Still Learning

[cdgayer]

Hello, everyone! I've been reading the boards for about a week, so I thought I would introduce myself.

I have a friend who is a driver, and we were talking about the possibility of me driving a cargo van. Knowing absolutley nothing about this, I was glad when he suggested this EO website. I have been reading and reading, and I think it is something I want to do. I will read more. I want to soak up all the knowledge you guys and gals can give me!

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Welcome to the jungle....Please read away..there is tons of good stuff, some trivial and some important...

Anyone can drive a CV and make a few bucks BUT to make a living at it I've found takes a certain type personality...

You can learn all there is but if you ain't that certain type of person it won't work...and you'll drive yourself crazy trying to make it work and get all frustrated and end up with a bad taste in your mouth...an uptight, wound tight, high stress person type does not usually pass the 1 year mark.

The turnover rate is huge...look around your orientation class..if there are 10 of you now...in a year there will be 1 left.

 

[cdgayer]

Thanks for replying!

Why do you think the turnover rate is so high? I like to think I'm a laidback kind of person that can go with the flow, but of course I have my moments.

Another question I have--are cargo vans driven only by solo drivers or teams, or both?

On thing I've found out reading these boards--I don't even know what I don't know.

 

[moose]

Drive 4 an Owner 1st...!!!

I'd say most CV's are Solo's ,
the ones that are team, are same household .
NEVER get into a Van with not same household team mate.
work only with a carrier that can get you phone #'s of at least 5 contractors with more then one year with them.
have enough cash reserve to pay all your bills for at least a few months.
use the search option on top , to look up words of interest.
get certified .
where do U live ?
what are your goals ?
Good Luck. & welcome onboard .

 

[cdgayer]

Thanks for replying!
I live in Northwest Ohio, about 100 miles south of Toledo. My goal is to make some money and see some of the country.

What does being certified mean, and how do I get it? Do you mean CDL? I have diabetes and take injections, so I don't think I can get a CDL. Some places hire you without a CDL, don't they?

 

[ATeam]

Thanks for replying!
I live in Northwest Ohio, about 100 miles south of Toledo. My goal is to make some money and see some of the country.

You can do both by becoming a charter bus driver and with a lot less trouble than becoming the self-employed business owner you would be as an expediter.

 

[cheri1122]

Being certified means having a CDL. Not all carriers require it for vans, but it's a good idea [and easy to get for a 4 wheel vehicle], if only to establish yourself as a professional. Additional certification such as HaMat endorsement, FAST [free and secure trade] for the Canadian border, TWIC [transportation workers identification credential] for entry to ports, are all helpful to some degree - some more with some carriers than others.
Drive for an owner first is excellent advice, and reading here a lot more can only help, along with attending a [free] EO seminar.

 

[greg334]

What does being certified mean, and how do I get it? Do you mean CDL? I have diabetes and take injections, so I don't think I can get a CDL. Some places hire you without a CDL, don't they?

Ah... now I know there will be a lot of opinions about this, but regardless the carrier may insist on you getting a waiver without a CDL. This means more or less getting doctors to sign off on your type 1 diabetes to make sure you can drive.

The issue for most if not all the commercial drivers is not whether you drive a van, car or rickshaw but what the insurance company says. At this point commercial insurance for high risk carriers can be restricted to those who only have nearly clean records without medical issues.

As for getting a CDL with type 1, yes you can. The wavier process is a bit more intense and frustrating but doable. If people in wheelchairs can drive trucks, so can someone with type 1 diabetes.

 

[cdgayer]

Thanks for the info! Actually, I have type 2 diabetes, not type 1.My pancreas hates me.

 

[greg334]

Generally if you are taking injections to control your glucose levels that's type 1 but not rare like a type 2 using injections.

Type 2 is not a problem, there is no waiver but you won't get a 2 year medical card but only a one year.

 

[chopper63]

Thanks for the info! Actually, I have type 2 diabetes, not type 1.My pancreas hates me.

i hear you , i had a kidney/pancreas transplant in 2002 and now i'm on insulin. you can get an insulin excemption from the D.O.T.. just need to get the forms from the D.O.T. website. i'm in the process of doing it my self so i can get a class a cdl. i have a class b now so either way i go i'll need the excemption to be legal. it just takes some time and alot of running around from 1 doctor to another. good luck