Question:
I'm new and looking forward to the possibility of driving truck. My dad used to drive truck and took me a long from time to time, I always thought it was pretty cool. I'm 24 and am thinking about getting a CDL but first I have some questions.
Okay some of these may or may not be dumb questions please bare with me.
1. Are there any training courses to help you get your CDL that don't cost anything? I currently found a course but they cost $150. And, how can I find such courses if they exist ( I live in Johnstown, PA)?
2.And, this is the most important concern of all for me. I'm currently going to school online with ecpi to study Networking and Security Mananagment. I'm not looking to trucking as permanant career, but as something to make me a lot of money to pay for college and add to my savings until I get out of school. Also as something I can fall back on if I get tired of the same thing day in and out My concern is that I do all of my school work online so I would need a wireless laptop BUT
HOW many trucks stops have a wifi hot spot?!
I know nothing about the terrain out there and am hoping you guys can help fill me in on this most important question.
3. I don't need a lot of time to do my school work so that isn't an issue. I just need like 5-10 hours a week scattered throughout the week when I'll be able to access the net, is this possible?
4. Are there any truckers out there with a similiar want or need when it comes to wifi internet access and what do they do?
I will probably have more questions later but this is good for now.
please help guys, thanks.
Nick

Answer:
1. You will need more than a CDL, you will need training from a school or company to get a job. There are a lot of companies that provide CDL training and then you become a driver for them, normally for 1 year to cover training.
2. You can get online at a lot of the truckstops but you have to pay for the WiFi service, normally around $25.00 a month. Another option would be a wireless card from one of the cell phone providers around $60.00 a month but works just about everywhere.
As for not driving as a perminent carreer, you would probably be better off finding something else. for one thing making a lot of money, especially in the first year or two isn't going to happen. Driving is more of a lifestyle then a carreer. You will invest a lot of time in training and a lot more time in doing the job.
As for the 5 to 10 hours a week to study, you could find the time but being rested enough to study is another question. Then there is the issue of if you spend the time studying will you be rested enough to drive the next morning.

Answer:

Very good points and thank you.
As for the not being a permanent career and it being a life style. There really aren't many jobs that suit my personality, I'm a very intrapersonal person, (a loner who gets his inspiration and strength from silent reflection and alone time. I figure I'll have a lot of time to think on the road), with no family (all dead, living far far away, or just incommunicado), I traveled none stop growing up and so I hate sitting in one place all the time (being on the road is refreshing for me), I have another 3-4 years till I land my bachelors degree and most computer Networking jobs wont take someone with an associates so what will I do until I get that bachelors as I have no other qualifications (maybe the brightest kid you'll meet but without degrees and certifications no one is interested), did I mention I live for travel, trucking would not be permanent but neither would computers both are just stepping stones till I can open my own business/ alt school , my school would be very travel centered (don't ask it is hard to explain) and so you see even my final goal is travel oriented.
Sorry for the run-ons, bad grammar and spelling, lol.
Being that I love travel not making a lot of money isn't a big deal so long as I make about as much as I'm making now, about $6.30 an hour and getting enough time working to make enough to pay bills, and eat. At least then I'll be doing something closer to what I want to be doing eventually anyway, as I can't find any jobs I qualify or could qualify for that let me travel for a living.
You point about the wifi stuff was right on the nose and I actually thought about that after I had posted already. So that solves that part!
As for the training I don't fully understand what type of deal these people do, but they do say they get you into working right after your done training. She also said most don't hold back the first weeks pay, is this true in your experience? As after training I will have bills to pay as I won’t be being paid for training. Are there any deals were you don't have to pay for training and or they pay you for training?
As for the number of hours studying thing, this is a very good question, how many hours of free time do you typically have a week that you don't have to be sleeping, or bathing during? I can eat and study at the same time and even get dressed and study but can't take a laptop into the shower of course, lol. Tried studying while I'm asleep but that doesn't work well,

Answer:
Why does this smell like a setup? Most newbies don't sound like cypherhauling most always say they are prepared for trucking or know what they are getting into and don't want to hear from the naysayers. Guys with less than 10 posts with no background are posting and responding.
Answer:
Sounds like you need to join the Navy and see the world.. get training , travel, and money for school not truck driving! hehe:)
Or pick another branch....
Answer:
I know nothing about trucking because this is were I have started my research. Most people in general don't sound like me so I'm not suprised that a forum that is out of my normal area of interest is a place where I would sound out of place, lol. Normally I frequent philosophy forums hence the "cypher" in my name. This is truly a new endevor for me.
As for the Navy I'm considering it. Though I really don't want to deal with the war we are going though right now. I'm all for our soldiers out there, esp. since they are doing what I wont do, guess someone has to do it. Me though I'm not a war person. As for truck driving it is one of many options I am exploring right now and would greatly appreciate as much honest feed back as I can get, both from the positive side and the negative. I'm neutral right now, I just want to know as much as I can before I decide on something.
I have noticed there is some sort of battle going on in this place between the people who think trucking is great and those who think it sucks. I don't care about the battle and I just want the truth whatever it is. StagnantVirus said: Why does this smell like a setup? Like I just said I don't care about all this setup crap! I just want information. And, I really don't care if I don't sound like most Newbies, I'll take that as a compliment.
Now can someone else be kind enough to provide some guidence?

Answer:
How do you make the most money with truck driving? Not just talking about OTR but all truck driving.
Also any advice for someone who doesn't yet have there CDL and doesn't want to be screwed in any way by his future employer?
Last one for now, anyone out there who has done school work online while driving truck, and can you give me advice on how to balance the two?

Answer:
I would not suggest trying to do school and drive in your first year. After that, you would have to get an air card from one of the cell providers. I use a Sprint air card and can get online almost anywhere. Without one, if you have to email or post an assignment, and you're not near a truck stop that has wi-fi, it becomes problematic. With my classes, I have to be able to get online at any moment.
And the company I work for does mostly long-distance runs so I can plan my stops and rest times in order to study. I couldn't have done this in my first two years of trucking.
I sent you a PM addressing some of your other questions.

Answer:
For my classes I can get on any time I want. My classes are 100% online and my only obligations are to send an attendance e-mail twice a week and have all my school work into my teachers by the end of Sunday at Midnight. Still all this stuff I'm reading on here is pretty discouraging. I have no experience with this kind of thing, and it would be a major change of my routine so perhaps it would mess up my school work. I'm tempted to just take a chance and see what happens. If I pass the test then I only have to pay the $150. Then I start work as I understand it. Take my laptop and see if it works, if not I just quit and go back to the old pizza place job.
I don't know, I have to do some thinking. Anyone else have any advice?

Answer:

There is NO money in truck driving!!!! OTR or Local or Regional. If you are serious about the CDL, you might check a trucking driving school in your area. Balancing truck driving and school will be hard. Trucking companies require you to work 10 or more hours per day. So schooling will take another 3 to 4 hrs. Will you have enough time to sleep? Nope. What about a social life? What a about family life? Not trying to be a hater, you must take those issues into consideration.Ivey EnviroTech Services
Start Up date: 3/1/06

Answer:
I drove OTR for 18 months. I went to a vocational college for 12 weeks to get my training to test for my CDL. I was hired by Interstate Dist Co. and did a week local and 3 weeks OTR in training. I decided to team with another guy from Albuquerque and did that for 7 months. I then decided to go solo for the ramaining 11 months.
The only debt I had was a nominal car payment and my cell phone every month. In 18 months I was able to save around $28,000. I got off the road and put 20K down on a house, paid 3K for a 65 Beetle, and stashed the rest while I went back to school.
I agree that the money isn't the greatest in driving but money can be made and it can be saved. I had a fridge and a microwave in the truck keeping on the road expenses down. I stayed out 4-6 weeks at a time and ran my A$$ off. I never turned down a load and was never late on a single appointment time. I ran a little over 19,000 miles in my last 39 days on the job. (I am not telling you to run like this.) I ran hard while I was out and they never had a problem with me taking 7-10 days off at home. It was hard being gone all the time, but mostly I enjoyed the road being young, single and adventerous. I traveled 45 states. I don't regret my time on the road but I wouldn't want to do it in my current situation. I have a new wife and a 2 week old baby. If you are single...hey have a ball! I have many great memories of my travels in a big truck.
I still drive part time...probably 2,000 miles in 2006. I won't thing about going back over the road full time unitl I retire form my current career as a firefighter in 20 years.

Answer:
[quote="Q in Sac"]
No, need to worry about being a hater, the truth is what matters it isn't like not driving truck is goign to break my heart or something, come on really, lol.
I wasn't asking about a lot of money. Obviously you get paid something even if it is just the equivalent of minimum wage. And, all jobs have ways to make advancements even if it is just the equivalent of a couple of extra bucks an hour. My question was how to make the most money possible, even if that is just a couple of extra bucks an hour. Also, I already found out how to get the CDL that wasn't even a question, did you read my previous posts?
As for the social life again read my previous posts. It may seem strange to you as it does most people but I have no need or want for an extensive social life. I don't even have on now. I have one face to face friend all the others are online. I have no concerns about lossing that friend I hardly hang out with him anyway. No interest in family god families suck ( no offense to those who have a family it just isn't for me).
You've only covered issue that had already been brought up previously and covered quite well. Thank you none the less for your attempt at helping.

Answer:

You see this is something no matter what job you work most people just can't save money for crap. Saving money that is something I can do really well. Even with normal expenses, only a part time minimum wage job I've managed to save a (edited) load last year. I just don't spend anything ever except what I absolutely need to survive. Driving truck perhaps I could save much more. So this makes trucking sound like something that might be fun to do for a year after I finish getting my Associates degree. A break between my Associates and my Bachlors would be nice. Still maybe I could do it now... Still not sure on this issue it might work it might not, but school is my priority so I probably wont chance it....
much to think about.

Answer:
Have any of you heard of this? What do you think?
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_89342.asp

Answer:

There are CDL training programs offered and run by truck companies, that often wil allow you to enroll for little or no money up front, but then you are contractually bound to stay with that company after training for a period of time (often a year) while they deduct payments from your earnings until their costs are recouped. The biggest disadvantage of that is if you decide you don't like the company or the businmess, you have to stick it out for the duration fo the contract or pay in full the remianing money owed when you quit.

Most truckstops have internet access of some sort. Be prepared to pay for it.

Maybe. Depends on who you drive for and what you haul. Some operations work a driver 15 hours a day or more. Then you have to sleep so that you aren't a road hazard. What is left for study time? Nothing. other companies will allow plenty of time to study, but then you probably won't be making much money.

You run your (edited) off. More miles = more money. Time you take for eating, studying, bathing or sleeping doesn't pay, so minimize those times. That is how you make halfway decent money.

Sometimes your pay will amount to less than minimum wage. How do you like that?