Question:
Hi all, im getting ready to make the jump from life long welder to driver. feel free to tell me if im crazy. This is something ive always wanted to try and it seems to be the right time for a change. Im going to attend a school in Louisiana most probably since its just 20 min. from my home. Any advice would be great as in what companys to stay away from ect. Also should i go the school route or company traing route and be a company slave for a year ?
Thanks

Answer:

You are crazy.
CR England.

If you have the money upfront, go to a school. You will have a hard enough time making a decent wage just starting out without having some truck company deduct 3/4 of your paycheck to reimburse themselves for their "school". Plus, if you owe them that money, then they can (and will) pile on all the crap onto you knowing you cannot do a thing about it unless you can pay them off in full or have the patience to serve out your time until your debt is paid off.
Answer:

You are crazy but if it's you dream(snicker)go for it.
I hope you can afford the cut in wages in what I'll call you fantasy adventure.
Answer:
You’re not crazy
If you want to do it, then do it
You must be quite discontent with your current job, so why not give it a try

Answer:
Are you crazy? Maybe, but if this is something you truly want to do then go for it.
Company or private school? If you can pay for school yourself then I feel that is the best route. That way you are not locked in to any contracts in case you find trucking or the company you hire on with is not for you.
Companies to stay away from? Prime (or any of the Prime companies) and CR England. Also do not let any company ever convince you a lease purchase program is a good deal. 99.9% of these programs are rip offs.
Answer:
You arent any crazier than I am, semi-retired Boat mechanic, 68 on the 10th, bored with sitting around, always wanted to drive truck, so I am off to community college in Drumright Ok. I have managed to get a grant for school, so most of the expense is covered, that way I am not locked into a 6 mos to a year contract. Job market is better in trucking than here in the Marine industry,
in Southern Oklahoma. See ya out there!
Wizard Too

Answer:
u r crazie. whi spend thad much 4 a horrybal job. lot betters choises out thare 4 karear changes's. dont waiste 2-5 grande on a nowhare job.
Answer:
wiz 2
Job market is better in trucking than here in the Marine industry,
in Southern Oklahoma. See ya out there!
know other minmum wage jobz ? come on, i dont beleve thad.
Answer:
You're frickin insane. But i'm thinking of making a jump too. So i help you---you help me.
What are the training requirments to be welder? Now i have done wire-feed welding before---minor repairs such as lawnmowers ect. But i really don't know anything about welding.
a) how long are the training courses?
b) Where can i get training?
In other words, how long will it take until i can get a good, if not top, paying job in welding?
Most importantly---the money. Spill it.
Now, about trucking:
1) First do want to go/ or think you want to go local or long-distance?
First of all, despite what many may say, you CAN get local soon after getting your licence.
Now, if you want to go/ or think you want to go long distance, i would suggest:
Going on like a two week vacation with your crew cab pickup. If you don't have one rent one or borrow one. And just go around the country at random for two weeks. Suggest rolling the dice as to which direction you go and assign a number for each major city.
Just do that for two weeks. You're sleeping in the back seat of the crew-cab pickup. And, at night only park at truckstops or rest areas.
Still like it?
2) Now as far as school vs. company training.
I went to a private driving school, then after getting my licence i went around and applied. I would recommend this route because of the flexibility---you're not trapped with one company for a year or two. What if the company sucks?
In the long-run, you will come out ahead or break even dollar-wise this way vs. the company training way.
If possible, look into community colleges around your area.
3) Companies to stay away from?
I can't comment too fully on this as i have never worked for a "mega-carrier" such as werner, swift, jb etc.
But i will say this: It's not so much the carrier as it might be the driver. In other words, be on time, don't beotch, and take every run assignment cheerfully. If the company sucks, give two weeks and look somewhere else.
MuCh MoRe LaTeR----mY mind is too jumbled right now.

Answer:
In reply to Chad: Local would be Ok, doesnt really matter.
I have spent up to 2 weeks in the back of my dually cube van on the road, I have a removable bunk behind the cab & a portapotty, have done the rest stop & truck stop routine. when I have had a trailer on the back I have parked W/ the big kids, still no problem, (42' length total) hauled a race car all over Wash st,B.C.Canada & Idaho also, lived in the truck then, nothing new to me. done the snow & ice trip as well.
Wizard Too

Answer:
Chad , sorry it took so long to reply having comp. trouble. 1st off there are so many types of welding jobs that 1 doesnt really prepare u for another. Schools can range from a few weeks to a couple of yrs. Money can also vary a lot from $8.00 to $50.00 hr. Awelder doing shop manufacturing can make 8 - 18 per hr.I have my own shop and i charge $50 hr, but that can be misleading cause if i made 50 hr. every hr i wouldnt be going broke.
My main product that i make is utility trailers and im competing against much larger operations in Tx. using illegal labor from across the border. So i cant win. I welded for larger operations in the Alanta area before coming home to louisiana. I made about $18.25 hr at my last employer , now i own the biz and i lose money. Not to mention the headaches when ur losing money , so its time to shut down and i thought if im gonna try something new now is the time. I have a cousin who does pilot car escort for wide loads and he may be making as much or more than some of the truckers. Average $900.00 the last few weeks. Ive done this also in the past and am thinking about giving it a try again. So ... to ask again are all drivers unhappy with thier jobs or does it just seem that way? Is it really all that bad ?

Answer:
Chad, also about the training for welding id suggest buying or borrowing an inexpensive welder , wire feed and just practice on ur own to polish up ur skills , when u can make a decent bead look for an entry level production job just welding up parts on a jig or a welders helper job and watch and learn everything ask why and how a lot. and hope some1 is willing to give u some answers and help. If u can get ur foot in the door somewhere u can learn on the job and move up. Gene

Answer:
Is it really all that bad ?
well, eber tried workin nite an daye for a lousy k a weak or lesst ? 24/7 budrow on the jobe. nothin you or any 1 has eber done. cant compair it to anythang else, dont eben tri. then sleap in a crapp box an do it ober and ober 50 weaks out of ebery yeer. pluss a hunderd a weak expences. speedin fines, oberweght fines, log booke fines. reel dangerus if u or sum othder screwball flocks up. short miles when u r payed. reel goode choice thare guy.
Answer:

It just seems that way. 99% of how much you like a job is the attitude you have. If you go around with a chip on your shoulder like this 'Bummersville' clown, then yeah, your life's gonna suck!
Make the best of each day and do your job to the best of your ability and be flexible.....able to adapt in an instant, and you should do just fine out here.
There's many days where I say to myself, "just WTF are you doing out here?", but there's even more days when I say to myself, "Ain't no better place to be! Sure beats punching a timeclock in a factory somewhere!"
Several things I have learned.....

1. CYA! First and foremost!
2. Get it in writing!
3. Present yourself to customers in a positive way.
4. Keep smiling, it makes dispatch, shippers & receivers nervous! They 'like to' pizz you off, DO NOT LET THEM!
5. Good, solid communication w/ the company is MANDATORY! If your dispatcher fails to get satisfactory results on a problem, go higher up the chain!

Answer:
Hoss, i think ur right. some ppl will always find a problem no matter what the situation. Maybe trucking draws more of those ppl, i dont know. But after the last 2 yrs of my life i need a change , i lost both of my parents, my biz, and almost lost my wife and kids in a wreck. Driving a truck sounds like gravy after all that. On another subject, whats the word on Schneider trucking ? good , bad, or so so ?
PS , A bad day at the lake is always better than a good day at work.