneider. Oh well, back to turning wrenches for me.:'(
"Life sucks when you can't make your own choices"

nightcreacher · Aug 25, 2007

there is more to the expedite business than working hard.Do to hours of service rules,to work hard in this business you almost have to be running team.Most owners want husband wife teams
If you want to get into expediting i would suggest finding an owner that would put you in a truck with another driver,get your experience, and see if this is really what you want.

rmctt2 · Aug 25, 2007

HI;
There is a new School in Severville, TN that is under classified section ( Driving Opportunities , under Truck Driving Schools)
It costs about $ 4,000.00 total for 15 days for a Class A or B CDL.
The price includes Motel,food, training , etc !!
They will find you work in Expediting Field !
It is called
Smokey Mountain Trucking
Phone # 1-800-495-4056 or 1-865-774-2777
Check them out..
RMCTT2

mwill29 · Aug 25, 2007

Nightcreacher: Yes there is alot more to any job than working hard. But 1st, I read of alot of team operators who complain about short hauls so it would seem that a solo driver could have work taking the short runs within the delivery time constraints and HOS rules. The teams would be running the long runs where the miles benifit them more. 2nd, by posting here I was hoping to find an o/o who would expose me to the job, let me ride and drive, show me the routines and prep me for what I would encounter. In return I pay for my CDL B, the o/o provides the truck for the road test, and after I am licenced I work for him/her. Is my thinking way too far out or can something like this work?
Also I have read of others who had convictions, MVR blemishes, spotty work history, lack of driving experience, ect. but they found an o/o or company to work for. The only difference is they usually already had a CDL.
I just figure that a capable person who doesn't need to run home every 3 weeks and can stay on the road for months at a time would be a selling point? I've always seen P2 and FECC trucks on the road and and it really sparks my interest and I think I would like the job. The couple I talked to really got me pumped up and said that I would be able to find the assistance I needed, and make the money I required. I got excited but now I'm wondering....Thanks for your input.

mwill29 · Aug 25, 2007

rmctt2, I sent an e-mail requesting info from the school you spoke of. I hate to think I have to spend $4000 and take the risk of not making the money I need. If it was T/T's I'm sure I can make the money but expediting may be a gamble. "If I don't take the risk I can't reap the rewards". Thank you for your help.

LDB · Aug 25, 2007

Before you drop $4k with a school do a lot of research. I'm not familiar with the school mentioned. One of the best, if not the very best, driving schools is in Oklahoma. I don't remember the name but I'm sure it would come up in an online search. Some companies offer the t/t training for free in exchange for driving for them for a year. The pay isn't as good so it probably equals out over the course of a year but you don't have to drop big money up front. The main problem with your plan is the time you are forced to sit for your breaks that a team can still be running. A team truck averages about 1.8 times the miles per year as a solo truck so if an owner puts you in the truck solo that cuts the revenue potential almost in half while the equipment costs remain the same. That's why most owners want teams.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

nightcreacher · Aug 25, 2007

mwill29,I dont mean to put the cabatch in your ideas,but yes there lots of short loads,the average expedite load is short,but the offers go to most of the teams,cause of the hours of service.Back when we were able to show a split bunk,(sleep 5 work 5),this wasnt as bad,but now,by the time you might get the run offer,you could be out of your 14 hrs for that day.If it were me,Id try to hook up with another driver to run team,and see if this is for you.