Question:
I'm wanting to get into trucking... with that being said, I'm not blindly going into this - I've read a lot here, have a small transport company (1 ton dually) that I do boat, car, HHG transports, etc. and have spent a LOT of time on the road talking to drivers and learning what I might be getting myself into.
I currently have a very good paying job that allows me a lot of freedom - I work at home full time, and can work from anywhere, all I need is high-speed Internet access. I am in no way considering giving up this job.
What I'm trying to accomplish is the following:
- Find a company willing to take on new drivers.
- Ideally, they would pay for my school (I live 80 miles from Isothermal, which I really want to go to - they have an excellent reputation).
- Basically work part-time: Stay at a Flying J or someplace else with broadband Internet access during the day. Drive 300 miles or so in the evenings, I could work some weekends. Ideally I would work 7 days straight, then have 7 off - work every other week. They would have to be flexible enough to allow me to take an entire week off (with 1-2 months notice) even if scheduled to work. I have oncall responsibilities.
- The company would also have to have VERY liberal pet policies. I would have two dogs with me at all times. I would ocassionally have a passenger as well, and really hate the idea of asking "permission" to have a passenger.
- The truck would need to be a Volvo 760/770 or 880 with the premium sleeper, Western Star with the Stratosphere 82" sleeper, or some other truck with a sleeper configuration where there is a real table and seat.. I'm on a computer 8-10 hours a day and a pull-out drawer with a board on it is not acceptable.
- I'm not willing to buy a truck and lease on right away to get the aforementioned sleeper. Maybe after a year, but not initially. I need to live the lifestyle for a while to make sure this is something I'm willing to do long-term before making that kind of commitment.
Benefits aren't important - I have those. Pay is. I'm not doing this for my health, but to see a little of the countryside and possibly get a little ahead financially. (comments about being better off flipping burgers not needed, I've read them all)
Does this job/company exist? If so, who, where, how, and what's their number?
If it makes any difference, I'm near Statesville, NC. - about 40 miles north of Charlotte.
Thanks in advance!
Rusty

Answer:

This is fantasy island, where anything can, and will exist.....
Even a 71 Hemi Cuda convertable....if you think and concentrate hard enough...
Just in case you're serious with your question, then I have to say NO!LIARS SUKK

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I'm completely serious. To the point that IF I had nothing but a house payment, I would buy my own truck.
Hemi 'cudas are nice, but I'll take my hemi in a '68 Charger.

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Add delusional and comedic to your list.
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Prime, Inc. and C.R. England have been doing this for a number of guys for years. I read a big article about it in a popular trucking magazine along with spoke to these drivers. They seem very happy and the companies are very supportive since they have so many other drivers to pick up the slack. Give them a call. It should work out fine.

Answer:
"- Ideally, they would pay for my school (I live 80 miles from Isothermal, which I really want to go to - they have an excellent reputation).
Dream on. No "schooling company" "pays" for any schooling. They require at least a year of commitment if they provide you with any training and if you breech that contract, you owe them some sizable cash.
- Basically work part-time: Stay at a Flying J or someplace else with broadband Internet access during the day. Drive 300 miles or so in the evenings, I could work some weekends. Ideally I would work 7 days straight, then have 7 off - work every other week. They would have to be flexible enough to allow me to take an entire week off (with 1-2 months notice) even if scheduled to work. I have oncall responsibilities.
Sure, and while they're at it, they can roll out the red carpet for you at all their terminals and give you free massages from the hooters girls.
"- The company would also have to have VERY liberal pet policies. I would have two dogs with me at all times."
No dice. Some (and I mean SOME) companies may allow one modestly sized dog. No more (if even one).
I would ocassionally have a passenger as well, and really hate the idea of asking "permission" to have a passenger.
Ain't that a blip? You actually have to ask the owner of the truck (the company) if you can have a passenger?
- The truck would need to be a Volvo 760/770 or 880 with the premium sleeper, Western Star with the Stratosphere 82" sleeper, or some other truck with a sleeper configuration where there is a real table and seat.. I'm on a computer 8-10 hours a day and a pull-out drawer with a board on it is not acceptable.
Boy that's rich. He's telling the company what is and isn't "acceptable" for THEIR trucks.
- I'm not willing to buy a truck and lease on right away to get the aforementioned sleeper. Maybe after a year, but not initially. I need to live the lifestyle for a while to make sure this is something I'm willing to do long-term before making that kind of commitment."
It's not. So save yourself any further research. With your candy-assed approach to trucking, you won't last more than a month.
"Benefits aren't important - I have those. Pay is. I'm not doing this for my health, but to see a little of the countryside and possibly get a little ahead financially. (comments about being better off flipping burgers not needed, I've read them all)"
Though there are rare exceptions, the most you can typically hope to make as a newbie company driver is between 400 to 600 per week. And that's only if your damned lucky. Let me guess.... that's not enough for you is it?
"Does this job/company exist? If so, who, where, how, and what's their number?"
Sure! Just dial 1-800-4-STUPID
Oh and the other poster who said Prime would fill your needs....give it a try.
-Truck-O-Matic

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He forgot to add the $1200 a week paycheck .
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No, thank YOU; I quite enjoyed your fantasy. Thanks for sharing.

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Wow, I expected a few jabs because of this, but slinging insults... calling me candy-assed because I am honest about my requirements for getting into this business, that's messed up. This was an honest question and I was hoping for (to say "expected" would be a bit much) some straight answers.
I guess working 10-12 hours a day and wanting to work 5-6 hours in the evening *IS* pretty candy-assed of me. How dare I (somebody that routinely drives 3000 miles a week while holding down my primary job) expect to be able to drive 2500 miles every other week. What was I thinking?
I now understand why so many others have left this board, and I'm inclined to do the same.
To those of you that tried to give straight, honest answers... thank you.

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Well at least you have some requirements however unreasonable they may be. Most new wannabe's just throw out a bunch of applications at the advice of some drivers and see who bites.
If I were you I would stick to my requirements and if no company takes you then just don't become a truck driver.

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That's pretty much the plan. Kind of hoping a few recruiters see this and have some input. I can pay for school myself , but hey.. one can hope.
If nobody bites, no answers are found, all I've wasted is a few hours asking questions.. and have met some damn fine drivers along the way. I'll still have my primary job and my transport business, I'll just have to cut back on a few things, buy a travel trailer/fifth wheel and start taking more vacations.

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My,my an unhappy Island visiter. Sorry no 'comps' or refunds issued.

Those were all straight and honest answers.
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Reading postings from Hoss, it sounds like he too is looking for a job that'll allow him to be on the computer for 15 hours a day with little work time.

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The major problems with your requirements:
1) Companies want their trucks moving as much as possible, since a truck is a depreciating asset and they often have thousands of them. 300 miles per day on average (365 days per year) is the very low end of what they might accept. 2100 miles every other week (7 off, 7 on) is something they would not accept.
2) 300 miles per day may not get the freight delivered on time. This is something else that is not acceptable.
3) Carrying a passenger is regulated by federal law. You may find a carrier that will let you break federal law by carrying a passenger any time you wish without written permission. Such a carrier will probably break other laws (like paying you the full amount due in a timely manner, for example).

4) Companies that will give you a snazzy truck routinely pay less money that the companies that give you a cheap truck... about 30% less. And at an average of about 4500 miles per month, none of them will give you any kind of truck.
Sounds like your hotshot operation is working well for you... I'd stick with it. A Class 8 operation, with someone else's truck, is not going to come anywhere close to giving you the flexibility that you have now. Even buying your own tractor, your plan does not include enough miles to make it profitable in most cases after you factor in fixed costs like insurance, permits, plates, use tax, as well as depreciation and return on invested capital.