Looking for first Straight Truck job

[Jpatt88]

So I will be getting my class A the 24th, I went with a company who did not require me to work for them to obtain my Cdl but does require me to pay them monthly. I made sure of this before I went, simply because their was no private schools in my area and my intentions from the start was to drive Straight Trucks. I made it through the school with no issues, I can shift and back a trailer tractor fairly well (I'm not trying to sound like a newbie who thinks he's got it all figured out because I know that I know nothing lol) but obviously I will have zero experience. I do have a few months driving a cargo van, I did that to test the waters before actually getting into the business. I love it and hope to own my own truck within the next few years but for now I need a starting place.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Please don't tell me to just drive the tractor trailer for 6 months to get experience, it's just not what I want to do. I like driving the tractors but I enjoy the expediting business and it's more for me than working for a mega carrier who cares nothing about my well being. I'm just looking for a shot or any advice I can get.

Thank you all for the never ending information that you all give newbies like myself.

 

[pearlpro]

Welcome to the Forum, you saw that list of companys lined up on the right side of the home page, you pick up your phone and you call and talk to the recruiter, ask questions, get answers, after youve talked to 4-5 youll start to get a picture of the industry. If you dont own a truck then youll be looking for fleet owners who have an empty seat or maybe need a second driver for a team.

Trucking, and Expediting is so much more then backing, etc, Expediting you must be a patient person, learn to wait, manage your time and budget, lear where the freight is and where its not, its not the same as JB or Big Orange and you drive a trailer loaded with Budweisier night after night to the same two warehouses....

Talk to drivers you see at the truck stops, the guys in Straight trucks, etc dont paint a rosy picture till your sure thats the color you want or need to make ends meet. Driving and gaining experience on the road in any Commercial vehicle is good, Learning the scales, wheres the best places for fuel, meals, parking...experience is good, you may have to drive a year before anyone will hire you in there company vehicle, EXPERIENCE IS THE KEY WORD....

Good Luck and use this forum often its a welth of information and the guys here are EXPERIENCED..Build on it !!!!

 

[ChanceMaster]

So I will be getting my class A the 24th, I went with a company who did not require me to work for them to obtain my Cdl but does require me to pay them monthly. I made sure of this before I went, simply because their was no private schools in my area and my intentions from the start was to drive Straight Trucks. I made it through the school with no issues, I can shift and back a trailer tractor fairly well (I'm not trying to sound like a newbie who thinks he's got it all figured out because I know that I know nothing lol) but obviously I will have zero experience. I do have a few months driving a cargo van, I did that to test the waters before actually getting into the business. I love it and hope to own my own truck within the next few years but for now I need a starting place.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Please don't tell me to just drive the tractor trailer for 6 months to get experience, it's just not what I want to do. I like driving the tractors but I enjoy the expediting business and it's more for me than working for a mega carrier who cares nothing about my well being. I'm just looking for a shot or any advice I can get.

Thank you all for the never ending information that you all give newbies like myself.

Welcome to EO and expediting Jpatt ! Im a relative newcomer to trucking ( Over 3 years now) and I really enjoy it. Ive got some information for you if youd like to talk . Ill send you a PM ( private message) with my contact info.

** tried sending you a PM, but i dont think I can because your too new here** shoot me an email to [email protected] if you want.

 

[Jpatt88]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the information.

 

[runrunner]

If you are getting a Class A,just my take on it of course,others will disagree. I think you can earn more,and sit less driving T/T in Expediting. I think it is a waste of that Class A to drive anything else.

 

[spongebox1]

If you are getting a Class A,just my take on it of course,others will disagree. I think you can earn more,and sit less driving T/T in Expediting. I think it is a waste of that Class A to drive anything else.

That's a fact

Sent from my VS910 4G using EO Forums mobile app

 

[zorry]

I could see driving a D for a year while you learn the lifestyle.
Scales, truckstops, paperwork, managing HOS.
So much easier than dealing with a 53' trl.
Once comfortable with the basics, jump into the TT.

 

[ChanceMaster]

Sometimes it's not about the money..it's about your life / work balance. Zorry gives good advice regarding starting in a D unit.

 

[Mailer]

If you are getting a Class A,just my take on it of course,others will disagree. I think you can earn more,and sit less driving T/T in Expediting. I think it is a waste of that Class A to drive anything else.

I don't disagree but this one is new to me. What are the differences between expedited T/T vs regular T/T? Thanks.

 

[BigCat]

I don't disagree but this one is new to me. What are the differences between expedited T/T vs regular T/T? Thanks.

Well t/t can run expedite or broker truckload freight when ex is slow.

 

[Moot]

Please don't tell me to just drive the tractor trailer for 6 months to get experience, it's just not what I want to do.

Sorry, but that's exactly what I'd recommend. Stick it out for 6 months and consider it an apprenticeship. Chances are you will be running with a driver trainer. You will learn what life is like on the road and gain valuable experience and work history to take with you when entering the expedite field, making you a more desirable applicant.

I like driving the tractors but I enjoy the expediting business and it's more for me than working for a mega carrier who cares nothing about my well being.

There are plenty of expedite carriers, both large and small that care nothing about your well being.

 

[Mailer]

Well t/t can run expedite or broker truckload freight when ex is slow.

Ok Thanks, BigCat. I drove T/T from west to east coast and vice versa for a small company for about two years.

Some of the loads were rush and some were given plenty of times. My rates were the same on both. May be some of those were expedited runs.......may be I have been taken by the owner, lol.

 

[molly28]

In the event that you are getting a Class A,just my interpretation of it of course,others will oppose this idea. I suppose you can acquire more,and sit less driving T/t in Expediting. I suppose it is a waste of that Class A to drive anything else.sometimes its not about the money..it's about your existence / work offset.

schoolsfortruckdriving.com

 

[Jpatt88]

Thank you all for the great information, I really appreciate all the advice you all take time out to give newbies like me. For me personally, it's not about the money, I mean I don't want to go broke but if t/t pays slightly better then I can live with that. It may sound bad but I'm not sure if t/t is for me right off the bat, I feel gaining some experience in a straight truck will nothing but help me in the long run. I take my test tomorrow so I'll keep you guys updated. Thank you all.

 

[BigCat]

Thank you all for the great information, I really appreciate all the advice you all take time out to give newbies like me. For me personally, it's not about the money, I mean I don't want to go broke but if t/t pays slightly better then I can live with that. It may sound bad but I'm not sure if t/t is for me right off the bat, I feel gaining some experience in a straight truck will nothing but help me in the long run. I take my test tomorrow so I'll keep you guys updated. Thank you all.

Getting s/t experience doesn't help you at all if you decide in the future you want to do t/t. I have done both and I'm back in a t/t now. Nothing against straight truckers but I wouldn't go back to that because of all the sitting waiting on someone to screw up a shipment or a machine at a factory to go down.

Where I'm at now (Ozark) has been keeping me running really well. Last week was 3349 miles, this week is paying 2879 miles, and for next week I'm already at 2700 miles with Thursday being my cutoff to get paperwork in. Best part is I haven't done a restart in 3 weeks and I'm still running off recap.

 

[zorry]

Here's where the straight comes in.
Not everybody coming out of school is ready to do the TT thing.
Everything is coming at you so fast and you've got to take it all in at once.
Little issues add up. Too many stresses. A lot of good trainees leave because trucking hits them like a freight train.
The straight lets a driver ease into things at a slower pace. I taught my sister to drive a few years back and she went into a good earning straight right away.
She's in a M-F solo straight gig doing $800-1000 per week. That's all she needs.
With the programs many training companies run, you can do as well in a better straight job. Enjoy it more, and maybe get home just as much.
And always have the option to go TT later, once comfortable.

 

[BillChaffey]

I have a question for Mr. Big Cat.
Nothing to do with the first question. I have had a Class B since 1969. A 24' Goose neck flat bed. I haul hay, logs, move tractors for the locals. I had and sold a 28' fifth wheel travel trailer. Have taken both up to New Hampshire and back more then once. I realize moving up in class to a T\T or a flat bed or step deck is a BIG change.

What I am failing to understand is the emphasis in trucking magazines in the difference in the larger trucks. I. E. Flat bed experience needed.
The only difference I have noticed is when a T\T dry van blows by me going through West Virginia with the fifth wheel rocking like a bottle in the ocean.

Other then proper securement (sp) what's the difference?

 

[paullud]

Thank you all for the great information, I really appreciate all the advice you all take time out to give newbies like me. For me personally, it's not about the money, I mean I don't want to go broke but if t/t pays slightly better then I can live with that. It may sound bad but I'm not sure if t/t is for me right off the bat, I feel gaining some experience in a straight truck will nothing but help me in the long run. I take my test tomorrow so I'll keep you guys updated. Thank you all.

You can make quite a bit more in a TT solo vs a ST solo, it will be much more than slightly better. Are you having some concerns about driving a TT? Gaining experience in a ST might actually be really bad, especially for a rookie driver. When you finish school you still have the right muscle memory and a small amount of knowledge about driving a TT, take some time away and you likely won't be able to do the same which will make life much more difficult. Just go with a company that will reimburse you for school.

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[zorry]

A lot of the training companies still want you to do unlimited training miles for $250-$400 per week salary.
Bro-in-law stayed out 4 months straight at low money to pay off Stevens last year.
He got lucky and got a home everyday TT gig out of Phoenix.
Kid's neighbor just finished training at Werner. He went to NC to get his truck. There were about 30 drivers waiting so he went home. He scored a local job with a garbage company. He drives a straight 4 days a week, a TT one day a week. Home everyday
There must be jobs out there for those who look. .

 

[Jpatt88]

Well folks, I took my test today and passed so I'm officially a class a cdl holder. I got a week to set down and figure out what I want to do. This seems to be the hardest part for me, I mean if I go with the company, I'll be making. 25cpm.... I just gotta set down and pick my brain and see what I can come up with.


Thank you all for everything