Question:
Hi, everybody. I've just begun checking into driving OTR. I've been researching it for a couple of weeks and this forum is by far the most helpful I've run across.
About me: I'm a 43-year-old displaced IT worker. I've been out of work for over a year now and would like to see a paycheck again. I live in a place with no good jobs, so getting work in IT ever again looks unlikely. I'm considering this line of work because I never tire of driving (used to drive a four-wheeler about 250 miles a day in the city as a courier; did that job for about ten years) and I don't really like being around the same people all the time, with petty office politics. I've done plenty of grunt work, so that aspect doesn't scare me.
So far the only nibbles I've gotten have been from the dreaded CR England and much-maligned Swift with offers to attend their company-sponsored training. Unfortunately, I probably cannot be terribly picky, with no OTR experience, plus a twelve-year-old felony on my record (Theft by Taking - I've served probation and paid restitution and have led a clean life since then, and in the future).
A couple of questions:
1) If I had to choose just between those two, which would be the lesser of the two evils?
2) The Swift recruiter said 1st year drivers make $32K - 36K in the first year. How much did he inflate the numbers?
Thanks in advance for any info.

Answer:
Swift, would be the lessor of the 2 evils.
I've never drvn for Either of those carriers, but I have a feeling that High Twentys, would be more on the realistic side of things.(as a student/newbie)

Answer:
I'm also an ex IT person. Don't sell the farm to drive until you are dam sure about what you are doing. Those big signs I see around here on the school trucks "Make big bucks driving this rig" are full of crap. Maybe after a couple years you might not do too bad, but thats a long time to be flat broke. IT is starting to boom again, but you might have to move to where the work is.

Answer:
Hey there Phoneman. I agree that the IT job market is on the up swing, but the problem is that if he wants to move where the jobs are plenty, his best choices are going to be either India or Australia.

Answer:
Basically in the same boat (less the felony, never got caugt but that was when I was yunger and dummer ) Ive been sorting through the info available and have come to some conclusions (that change daily) as follows:
Contracting for Driving school is not the best way to go about it but if you must remember that you are getting answers from someone who's job depends on filling seats. (recruiters) I've heard alot of warning about it from those who have gone that route and the fact that they survived it tells me something.
I shut a recruiter down this evening because he was B.S.ing me. His biggest argument about contracting was when he asked me if I wanted to drive 55 mph or 75 mph. Actually I don't think that driving at 75 mph with 80,000 LBS behind you is a very good idea! personally if I can make 300.00/wk I can get by just fine for a year. I mde under 10,000.00 last year. (don't expect to get rich driving truck).... I also worked in IT building computers. When Walmart started selling them for 799.00 I got out and have no regrets. Then pursued Nursing and it is not my cup of tea. No offense to the womwn out here but you all are very difficult to work with and are as a whole (if you can believe it) as unhappy in not more so than truck driver about the conditions they are forced to work in. Some are very happy (just like trucking)
Take the Postive and negative and the truth is probably someplace in the middle.
I am a newbie too so All I know about this stuff is what my simple mind can absorb and have been around a bit and have to trust my judgment.
The very best of luck to you (and me) t.g.

Answer:
Star, you should go were your drive is.
If you need and want to work putters then driving may not me for you.
Really. It is a differeant world.
Have you looked into differant areas of transportaion?202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:

IT is hiring in this area. Take a look at Yahoo hot jobs for Atlanta IT.

Answer:
I was also in IT and the job market is thin, seems like everyone and their dog is getting into it or the jobs being shipped over seas. But I managed to get my CDL and get with a company (KTL). If you have not you may want to check US Expess and Schnider as well. I wish you luck on this endevor and hope everything works out.
Answer:
They might both be of equal evil for you. They are both jobs that you have been given not ones you have decided on. I've said it before but I will again. Find companies you want to work for and find out what you have to do to work for them. If you just settle for some company because they have made it easy for you, you will not last. I would say neither job is good for you and you need to keep looking.
I have no idea where you live because it's not listed by your nick name. I am sure there are lots of other companies that hire in your area. Unless of course you live in SW Fl. then you will be limited. Also do not try and compare a 250 mile a day courrier job to truck driving. They have nothing in common.
You have just begun to search out the industry and as you know you have little knowledge of it. The same for all the other newbies that seem to hand out great advice but have no real knowledge of the industry. You will not know what it is like or the difficulties it holds until you have done it. So dont make any hasty decisions or decide on the first companies that come your way. Do all the research you can and then make decisions. Who knows but one of the first jobs your offered might end up being right for you but you won't really know until you have checked every thing out.
You should make a list of things you would like in a driving job and then research companies that have them or come close to them.
A good list can be found here. Although you should modify it to your specifics. http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/Questions_To_Ask.htm Questions for carriers.
http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/Questions_to_Ask_School.htm Questions for schools.
The newbie driver site has many things newbies need to know http://www.newbiedriver.com/
I kind of like their job description. They do leave out some things such as life on the road, truck stops and a few others but it is good. http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/JobDescription.htm
The same as here you can learn alot with a little time researching.

Answer:
I would have to agree with everything Stuffs has said. Don't settle for just any company. Do your research first and go for the companies you really want to work for. Most of your better companies out there will make it "harder" for you to get in just to see if you have done research and how much you really want to work for them. If you settle for just any company you will be unhappy and may not last long. Don't expect to get more than 25k-30k when starting out. If you like it and stick around you can work your way up and earn more.
Recruiters are salesmen their job is to sell you on the company. So they will exageratie things about the company and what you can expect. But there are plenty of way to get around the B.S. and find the truth. If I were you I would choice no less then 5 compainies you really want to work for and then do thourough research on all of them. Narrow your choices down from there and you will find a place that you want to work for.
One other thing is that a lot of Newbies settle for a company because of finiancial reasons. They go with a company like Swift or CR England because of the "free" training and can get into the buisness with a lot less money then the others. However you will make less money and your budget will be tight for longer time. I know it is hard to do but save as much money as possible and spend money to get a better choice. If you go in with no money or little money then you will be unhappy because of the extremly tight budget you will have to live on for the first 3-5 years. If you have a nest egg things won't seem as tight and you can enjoy driving more. Hope all works out for you whatever you decided to do. you're in the wrong lane!