Question:
Hey everyone, I am debating going over the road but I have a question, I have had my CDL's for a few years and have drove local , (hauling coal, Equipment ,etc) so what companies will accept me ? I didnt go to school to obtain a cdl so I dont know if any will consider me. Next question , to say if I found a company that would train me , how much do pay in the training process ? How much do you guys average on weekly net pay? I am still trying to decide if it would be worth it for me. Thanks

Answer:
Training OTR with a trainer from 300-400 per week and first year average about 30K from start of school. Some make even less.
How much do you make now would determine if it's worth it or not. The last survey showed the average OTR driver pay including O/O's was appx 40K. So you can decide if it's worth being gone from 2-4 or more weeks at a time.
OTR is quickly becoming a job for those who can't find any other type of work where they are living. So another good choice is to move where the work you are accustomed to doing pays more. Either way you won't see the home you have now very often.

Answer:
yeah i understand the part of being gone from home,they pay may be alittle more than i am making now, so thats cool. Next question is which companies may consider me?

Answer:
Here's the whole truth on what companies will hire you. Either hundreds or none. No one here knows your work record, driving record, criminal history or anything else. We don't need to know the nitty gritty and it's usually best to not give it. There have been 100's of post asking what is the best company and there has been 100's of answer with about every large and many small companies suggested. But the truth is no one has any idea what the best company for you is except you.
I would suggest deciding for yourself what type of trucking you want to do. Do you want Dry Vans, Reefers, Drop Decks, Flat bed, Live Chickens, Dead Chickens, Lumber, Logs, Food Grade Tankers, Chemical Tankers, Cryogenic tanks and many more. Once you decide exactly what you want to haul or would like to be hauling in a couple years go to your closest truck stop and look at the trucks that stop there. Get the names off the doors and give them a call. Who knows if they will hire you or even require training until you ask them. You may or may not need training.
Another way to see what companies may require is to put in an online app to many companies. I wouldn't suggest going with any of them just because they give you an approval letter. But you can use it to gauge what you may or may not need and then look them over to decide where you would actually feel best about going to work. Also calling them would be helpful.
Try this it would be a good start.
https://www.truck.net/jobs/driver/
BOL

Answer:
wow, not much left for me to say....thanx, Stuffs.

Answer:
First off all it's CDL, not "CDL's."
2) The school thing, if you're serious about trucking, doesn't mean squat.
a)my company will hire you.
1) you would be in a hotel each night instead of some vibrating, noisy, stuffy fiberglass box. Which would you rather have?
b)paying for training when you already have a CDL would be pure and utter stupidty.
3) I'd stay local (much more on this later)
I'm having problems with some of the computers i use in regards to the scanner system and thus i can't post my latest checkstubs and W-2's,
But if you must know, check out my thread entitled "How much did you make last week." To know how much i/we net per week. (and these checks are below average of what i normally make too)
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=56017&...ht=make+last+week
For some reason, the folks here are real shy about letting you know how much they net per week. They're doing themselves a great diservice.

Answer:
I just read your post and you will most likely have to go to a Truck
driving school. For insurance reasons you'll need to before a Truck
Company will hire you.

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How do you know he doesn't carry more than one?

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And if you go back through last weeks posts, you will find this is not the case. ATT requires at least one years driving experience, (and apparently a vivid imagination)!

Answer:
One more thought:
It's common for many to change their mind about what kind of trucking they want to do, after they have some hands-on experience. This change of heart may not be because of poor planning or research -- just that your best laid plans are limited by lack of experience. What you believe to be pros and cons of certain types of trucking work may change as you see what they really are by doing them. We're all individuals with unique situations, and as posted above, it really dependas on what works best for you.
By all means -- research and choose a goal. But...keep your options open when you can, particularly when choosing schooling or any contractural arrangement that may limit your opportunities your first year or two. Hard to explain all the situations this may involve, but you'll recognize them when faced with them.
Keep your mind and options open as much as possible. The specific type of trucking you decide is perfect for you right now, may not be what you really want once you get there and experience the reality. And that's normal. Make sure you're not trapped by a contract or schooling that's limited to a specific employer if possible, so you can navigate a "fine-tuning" transition to another type of hauling if you so choose later on.

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Now that's funny!!!!
Answer:

Your expenses will also be more, evening out the score.