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Well Im glad we got that boring class room week out of the way . Passed the written exam with flying colors , got my hasmat and doubles/triples endorsment also . Next week we will be out in the trucks in the field . the school has some pretty good trucks . a late model frightliner and a t2000 KW , So That should be close to what Im driving after school .. We had Warner , Star , H.O Wolding all at the school this week . Im still wanting to go with Star , But H.O Wolding had alot of good things to say but I haven't heard much about them on here ... Anyways Will let you know how my progress goes .......
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getting ready to head back to school for the week , It sucks not having any computer access there ....
Anyway , I think i will be going with H.O Wolding , I have had a hard time finding to much negitive about them . I just wish they had nice new equipment .....
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Don't worry about who to go with. It doesn't matter, since it's what you make of it; just have a good attitude and be happy, do what you're told, and do a search for al lthe gourmet recipes here on Fantasy Island, as well as all the fabulous 'tax deductions'.
You are on your way to fabulous riches, son.Jay Gould
__________________________
This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

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Hey wnabedrver
" I just wish they had nice new equipment "
Be careful what you wish for. Nice new tractor, 24cpm, 2000 mpw average.
Lay over in BFE two out of four weekends.
Tractor that is two to three years old, 350 to 400K, 27cpm on up, 2500 to 3000 mpw average, good dm, fair dispatch, home every other weekend or more.
You do the math.
BOL and be safe
Codger "Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

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Tractor that is (three to six) years old, (600 to 720k), 27cpm on up, (1800 to 2100) mpw average, good dm, fair dispatch, home every other weekend or more.
With equipment that is this old, you should also factor downtime, at the rate of an average of one major incident per month. This factored in with the above info, in my experience, works out to about the same overall wage.
So, do you want to drive a 5-year-old truck or 1-2-year-old equipment?

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Of course I would like to be assigned a 1 to 2 year old truck. Who wouldn't.
But the chances of a newbie or recent school grad being assigned one are two
SLIM and NONE
Unless you start working for your Dad or Uncle, I wouldn't count on it.
Codger "Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

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Well 'codger, you've got a good point.
Although, I spoke recently to a Millis driver who had a mear one month under him and he was driving an '02 Kenworth T2000. He was an OTR driver, and of course this can make a difference also, as to the specific type of tractor you will be assigned.
Now again, Millis pays lower than many other carriers, but better equipment can definately even out the lower rate.

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jaykBrake
I am 100% in agreement with you on the type of runs that you do dictate the type and year of tractor that you are assigned.
Carriers have their little systems that determine what you drive. As I see it here are a few:
City P&D, line haul, intrastate, dedicated, otr, flatbed, specialized, solo, team, and others I may have left out.
Other factors could be how well your training went, how you got along with the trainer, dm, dispatchers, how your final road test went, if the safety manager liked you, etc., etc.
These are just my thoughts and opinions and I'm sure there are others out there.
Be Safe
Codger "Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

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I like Dominoe's reply as I think it really comes to the point the quickest.
When I was evaluating all of the various carriers that would accept a Newbie such as myself, I quickly came to the conclusion that there were all too many variables to choose from. So I decided to do the, "eenie-meenie-miney-moe" thing rather than objectively try to use weighted values for each variable as some might do. This industry was just so foreign to me that I did not know which of these variables was going to be important to my situation.
In addition, carriers can get just a little sleezy with some of them. For instance, the carrier that I went with advertised a high tuition reimbursement program, but when it came time to sign up, we all learned that if we accepted the tuition reimbursement, we lost out money that we could have gotten from another common activity. The two have no obvious association, other than the carrier is simply, and effectually renegging on the one benefit by taking back another!
I thought this was just a bit too sleezy and cheap frankly. But, it was my introduction to the industry and a little peek into how it all works. I cannot say this is universal though, because I only have actual first-hand experience with one carrier - but I have my assumptions.

Is it me, Dominoes, or is this statement just this side of facecious?

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Hey guys , thanks for the replies .... Im back from "week 2" !!!!!!! Everything is starting to come together . I logged over 300 miles this week in the truck . Went downtown Knoxville twice and went down some of the most narrow roads I have ever seen . This Schools instructors believe in living on the edge , This one road that snakes through the base of the smokeys , Hwy 73 out of Newport for anybody that knows the area was just Nuts . The instructor just kept saying "Let her Drift , drive the trailer not the tractor " , Im like let her drift where ? In the damn ditch ? LOL , Needless to say I was nervious as hell . I more then likely won't drive on too many of those roads .. lol
I feel really good . Out of our class of 6 Im the only one that can shift the truck without grinding , I have just a bit of trouble getting the downshift down , But im almost there . Went through the backing courses yesterday and today , Im really good at all the drivers side backs , but the damn blind side 90' are a (edited) ....... I was told I will probably go ahead and road test mon afternoon so Im off for some much needed rest ......
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Quote " I'm really good at all the drivers side backs, but the damn blind side 90....." Close quote.
On your backing skill, I give you congrats. But let me ask you about several things that are sort of bothering me.
Are you backing between parked vehicles or big orange cones?
How many pull-ups are you taking ?
Are your instructors advocating 90 degree blindside over drivers side back of any type.
Most drivers I know will stay away from 90 blind if there is any other way to back including going the wrong way on a one-way to set up.
Can you do a serpentine parallel back with no pull-up
Just some things that came to mind.
Codger
(I'm making REAL good time - where am I ???)

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No Problem Codger . To answer the question they are both (orange barrels and other parked trucks) . They say to avoid blindside backing at all costs , but in the real world (like at some truck stops) you will have to from time to time . The only blindside back i will have to master is the Parallel , it is required by the state . I can do it with out any backs if i set it up right from the get go . If not then It just about can't be done no matter how many pull ups I have . The blind 45 is the easiest to me , the blind 90 .... forget it , I would have to have lots of help with it .... I really can't explain why I have an easier time then others except maybe the fact Im used to backing my boat up , believe it or not the big trailer is more forgiving then my boat ......
Although I must say , we are using yard trucks on the backing course with only 48 ft traliers which is nothing like what i will be driving on the job , so I may not be able to back at all once I get a double axled condo tractor with a 53 ft tralier behind it ...lol I know I have years of learning ahead of me and believe me , I realize things out there will get alot harder then school .... Thanks again ....
William .......
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wnabedrver
Thanks for the come-back
Here's a couple tips on serpentine parallel back. I don't claim to be an instructor but this works for me.
After you pull-up and get straight , both tractor and trailer, start by cranking the snot out of it left and count as you engage, 1001 1002 1003 and then crank the snot out of it until you are back under and are straight to the vehicle, cones. whatever.
Tractor and trailer should now be at 45 to the hole. Back straight until your trailer tandems are about even with truck bumper, fender.etc, and keep watch out of both mirrors and drive the trailer into the hole. The tractor should follow.
If you don't hit anything and even after one pull-up you should be good to go for your test. They probably give you a free pull-up on the test, so if they do use it.
BOL
David (oldcodger)
I'm making REAL good time - where am I ???