Experiance Requirements for D-Unit

phatTweaker · Nov 12, 2005

Hello all.

I earned my CDL A in 1997 with plans of driving OTR, but got side tracked by an IT related job.
Anyways fast-forward to now and the IT job is no more.
I have always wanted to drive a truck and at 33 with no other prospects I am ready to jump in.
From reading several posts it sounds like a D-Unit team is the sweetspot.
My problem is I have no formal truck driving experience aside from CDL school. My brother is planning on getting his CDL soon and I would like to team with him.
My questions are is it possible to hire on with a small fleet owner to drive a Class 8 D-Unit with no experience or do they all require some amount of experience?
Do drivers have to take a pre hire road test?
I would like to start out solo to get my feet wet so to speak while my brother is training for his CDL, so I can learn as much as possible to make for a smooth transition into a team.
Does this sound like a good idea or should I just wait 'till he gets his CDL and start out as a team to begin with?

BigDiesel · Nov 12, 2005

Check the classified section there are always fleet owners willing to hire drivers with little or no experience. Its really not brain surgery and most fleet owners realize this.

RichM · Nov 12, 2005

You might want to rent a large Ryder unit for a weekend and play with it just to get your feet wet again. By playing with it I mean backing into unused loading docks,going down narrow roads etc.
Then if a fleet owner puts you on,the owner will most likely want to see how you handle his/her truck. This way you might feel somewhat more comfortable with driving again.

phatTweaker · Nov 12, 2005

I got an offer for a DR-Unit thats signed on with Fedex CC White Glove.
What kind of freight is white glove? I'm guessing it would be delicate possibly temp sensitive stuff. Doe's this type of freight usually require hand unloading?
I live in east central indiana. Where would I go for orientation?

thanks

RichM · Nov 12, 2005

Orientation would be in Green Ohio,Many White Glove loads require handeling with inside deliveries and inside pickups. You will also proably have liftgate loads which can become hairy.

Temperature loads are part of a DR unit, You may be required to monitor the temperature from start to finish.

Who ever wants to hire you should be able to clarify and answer your questions. I am certainly not putting you down but you might want to get some experience before you sign on for W/Glove. Many W/G loads are extremely delicate and expensive pieces of equipment. One or two cargo claims and you are out,presently there is a $2500 deductible that you or the truck owner would be liable for if in the event there was damage to the freight. Something to think about, especially after you have driven all night and now have to unload by hand.

One thing is that while it's a short notice is that EO is presenting a seminar on expediting in Nashville TN this coming Wedensday. If you can make it you can probably get a lot of questions answered. There will be among others a FEDEXCC recruiter in attendance.

Good luck.

phatTweaker · Nov 12, 2005

White glove doesn't sound very newb friendly. I think I will pass on it for now.
Just out of curiosity does w/g loads pay more?

thanks

RichM · Nov 12, 2005

Yes they do but you earn it Big Time.

greg334 · Nov 12, 2005

I thought WG is something that you have to prequalify for by having to work for FEXCC for I think 6 or 8 months before you can even be asked to join. I would think that the process would be the same for drivers and owner/operators.

Correct me if I am wrong, please.

RichM · Nov 12, 2005

That used to be the rule,you had to demonstrate a track record of one year before you could be qualified for W/Glove. Unfortunately that requirement seems to have gone away. There is a member of EO who had absolutely zero experience in driving but he managed to get himself and his wife into W/Glove from day one.

I don't understand this policy as the possibility of losing major accounts can happen due to someone's inexperience.

ATeam · Nov 13, 2005

<snip>
>My questions are is it possible to hire on with a small
>fleet owner to drive a Class 8 D-Unit with no experience or
>do they all require some amount of experience?

While a track record is prefered, a number of fleet owners will put inexperienced teams in their trucks. Finding one for you will be a function of the research you do and how well you interview with the prospective fleet owner.

A good team is a fleet owner's dream. You might want to contact a few fleet owners that advertise in the EO Free Classifieds section and interview them for information (asking first for their time, of course).

Ask them to describe their ideal team. Ask them to tell you about the best team (and worst) they've ever had. Ask what their compensation package is. Ask how their best teams do and what you'd have to do to do as well. You'll learn a lot fast. Once you figure out what fleet owners are looking for, you'll know better how to prepare and present yourself to the industry.

>Do drivers have to take a pre hire road test?

That depends on the carrier. My wife and I entered the industry with no truck driving experience whatsoever. In lieu of 6 months experience, our carrier (through a truck driving school) gave us a road test over and above the one we took to get our CDLs. The school then notified the carrier that we could in fact drive. It cost us $100 each. The test was similar to the road test we took to get our CDLs. School standards vary. We've met some drivers whose tests were much more stringent than the one we took. We didn't know one way or the other when we took our test. We just went to the school our fleet owner recommended, passed the test, and got on the road.

>I would like to start out solo to get my feet wet so to
>speak while my brother is training for his CDL, so I can
>learn as much as possible to make for a smooth transition
>into a team.
>Does this sound like a good idea or should I just wait 'till
>he gets his CDL and start out as a team to begin with?

Fleet owners prefer teams to solo. It will be easier to find a truck if you're applying as a team. But fleet owner circumstances change every day. I know a fleet owner that is right now doing what you seek. He's got a solo driver in a truck now, waiting for his wife to join him in a few months. In this case, the fleet owner is making the accomodation because he knows the driver personally and knows this husband/wife team to be top producers.

One day a fleet owner may be feeling fat and happy with a fleet of good running trucks and teams. A day later the same fleet owner may receive news that one team is coming off the road to go home and take care of an aging parent, and another team is snapping up a great-priced truck of their own they found quite by accident. Fleet owners that have trucks sitting idle in their driveway are often more willing to be flexible.

Even after you get started, it is wise to maintain ongoing contact with numerous fleet owners. Fleet owners come and go just as drivers do (some die, some change careers, some regret the day they ever became fleet owners and plan to get out ASAP). Truck reliability sometimes comes into play. Driver desires and circumstances change, as yours probably will, as you learn more about the industry and what you want from it. If you find yourself without a truck or without the opportunity to move in the business direction you wish, it's nice to have a network of people you can turn to, to quickly find another truck.

If you and your brother develop a good track record over six months (safety, revenue, work ethic, taking care of the truck, etc.), you'll find numerous fleet owners will be delighted to hear from you if you have occasion to look around again. Most fleet owners will say they want a year of experience. But idle trucks sitting in the driveway have a way of opening fleet owners to other possibiliies.

greg334 · Nov 13, 2005

>That used to be the rule,you had to demonstrate a track
>record of one year before you could be qualified for
>W/Glove. Unfortunately that requirement seems to have gone
>away. There is a member of EO who had absolutely zero
>experience in driving but he managed to get himself and his
>wife into W/Glove from day one.
>
>I don't understand this policy as the possibility of losing
>major accounts can happen due to someone's inexperience.

I guess, lower standards are not a good thing anywhere.

I always thought of WG as the elite of FEXCC, but if they accept anyone without experience, they are really cutting their own throat. I look at it this way, if I am going to pay a premium for a service, like moving my Cray Super Computer across town and a team shows up who seems to have no or little experience, do you really think I would not be on the phone screaming at FEXCC and refusing to pay.

phatTweaker · Nov 13, 2005

Thanks for all the info everyone. This site is the best.

I have a friend that has been driving regular semi (not expedited)OTR for 6 weeks or so. He's been telling me the company he works for would be willing to give me a refresher and 4 weeks OTR with a trainer then "turn me loose".

I realize I'm not an expert driver, but I don't really want to go out with a trainer for 4 weeks.

On the other hand I have contacted a few strait truck O/O in the classified section and when I tell them I have no experience they turn me down.

So now the T/T job is starting to look a little better. At least they are willing to hire me.

If you guys/gals were in my shoes as a CDL A full endorsements licensed driver, but no experience, would you go for the regular tractor trailer job even with 4-6 weeks of training at low pay while training or would you keep trying and maybe luck out with an expediter O/O willing to give you a shot in a D-Unit?
After training the trucking company pays .30 for all miles + tolls + unloading + multiple stops, etc. Average miles per week according to my friend is 2500-2700. I figure that would be a little over $800 before taxes. As a solo in a D-Unit could I come close to that? Could I make more then that as a team?

thanks

davekc · Nov 13, 2005

After training the trucking company pays .30 for all miles + tolls + unloading + multiple stops, etc. Average miles per week according to my friend is 2500-2700. I figure that would be a little over $800 before taxes. As a solo in a D-Unit could I come close to that? Could I make more then that as a team

You can do much better than that as a team whether a straight truck or a tractor trailer.

Davekc

BigBusBob · Nov 13, 2005

Yes, Teams will always make more money... whether your in a honda civic hauling phone books to a full blown mean Red KW with a supersized Sleeper... you're gonna make more money as a team.
Hey Dave! Saw you rollin' in AR about 2 weeks ago on 40, rig still looks sharp if it was you. I was westbound, you were eastbound.

terryandrene · Nov 14, 2005

My sources tell me that a B team earns 33% more than a B single; a C team 69% more than a single; a D team 67% more and an E team 60% more.

A C grosses 83% more than a B
A D grosses 217% more than a B
An E grosses 290% more than a B

These numbers are representative of some, but not al expedite carriers.

phatTweaker · Nov 14, 2005

>My sources tell me that a B team earns 33% more than a B
>single; a C team 69% more than a single; a D team 67% more
>and an E team 60% more.
>
> A C grosses 83% more than a B
> A D grosses 217% more than a B
> An E grosses 290% more than a B
>
>These numbers are representative of some, but not al
>expedite carriers.

When you say a D team earns 67% more then a solo is that 67% more to the truck's total gross or 67% per each driver?

terryandrene · Nov 14, 2005

good question. All those #'s represent gross to the truck.

Terry

davekc · Nov 14, 2005

It was one of our trucks but not us. Our team was going from Laredo to Alliston ON when you spotted them. Great couple. Say hey to them the next time you see them. Your right, it was the KW with the monster sleeper.

Davekc
owner
21 years

>Yes, Teams will always make more money... whether your in a
>honda civic hauling phone books to a full blown mean Red KW
>with a supersized Sleeper... you're gonna make more money as
>a team.
>Hey Dave! Saw you rollin' in AR about 2 weeks ago on 40, rig
>still looks sharp if it was you. I was westbound, you were
>eastbound.