Question:
Graduated from truck driving school last week.
Thinking about taking a couple of weeks off to simplify things at home to make maintenance easier for the little time I'll have to do things here once I get OTR with company.
Also wanting to reseach a little more about variaous companies. Hate to put in application that is less than sincere.
Advice anyone?
I plan where I'm going
'Cause I know where I've been.

Answer:
A couple weeks, no problem. Maybe even up to a month without worry. Some companies will frown upon that amount of time so it also may be to long. After that companies really begin to wonder why your not working.
Also remember that you have to verify employment for 3 years and have your employment records for the last 10 years. They will need to know what you've been doing since school. The longer you stay unemployed the more difficult it becomes.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
School was 8 weeks long.
Stayed mostly there. Occasionally home on weekends, but seemed like every weekend there was fammily reunions, church homecomings, death in the family of a close friend, cooperative meeting/fair, school reunion, etc.
I realize now that it may be no different when I get a day or two at home after weeks on the road and will have to prioritize my time......But some organization at home would help also.
I plan where I'm going
'Cause I know where I've been.

Answer:
beyond that and your choice lesson as to who will hire you. After about 6 weeks things drop off dramitacally.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
4 weeks of school left and I've got apps coming in and going out.
I want to be cocked, locked and ready to rock within two weeks of finsihing school.

Answer:
Read some of your adventures a while back.
With Taxibobnomore----if I recall correctly.
BTW how is school coming along?
(Guess I could've been checking into things sooner than now but---was counting on recruiters coming in. No-one came by until the last two weeks )
And initially lacked some confidence that this was a definite go.....Had to line up support back home just to go to school and see if it would all work out...You know: temp route mail; Get rid of one dog and find someone to care for the other; Someone to cut the grass.....Those kind of things.
I plan where I'm going
'Cause I know where I've been.

Answer:
I am also getting applications in and out and I do not want to waste anytime after school is over to get things ready. Every weekend I'm doing things at home so when I go OTR everything will be done at home. I also have 4 weeks left and I can't wait!!! Every day I checked my emails and my regular mail for any correspondents from different company. I am going to take all of your advice and not lease from any company, but after 1 or 2 years I will be ready to get my first rig. I hope everything will work out.

Answer:
sube23_, I guess I might as well say it since someone is bound to and it needs to be said.
"was counting on recruiters coming in." That is probably one of the worst things you could possibly do. Wait for a commisioned recruiter to tell you what a company is all about. Your simply setting yourself up to fail from the start. The first thing you'll be saying after you start road training is, "trucking isn't what I thought it would be". And it won't be because all you'll know about it is the BS a recruiter told you and the images of beautiful people in nice clothes standing with their family in the adds you've read. That isn't trucking.
You do need some time to get it together. Unfortunatly you've already wasted alot of it. I have seen people come here after a year of searching the industry including reading post here and other places. Only to realize it still wasn't what they thought. But they had a better idea than someone that did little research.
You'll be alright if it's what you want to do. If you make it a priority around your school schedule to study and read up on every company that hires in your area. Ask questions, go to truck stops and get some answers. The more informed you are the better able you will be to make a better decision.
Not meaning to get down on you but it's the truth. You need to be fully aware of what your getting into. Not listening to some recruiters line of bull.
Oh well, had to say it.
Great Stuff
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Excellent advice Stuff. I've done all the above especially speaking with drivers who also advise me don't believe everything in the magazines. I'm currently in school and ask the instructors lots of questions. However they can't tell me the bad things about the companies without the risk of losing their jobs.

Answer:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Stuffs:
sube23_, I guess I might as well say it since someone is bound to and it needs to be said.
_"was counting on recruiters coming in."_ That is probably one of the worst things you could possibly do. Wait for a commisioned recruiter to tell you what a company is all about.........
----------------------------------------------
The truth is not every company is banging on the doors of folks in Florida. And a few nearby insist that the truck stays in their yard
But the recruiters who will visit the school probably have greater confidence in the quality of training taught there than those who don't give a no never mind to come by.
________________________________________________
You do need some time to get it together. Unfortunatly you've already wasted alot of it..............
_______________________________________________
Granted, I could have prioritized my weekends better (when I was home) but I have visited truck stops, used the internet at library 'til closing, made some phone calls, gotten some applications, and read the freebie truckie bookies and so much can really be BS. When I make the move, I want some order in what I leave behind that my attention and focus can stay where it should be, i.e. delivering the load safely and on time,
____________________________________________
Yeah, like you said:
"You'll be alright if it's what you want to do."
I hope so.
BTW not all companies publish on the internet their pay achedule and benefits, and some, if you call, will send you information which turns out to be an application with no other information...And one company will stick you in a 90'ish cabover for 6 months, to see if you make it before upgrading to a late model
__________________________________________
Ask questions, go to truck stops and get some answers. .............. Not listening to some recruiters line of bull.
Oh well, had to say it.
_____________________________________________
You said it! Honestly and fairly....It takes time........I'm taking two weeks........From what I've heard from local "newbie" drivers, some here haven't seen home more often than one weekend every 6 weeks or so........for more than half a year
I plan where I'm going
'Cause I know where I've been.

Answer:
e-mail me
cessna150fs@yahoo.com
I'll give you what info I have so far. You are right about Florida. However you being up on the panhandle, and right off I10 should have it better than us down here.