New to the business

Traffic_Guy · Aug 28, 2009

Hello everyone!
I've been reading these forums searching for more information, and it seems like you all know quite a bit about OTR stuff...

I'm 21 (nearly 22), and currently have a great career as an Editor for a traffic gathering company (we produce traffic reports for radio, tv stations... even those garmin gps units with traffic). I've spent some time in the past few years occasionally driving a 26' penske box truck around the country, and fell in love with being on the road. I'm VERY interested in the idea of working in the Expediting business with a straight truck. I don't currently have a CDL, though I've already registered at a local driving school, and I'm going for my CDL A with HazMat. I have a sqeaky clean driving record and no criminal record as well...

Where do I go from here? I'm ready and willing to invest in all the training, and I'm an incredibly hard worker looking for a change of scenery. I'm located in South Florida, but willing to be gone for long periods of time and run loads non stop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much,
-Ryan

Lawrence · Aug 28, 2009

Welcome to EO!

The first item I would recommend is some serious reading these forums. You will find divergent experiences and opinions about this business.

Next - I highly recommend the Expediter Workshops Series.

The next and final one for 2009 will be in Monroe, Michigan September 17, 2009.

Click here:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/sub/workshops/monroe.html

teamjdw · Aug 28, 2009

Are you planning to run solo , or team? Teams are in higher demand than solo.Preferably same household.

Traffic_Guy · Aug 28, 2009

I've had discussions with my girlfriend, and she seemed interested in it as well... I'd probably start solo, but I don't doubt that she'd join me shortly afterward if she experienced a few days out on the road. She hasn't looked into a CDL, though I'm sure she could get it quickly if she decided to join me.

oncedrove · Aug 28, 2009

"I don't currently have a CDL, though I've already registered at a local driving school, and I'm going for my CDL A with HazMat."

Don't waste your time and money if you can "driving a 26' penske box truck" you CAN work in this industry. Study and test for CDL-B and HazMat. Team with some on who has been out here for awhile, than go on your own.
Read posting on this sight back a year, you will gain lots of knowledge.

Dakota · Aug 28, 2009

Welcome,
A few questions come to mind, first off at 21 how were you able to rent a truck? I couldn't even rent a car at 21 due to insurance and rental rules. Most want you to be at least 25
Because of your age I would check with a few companies and see if they will hire you also check your insurance options. I am not sure if there are any age restrictions, but there might be

Traffic_Guy · Aug 28, 2009

I was able to rent a 26' box truck + a full car trailer when I was 19 with no questions asked... I first did this from MA to FL (when I relocated down here) and again at 20 (without the car trailer) between NY and CA (hauling some freight for my father's company as a favor). I paid for the additional insurance each time so that may have been the deciding factor.

and thanks for the advice Dakota and oncedrove... are there any particular companies I should be looking at?

Dakota · Aug 28, 2009

Traffic_Guy said:
and thanks for the advice Dakota and oncedrove... are there any particular companies I should be looking at?

Particular companies? There are probably a million answers to that question. Have you read back a couple years in this forum
Some people like the big companies Fed Ex, Panther
Some like the smaller companies, Bolt, Tri State
I personally work for an Worldwide air freight company
What are you looking for? Once again age might come in to play at certain companies, start calling them all up and ask

plus read up on past posts and ask lots of questions.

moose · Aug 28, 2009

My advice ?
get a class A CDL , with Haz-Mat , tankers , tippples/dabbles,and Air break .
then get a twic card .
(& if you can , a fast card)
call Carriers , ask to Drive for an owner .
at your age , shopping for an owner can be challenging.
as stated , now there are more drivers then freight , and owners can allow themselves to be picky .
getting thoe's credentials , will show determinations on your part to make it in this biz.
it will also be harder to stop later on , and complete the needed paperwork ,& will keep your options open.
you need to ask your self , for how long are you going to drive , this is a very rewarding career , but demand a lot of time investment .
as stated ,Teams are in great demand.
Keep in mind ,that the first year (some say 2) are payed tuition. you will make money , but the big cash , comes with 2 years experience , and owning your own business .
Good luck , & welcome to EO .
Don't be a stranger , we can use a young blood (especially at the SoapBox)

Crazynuff · Aug 29, 2009

I wouldn't waste time investing in schooling for a CDL A . There is a huge surplus of CDL A applicants . A Class B with Hazmat will be fine for expediting . If you do go with a CDL A and have the money to invest you might consider getting your own authority with a medium duty truck (used Freightliner FL 70 or Chevy 4500) with a 40' trailer . There are more loads available for that type equipment and less competition, especially in Florida . Check the web for hotshot forums . Many hotshotters run a one ton truck and stay under 26,000 lbs. and don't need a CDL but miss out on a lot of loads . Most 3 car loads will put you over 26,000 lbs. If you can find a couple of base customers with light freight you'll be o.k. . Some U-ship contractors started their own site but only accept contractors with MC authority as members . U-ship doesn't allow direct contact with members but they go to another members profile to see their DOT number than go to safersys.com and enter the DOT number for contact info .
Just wanted to add you aren't likely to be running nonstop no matter what sector of trucking you choose to enter . Freight is at its lowest level in 12 years . http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/datadisp_table.xml . There is opportunity out there but you have to work hard to get it .

eggd1ver · Aug 29, 2009

T.G. Me and my wife just got into the biss. june 09 we went with a fleet owner for one simple reason the learning time in the biss. will go striaght through your pocket. I to went and got my class A lis. H.M. and pass card no twic card I never seen exp. frieght or heard of any coming out of the ports. I strated looking at this biss. one year before getting into it so you could image how many story I heard that was neg. because the frieght was so bad. All in all I feel we made the right dis. listen an learn before making a large investment. I don't mean not make the investment but learn all you can at how this biss. works before this is a different animal then gen. freight.
Me and my wife plan on having a class 8 truck built in about two years and running our own biss. here. We work for a great fleet owener got lucky when we found him and we found him right here. You won't to find someone that has drivin out here and knows the ends and out also knows what your going thourgh out here. Good luck in your indevor out here

Rick & Ida, panther drivers

Jack_Berry · Aug 30, 2009

most companies have a min starting age of 23.
don't spend the hundred bucks for the twic.
don't spend the hundred bucks for the fast card.
been there never used them. customs has no use for them as an i.d.

read back for two years. this industry changed last year. it is in transition and will take a year to evolve into what it will bceome. hopefully not sending jit frt to airports for stuff being built overseas.

Crazynuff · Aug 31, 2009

Jack_Berry said:
most companies have a min starting age of 23.
don't spend the hundred bucks for the twic.
don't spend the hundred bucks for the fast card.
been there never used them. customs has no use for them as an i.d.

read back for two years. this industry changed last year. it is in transition and will take a year to evolve into what it will bceome. hopefully not sending jit frt to airports for stuff being built overseas.

The Fast Card can be useful with the right carrier . I only reenter the U.S. through Sarnia and a Fast Card would have saved me a lot of time many times . The center lane of the Blue Water Bridge is for Fast Vehicles only and there is a separate customs gate for Fast vehicles .You can use the Fast Card when empty .

Andrew0580 · Aug 31, 2009

stay away from nations (no pay) express!!!!!!!

Jack_Berry · Sep 1, 2009

Crazynuff said:
The Fast Card can be useful with the right carrier . I only reenter the U.S. through Sarnia and a Fast Card would have saved me a lot of time many times . The center lane of the Blue Water Bridge is for Fast Vehicles only and there is a separate customs gate for Fast vehicles .You can use the Fast Card when empty .

true enuff on the right company.

did not know i could fast card empty. does that work on both borders?

Traffic_Guy · Sep 1, 2009

Well, good news. I went to the RMV and passed my CDL A test the first time around. The clerk said she rarely sees people in that office pass it the first time, so I feel a little accomplished. I also took the doubles/triples, air brake and tanker endorsements, and spared the HazMat for next monday so I can study more.

I'm happy with either a straight truck or a semi (though I'd prefer straight truck) and I'm okay with being out for weeks at a time. I know living in Florida is no good, so I can sacrifice being out longer for a little more time home the first year until my apartment lease expires. I'm also okay with driving set routes or being tossed around the US, no problem.

From what I understand, now comes the expensive part... I need driver training, right? I'm willing to go to the CDL School down here and pay for it, but is there a way of riding with someone and even paying them to teach me as they go along? My arms are up in the air about where to go from here, but I am ready to start.

On another note, considering I'm not sure how else to pay you guys back for the great advice.... I'd be more than willing to help you guys out when stuck in traffic. You all are more than welcome to PM me for my email address or phone number ahead of time and reach out to me if you're ever stuck in a jam - I know everything that's going on in the states of FL, AL, NC, TN, OH, IL, MI, IN or KY... and I can help you get around whatever is in your way. I can do the rest of the country as well but I don't have access to specific incident data.

Thanks All

Tennesseahawk · Sep 2, 2009

Traffic_Guy said:
I'm 21 (nearly 22), and currently have a great career as an Editor for a traffic gathering company.

I can't believe no one has focused on this part! A few months ago, they would've told you to stay where you are... everyone is suffering... you'll go bankrupt!

Well, I'm telling you to stay where you are! If you think a couple hundred a week is good, then give it a shot. If you think less than that is ok, then I'll tell you you're in the right industry. It's not all hunky-dorey here. A lot of people have lost their shirts in the last year, hoping to get their dispatch to get them ANYTHING.

If you have a great career, why give it up for the unknown in a bad economy??? If you're that determined, do like Lawrence said, and read back a year. You'll get an idea of what it was like. Then, wait a year before coming into expediting - or any truck driving job. You'll need to save up money from your good career, to cover your behind during the slow times in expediting. Come back here in March, and ask how things are going. You'll get a vastly different answer than "Come on in! The water's fine!"

Dakota · Sep 2, 2009

Well, if your set on getting your CDL-A, why not drive for a trucking company. Many will train you and not charge you for training as long as you put in a year with them. Why anyone would pay for CDL training beats me.
Schneider National will train you, while not the best trucking company to work for they are one of the better training companies out there. go to Pumpkindriver.com if you need more info about them.
I think US Express will train also. Maybe Swift(not sure)
Stop by a truck stop and grab all those free magazines/ads for driver jobs, put in your year and then look into expediting as either an owner operator or driving for a fleet owner. Maybe in a year it will be back to normal in this biz.
If I were you, I wouldn't pay for CDL training, a year given to some company isn't really that long for training.

oncedrove · Sep 2, 2009

If you want to drive the big truck Roehl (rail) will train you.
GoRoehl

richtoole · Sep 3, 2009

Hi guys, new to expediting, I know Florida base O/O is a hard run to get back home. Is there one Expedting company over another that might have more FL runs...FedEx over LandStar???

Thanks for your time

Rich