Question:
What would be a word of advice (or long list) to someone young thinking about going into this line of work ?
I am going to be turning 22 in the summer and i have really been thinking about going into trucking .
I have driven 10 wheelers before localy for our farm and i think i would like to give otr a try
I know a couple of guys who drive tankers localy and they seem to like it (but thats local)
Which companys offer the best as far as training, pay and personal service . How often are you home as a newbie ?
I do have a couple of tickets on my record big problem or not ?
Hey sorry about the jumbled up post any advice would be appreciated
BTW as stated before most of my driving experience is from one of these kind of trucks (this is my truck right here)
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/97chevyk1500/websize/10-21-2002%20corn%20harvest%20pics%20Houston%20place%20randr%20field%204%20007.jpg[/img]
[This message was edited by k1500chevy97 on November 11, 2002 at 01:35.]
[This message was edited by k1500chevy97 on January 24, 2003 at 10:37.]

Answer:
What would be a word of advice (or long list) to someone young thinking about going into this line of work ?
A word? Don't. Get yourself an education.
I am going to be turning 21 in the summer and i have really been thinking about going into trucking .
Another reason age,any decent carrier will not hire a 21yr. due to insurance company restrictions.
I do have a couple of tickets on my record big problem or not ?
Depends on what the violations were for but
a 21yr. old will find insurance carriers frowning on any.
Mike
Answer:
They are your age, and two out of my three are going in the Coast Guard. Training, a guaranteed job for the length of your enlistment, benefits galore.... And there are more branches of service to suit your likes. If you INSIST on driving a truck, you can even do that in the military, and have a better job there than on the outside. Give it some consideration. When you get good and tired of the driving, you'll still have your education benefit, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
According to Charles Kuralt, "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."
Semisweet

Answer:
Originally posted by k1500chevy97:
What would be a word of advice (or long list) to someone young thinking about going into this line of work ?
Don't. Go to school so you can get a high paying job working with your mind, and not a low paying one working with your hands.
I am going to be turning 21 in the summer and i have really been thinking about going into trucking .
I have driven 10 wheelers before localy for our farm and i think i would like to give otr a try
I know a couple of guys who drive tankers localy and they seem to like it (but thats local)
Which companys offer the best as far as training, pay and personal service .
There are way too many to list, and for every person who like a particular company, you will find another who hates it.
How often are you home as a newbie ?
As a newbie I was home 3 or 4 days every 6 weeks. Surely you can do better than that, but if you like being home, you are looking in the wrong business.
I do have a couple of tickets on my record big problem or not ?
Depends on what they were for, and how recent. If one of them is a DUI, that will severely limit you with some companies. Improper lane usage, speeding 15 or more over limit, disobeying trafic control device, etc. are the ones that will hurt more.
Hey sorry about the jumbled up post any advice would be appreciated
Your age will be the greates handicap.Most carriers cannot hire anyone under the age of 23 due to insurance regulations.
Answer:
I do not know your particular situation or the exact why's you are wanting to go into trucking. What I can tell you is this:
1. At 21 you will find it very hard to find a job in this industry as a driver due to insurance company policies. Companies that hire young drivers tend to be shady, unreliable, and can cause you more harm than good. Not all of them are like this of course but it is hard enough to sort the good from the bad at 33 w/3 years exp, let alone 21 and none.
2. Having any tickets on your record make it harder to get on with a company at any age, and the younger you are the harder it makes it.
3. Driving a truck may pay the bills, if you are lucky, but it wont pay for much more during the first few years of it.
MY reccomendations:
1. Put driving a truck on the back burner until you turn 23 ( 25 would be better and make it easier to find work in this field) and until your driving record is completely clear. (If you have any DUI's this is going to take about 10 years from the date of conviction)
2. Go to school and get a degree in somethinmg that intrests you and you can make money at. If you are not making much money right now and are living on your own (no one can claim you as a dependant) then you may very well be able to get grants to fully pay for college and give you a few extra hundred dollars a semester to help pay for expenses. Then give trucking a try if you want to. If you find you do not like it you will have a good fall back position.
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
Answer:
k1500chevy97, I have a question that has also been asked before. Why do you want to get into truck driving?
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Originally posted by Stuffiu:
k1500chevy97, I have a question that has also been asked before. Why do you want to get into truck driving?
Trying to explore what i am intrested in . I have a couple friends who drive and they have said a lot of good things about it.

Answer:
What part of washington you from?I started driving when I was 20(local of course), am 23 now and for the most part have my pick of who I want to drive for, but I would seriously look good and hard at a local job, there is lots of money to be made in it.
If at first you don't suceed, get a bigger hammer

Answer:
That's a pretty good reason to check out truck driving.
I did the same thing at that age. What detoured me was the hours, days and weeks on the road. It makes it hard to find or keep a relationship. So I took a job hauling building material around the Phoenix area. Started on a single axle flat straight truck. Then went to dual axle and eventually pulled a flatbed trailer around. I had some fun rolling some heavy lumber loads off the back of the straight trucks.
We would put steel pipe under the load and strap it down tight. The to unload we would put it in reverse go back, hit the brakes, shove it in first and hit the gas. The load 99.9% of the time rolled off right where we wanted it. Once when pulling forward the truck stuck in a ditch and the load came back forward. I had to drive a truck with a badly smashed rear cab for a month. Another time I was in a Ryder rental. Did the usual and the truck went straight up in the air on the back axle. With the cab about 20 foot in the air and the load half on the truck and half on the ground I had to jump on out. The bed had a long overhang past the axle. While most of the drivers continued to roll the loads off I started using the built in rollers on the truck to unload or a fork lift. I drove local for a lot of years but eventually made better money in another area of work.
Look long and hard before you decide to be a driver. There are lots of things you can do. Many are alot more profitable and give you the time needed to do other things.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Just keep in mind a few simple facts...
1) Enforcement is stricter than it has ever been before. The FDOT, FHWA, State Police and other officiating entities are relying on you making mistakes...
2) Commercial Drivers are a very reliable source of revenue for most States...
3) Hardly anyone helps out anymore... Instead the radio is used for fun and games...
4) After 22 years of driving I don't know of another feild that offers so many disadvantages...
5) If you are interested in having a family, it is very difficult to do both and feel like you are doing what you should do...
6) For a single person, that doesn't mind living for that load, seeing the country and learning about life in general... It's an amazing teacher...
Good luck with your decision,,,
Be Safe,,,, it's no accident... Gods Speed...
Safety is No Accident

Answer:
Originally posted by bigJ:
What part of washington you from?
Yakima Valley

Answer:
I know the world seems a big place compared to Topinish, but trucking is a crappy way to make a living as a young dude. Too much time away. Check out some of the local companies and see if they need somebody to do local stuff. Theres a reason the local trucks over there all so old. NO MONEY!!
Theres alot of intermodal work running over the pass. Find out what you can do local, so you can hang with with your partners and chase females
OTR is some lonely stuff for anyone. Don't waste your youth on it.
Otherwise get educated, get a real job, have a life!!

Answer:
The Teamsters are taking apps in Pasco, Wa. (you DO know where Pasco is) ph.#509-545-8297
The ad in the Little Nickel says they will take 21 yr. olds
You are welcome

Answer:
Don't drive a truck, fly for the airlines and work 1000 hours a year and eventually make over six figures!
Although all that will take some time and dedication on your part it would be well worth it. I know the airlines are kinda in dire shape right now, they will rebound in a couple of years and if you were successful you could be in the right place at the right time. Check Mesa Airlines. They are based in the southwest and hire out of some school in New Mexico or Arizona. My instructor went through their program. He is now a first officer for Delta flying 767's. He was a captain until 9/11 and took a demotion to avoid furlough. I am telling ya, pilots have the lifestyle, even better than most doctors. Just an idea. Besides I don't think we'll be beseiged by Mexican pilots anytime soon.

Answer:
Originally posted by k1500chevy97:
Trying to explore what i am intrested in . I have a couple friends who drive and they have said a lot of good things about it.
Dont let those around here who seem to dislike it so much deter you from doing what you want to do. If you want to make good money driving, you can.
I started driving 10 years ago, quit for a few years to go to college, and get one of those "good paying jobs". Got back out here a little less than a year ago, and have enjoyed it ever since.
The money is good once you get some experience. Just try to avoid getting caught up in complaining about everything that is wrong with the industry, and switching jobs everytime something makes you mad. Dont make a decision on the industry based on where you start though, cause more than likely it wont be the company you end up sticking with.
Trucking is what you make of it. It can be a rewarding career, or it can be an nightmare. Its all up to you.