newbie in florida need help

[bucky01]

changing careers. satellite system installer to trucking industry. dont fiquire. I was going to sign on with swift for class a cdl training and drive the big rigs. but my interest steer more towards expediter. cargo vans/possibly straight truck. can anyone recommend a good starting point to enter the expediter field. ie training needed,good companies, best opportunites to excell in this industry. I am in florida and have read alot from different sites on expediter but nothing seem to be out of florida. i dont have a expedite vehicle but i like that options. also i have a previous dui 8 years old will that kill me with this. any help greatly appreciated. john

current job i do alot of driving to and from jobs. im self starter, reliable and professional and i get things done quick.leased vehicle would be great for starters.

 

[theoldprof]

These questions have been asked my many. The answer is usually to go back and read about a year's worth of EO posts. There is a huge amount of good advice that has been posted previously. Any questions concerning a certain carrier, ask the recruiter. When and if you decide to get into this business, drive for an owner for several months to see if this is the life for you. Good luck.

:+ :+

 

[Tennesseahawk]

If you're considering OTR rigs, I advise you to go to www.truckersreport.com . In their forum, you'll find good companies and bad companies. Swift has a rapsheet 10 miles long from former drivers. Please do some research there, if you're going into that field.

If you're considering expedite, then you've found the right place. As stated, do a search into the archives, and figure out what you'd like. Any general or specific questions that you can't find answers to, or would like to verify, ask away. Depending on how old the post is, the info may be outdated. Ask, ask, ask. Then ask some more. We'll be happy to help.

I see you're north of Tampa. Getting out of FL could be an issue in expedite. You have a couple of choices, tho, depending on which carrier you decide on. You could sit at home and wait up to a week or more for something out of Orlando or Miami. Or, you could run empty up to Atlanta and position yourself for a load. My choice with my carrier would be to head to SC and be loaded within a day of getting there. Other members might have other suggestions.

As far as your DUI, you may have a problem. Depending on the carrier's insurance company, you may be denied the opportunity. You will need to ask the recruiter of each company you apply to how old the DUI has to be for them to accept you. If you look at the advertisers here on EO, some have their standards for tickets and DUIs. Check there first.

Good luck!

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[bucky01]

thanks i appreciated youre experience and info. i have been reading all i can about the industry just wanted the old pros advice on what works and what doesnt. ie cargo van vices straight truck, cdl or no cdl. things like this.john

 

[bucky01]

thanks vampire,
yes i was concerned about the lack of expediting in my area here.i know the dui will kill me with company driving but if i go o/o would this be a major problem. i know each company has there own rules. just trying to give myself the best opportunity to get flowing with this.I have been researching the carolinas and georgia and tennessee as go to,s. like to start with cargo van if there enough work or possible smaller straight truck non cdl . doyou think the straight truck would be a better choose. I have read alot of post here and doing research just looking for seasons pros point of views to be profitable at this. john

 

[Tennesseahawk]

The straight truck vs van is a dilema as old as fire. You'll find plenty of reading on that question.

You'll need a cdl for a straight truck. With vans, some companies want a cdl-c, and some don't.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[nightcreacher]

there is one BIG PROBLEM,your dui,there isnt an expedite company that I know of that will touch you with a ten foot pole,partly because of insurance,and you wont be permitted into canada,unless you get a pardon from them,and thats very expensive,and I know where I'm leased,you would have to have the pardon from Canada before they would put you on.

 

[RichM]

Didn't some company in Ohio employ Ms BamBam with 2 felony convictions?

 

[rmctt2]

HI;
Doesn't every company have rules on Felonies and DUI's ?
Some say 5 yrs,some say 7 yrs,some say 10 yrs !!
I have a Felony back in 1991 , and the Companies I have checked with say .. Not A problem !! They pulled C.R. back 7 yrs !!
Also,
Not every company requires Canadian Crossing !!

 

[FireGears]

Use the search function and gather the posts
by an author named ATeam.

He's presented a boat load of information
concerning getting started in expediting..

STAY FROSTY ...:+ :+

plus ...

 

[Tennesseahawk]

A boat load? Did Phil get a yacht now?

Have to admit... at first I thought you said butt load. :7

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[ATeam]

>A boat load? Did Phil get a yacht now?
>
>Have to admit... at first I thought you said butt load. :7

Once again, from a moderator, a totally unecessary statement that disrespectrs and ridicules an Open Forum member. It seems that member complaints about this kind of moderator behavior continue to fall on deaf ears.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Once again, Phil can't take a joke.

Take some advice. Watch Monty Python, Benny Hill, and Sanford and Son. Let me know if you find your sense of humor.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[cheri1122]

If we enforced a "necessary" criteria, this site would make a morgue look lively...Was Moot's post on missing cables necessary, for example? All it contributed was a bit of amusement, and even though it was at my expense, I enjoyed it too - none of us are perfect.
I would add to THawk's suggestions: the works of Mark Twain, Ring Lardner, and Bill Bryson - laughter always makes me feel better, anyway.

 

[cheri1122]

Back on topic: RichM referred to a company that accepted Bambam, in spite of a couple felonies, but I'm pretty sure that the felonies that were overlooked weren't reflective of a driving record, as DUIs are - most carriers' insurance would consider a DUI unacceptable.
Again, the only way to find out, is to ask the carrier - it may depend upon how far in the past the conviction occurred, too.

 

[ATeam]

>Once again, Phil can't take a joke.
>
>Take some advice. Watch Monty Python, Benny Hill, and
>Sanford and Son. Let me know if you find your sense of
>humor.

I would expect that a moderator would be wise enough to understand that the written word is not always taken as it is intended, and would, in the interests of positive forum vitality, think twice before having fun at someone elses expense.

Are you giving me permission, Mr. Moderator, to start having fun at your expense here on the forum. May I, at your expense, demonstrate my sense of humor? I guarantee that your expediting career is good for an unending series of laughs

That's a joke, THawk. Don't take it personally.

Let's see, are you the one that blows an engine as often as you blow your nose?

Ooooo! Oooooo! Oooooooo!

How about the one about the time you said.....



See, THawk. I really do have a sense of humor. And I'm really glad you can take a joke. There is no problem at all with this line of writing is there? After all, you did ask me to find my sense of humor.

Are you laughing now?

---------------------------
For the record, I did not start this line of humor. Tennesseahawk did. He opened the door and I responded in kind. Let's see how long he wishes to continue this or how long other moderators will tolerate it. There are over 4,000 members on the Open Forum and only a handful of active participants. I suggest that the reason there are so many lurkers is the reluctance to expose themselves to the kind of disrespect and ridicule Tennesseahawk demonstrated above.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Actually, the buttload comment had nothing to do with you, Phil. That was just an attempt at tongue in cheek humor. I apologize if you thought it was aimed at you. So that leaves the yacht comment, which I would've posted to anyone who had a "boatload" of info on expediting.

I have to admit... writing that, I wasn't sure you'd take it as it was intended, and I was right. No big deal... won't happen again.

And Dispatched... this has nothing to do with me being a mod. I am who I am and I will continue to be so after I hang up the mod badge.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[FireGears]

T/hawk wrote ...
"... the buttload comment had nothing to do with ...
... won't happen again...
... I am who I am and I will continue to be so ..."
*************************************
Apology accepted...

IMHO this was just the product of a nasty mind
that happened to get into print.
Will it happen again... time will tell.

The "none of us are perfect clause" sort of leaves the door open.
IMHO a "this will not be tolerated" statement
from a MOD might have been better.

BACK ON TOPIC,

Buck01...

Have you been able to review the TRAIN load of materials
which has been provided by ATeam...

He has written many articles and
has many "links" to other very informative information.

Happy Trails and Much Success.!!!!


STAY FROSTY ... ":+ :+

plus

 

[ATeam]

>I have to admit... writing that, I wasn't sure you'd take it
>as it was intended, and I was right. No big deal... won't
>happen again.

Thank you.

 

[mrgoodtude]

Jeepers lighten up....
A little tongue in cheek breaks the monotony..
Phil I don't think anyone has cracked with you any harder than I have.
I will go on record as saying I respect you as an author and as an expediter you are an inspiration, but your stick in the butt holier than now persona leaves you wide open for a "little poke" on occasion.
Face it if this was the MASH 4077th you would be Charles Emmerson Winchester the 3rd, the butt of some jokes yes but still a major character in the expedite show that we all love to watch...
Some loving advice from a friend "poke back" (I don't believe you will lose your credibility).
Fire gears you have a good message but honestly dude it's kinda hard to take you serious...
Christian is a full time job not sometime yes sometime no and if you are trying to emulate an archangel like Michael you need to toughen up.