Newbie w/ question about life on the road?

[driverdog]

I have a question aboutlife on the road. I am looking to get into either trucking (T/T) or straight truck expiditing. I love to drive and have had various non cdl truck local delivery jobs which I loved. I will be starting CDL school very soon. Here is my question though and maybe my problem. I have an excellent driving record, home time not a huge issue for me (except for Thanksgiving/Christmas). Here is the "but", I love to lift weights, and am concerned how realistic it is for me to get to a gym regularly (3-5 X a week)while on the road. This one of the reason i was looking at straight truck as opposed to tractor trailer for the reason that it would be easier to park at gym lots.

Also, I live in the Chicago area, again with great driving record (soon with a CDL A), great shape, hometime not a main issue (just the gym thing), how easy can I find an expiditing job? any companies one might recommend? and what is the pay difference (and other pro's and cons) between driving tractor trailer for one of the big OTR companies or driving B truck expiditing? I really would greatly appreciate any insight and advice from your experience. Thanks.

 

[rfrogger120]

You can get a golds gym membership, I think there good through out the U.S. When your on the road, look up the nearest golds gym. Or, most any gym, at least in my area, charge anywhere from $5 to $10 a day for a work out.

 

[terryandrene]

You should be able to get to the gym or a YMCA on your down time in any major city. You could also have plenty of room in a straight truck to keep a weight set and do your thing in your own gym on wheels

 

[driverdog]

Thanks for your inputs, so is it realistic and possible to get to a gym regularly while out on the road? To carry equipment in the truck would be carrying alot of extra weights, and probably too much xtra weight for a serious workout. I kind of figured between Gold/world Gyms, Ballys, and Ymca as well as local gyms I shouldnt have a problem finding one. I'm more concerned about actually having the time to get to one for an 1-2 hrs 3-5 times a day. And that is a good point and kind of what I figured, that it would be easier to park a straight truck at a gym lot than a tractor-trailer. If any one has any more tips/advice i would appreciate it. Thanks for your advice so far.

 

[driverdog]

Sorry one more thing. Can any one tell me pros and cons of expiditing vs. big OTR companies. Also any companies in the chicago area (expiditing) you would recommend with a good rep. I live in the Chicago area and will be starting CDL school very soon.

 

[TeamCaffee]

I am not so sure you will have much time to work after going to the gym that many times a day. Not only do you have time for the work out you have to find the place. When under a load with this being expediting not to many places will look favorably on you stopping several time to work out.

 

[terryandrene]

TYPO ALERT

He means 3-5 times a week, NOT each day.

 

[TeamCaffee]

LOL ok Terry that makes a lot more sense! But I have heard of people exercising that many times a day.

Well I am sure you could do that most of the time.

 

[cheri1122]

Driverdog: are you absolutely sure that a gym is a necessity? Because you can adlib a lot of workouts on your own, improvising with stretchy cords for resistance, heavy objects for weights, jumping rope in the box, etc.
OTR carriers probably won't afford you much free time, (I think the standard is 10-14 days out, followed by 2 days home time), and in my experience, you will be rolling every minute that you can, legally. What time you have left, is generally consumed with paperwork, personal hygiene, housekeeping, ('truck-keeping'?), shopping for personal items, etc. Oh - and eating & sleeping, too, lol. Expediting will give you more days "off", but still 'on call' - that is, you could get a load at any time. In expediting, the odds are, you won't have time to shower & change, when the load is offered, either - you need to be on the way to pickup in a hurry.
If you want a life of 'routine', either form of truckdriving will be difficult for you, but expediting has even less 'routine' than OTR.

 

[driverdog]

Yeah, I meant 3-5 x a week (lol...not day) for 1-2 hours on that particular day. I'm into powerlifting so gym would be better (over stretch bands in my particular workout goals, though in general are a good excercise) though I'm prepared to get creative if I happen to miss a day because of scheduling conflict. I just prefer not to miss too many days. Yeah you are right Rfrogger about World/Gold Gyms and also being able to find gyms and pay a daily fee. I'm just curious if it is legistically possible or realistic to think I can get to a gym 3-5 times a week for one or two hours on that particular day (more gyms are open 24hrs now)that I do workout while on the road. Hometime not a big issue for me other than Thanksgiving,Christmas Eve/day. Thanks Cherri for your input on OTR vs. Expiditing. Anyone have any other insight from youe experiences about the pros and cons of OTR trucking vs. expiditing? Thanks again for everyones input and advice. Oh yeah (sorry for my rambling) can anyone recommend a company for a solo newbie in the Chicago area (soon to have a CDL) with clean driving record? Any other words of wisdom? Thanks all again.

 

[kwexpress]

KW Express
o/o till i die

In chicago area I would contact ground hog fast freight not sure of the number,I think any expedite company does good in the chicago market I never sat for 24 hours in chicago even in the winter

 

[flatbedin]

Just a thought, but if you have load bars and E-track in the back of a truck, you have a gym right there.. No live weights, but you'll get the same work out that you would at a gym...

I personally do it all the time.

 

[Moot]

Go with a truckload carrier that does grocery houses. Better yet a reefer carrier that specializes in boxed meat. You will get a good workout lifting 44,000 pounds every other day.

 

[driverdog]

hey thanks for your advice. KW I will look into Hog Fast thanks for tip. Good point FLATBEDIN, I've been toying around with ideaslike that. doesnt have to be a traditional barbell with weights to workout, I just need to simulate the poundage and lift. Any other tips and advice for a newbie in the Chicago area who soon will have a CDL as far as companies to go for and words of wisdom from your experiences. Also tips on OTR (T/T) vs. expiditing in a B truck (the pros and cons). Lastly, I know that this is a difficult question to answer because of all the variables, but what kind of money can a driver (not O/O) make if he was out of Chicago area, good driving record, no bad habits, good hard driver, stayed 2 weeks out, not a lot of unecessary stops except stopping at a gym 3-5 X a week for about 1-2 hours. Just a ballpark to help me so there are no unpleasant surprises. It seems like the big OTR companies are quoting 32,000-36,000 a year for a solo driver. I'm curious what the realistic is in expediting. Money will not be the only factor I base my dexision on but will help me in making a decision. I've searched but cant find any specific info about pay average on this site. Thanks again, I really do appreciate everyone taking time to help a newbie with all these newbie questions. What is a typical day like for you guys out there in this career where nothing is typical? Thanks again for your help and patience with these newbie questions.

 

[cheri1122]

The reason you can't find any info on pay here, is simple: those who do well, aren't going to give up their secrets, and those who aren't doing well, hate to say so...JUST KIDDING!
Seriously, the reason is that there are just too many variables, like whether you own the truck, or drive for an owner, the cost per mile vs revenue of the unit, (cost per mile has it's own bunch of variables, too), personal work ethic & preferences, (if you 'don't go to NYC, or Canada", for example), expenditures on the road, such as food & entertainment, (do you eat mostly at restaurants, or from the truck? Do you choose healthy, but more expensive food, or quick, but cheap stuff? How much entertainment will you need, and how often will you get a motel room, are some of the many choices we all make)
Everything from how you drive, to how you live, will create your own individual income vs outgo formula.
If you can get to a few truckstops, try offering to buy coffee for approachable drivers, in exchange for some conversation about their carriers, schedules, and general satisfaction with their lifestyle. Call the recruiters for some carriers you're interested in, and ask them about average income, too.
All the above refers to expediting, because if you decide to drive t/t, you'll almost certainly be a company driver, and the companies who recruit new drivers don't exactly pamper them - the trucks are basic, the money is steady, but the hours are grueling - it's called 'paying your dues' - if you get through it,for a year, you will be welcomed most anywhere as a driver.
I'd try to describe an 'average day' in expediting, but I haven't had one yet, lol - every day is different, and that's what I like.
I think it boils down to which 'bennies' are most attractive - steady, dependable income & health insurance, or the freedom (and risk) of expediting.

 

[dhalltoyo]

Parking will be a very big issue if you go for an OTR TT.

I haven't found any gyms that want an 18 wheeler in their lot.

And I believe that a straight truck would probably meet the same resistance.

Obviously a 6 wheeler would be somewhat easier to navigate around town, but it ain't like driving your car to the gym.

Just something to consider. The bigger the truck, the greater the limitations on your personal excursions.

 

[driverdog]

Thanks for all your insight. It really does help. Good advice Cheri about getting my butt over to a truckstop. Any other advice, tip, insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Broompilot]

I belong to the Y for this exact reason. Expeditng did give me a chance to see many Gyms, and meet some great people, they love to hear where we are from and that we work out. A straight truck is a big PLUS.

On the other hand if you have a GPS this is how I find the Gyms forget that directory outdated etc... The GPS will find those Gyms for ya, but a 53 foot trailer is gona be a problem, except in Taylor MI at the Y at Exit 37 and I 75 I park accross the Street in the Sams Club dart accross the road get my work out, sauna, and shower and than make my delivery.

Remember to ask the truck stops first before dropping that trailer but I have never had a problem when explaining what I want to do. So far. If no Gym, remember push ups.

 

[driverdog]

Hey BROOMPILOT, thanks much. Makes me a lot better knowing that someone is doing the gym thing so it is do-able. And yes you are very right when you cant make it to the gym, pushups and pullups are the worlds best kept secret. I have a Y membership, and a Ballys one that I've had for years so I get to renew it for next to nothing every couple years. between those two and willing to pay a daily fee for those other gyms when necessary I should be ok. It really does help to know someone is actually doing it and that it is do-able. I kind of figured it would be easier to do it in expiditing in a B truck as opposed to OTR t/t semi just for that reason of parking space or finding somewhere to drop your trailer. I have a question though, if I am a company or fleet driver (not O/O)B truck, and have no problem staying out, is there a huge pay difference I'm giving up with going expiditing as opposed to OTR with a Tractor-trailer? What do u guyls love or hate about expiditing?

 

[Broompilot]

My stint with a Company was very short. They frown upon but did not restrict me in using the truck for personal business. Schedule though is very tight with them as they want you to be a SLAVE TO THE TRUCK vs owning my own I choose when to be that Slave.

Get your time in one year and get OUT. They those companies will abuse your time, your income etc.. They are HEARTLESS SOB at least Averitt is. Great Equipment, great plan for ya when you come in but no income or miles.

Now this is just my opinion, companies are in business for one reason and one reason only, to make a buck to increase there bottom line to either buy out another company or take there profits and run from the sale of themselves, leaving all those who worked for them where? Your nothing to them these companies NOTHING. Truck # what? Thats it truck # who?