Question:
WELL,I'VE DECIDED TO BECOME A PROFFESSIONAL ROAD WARRIOR...CHECKED OUT A FEW SCHOOLS IN MY AREA AND HAVE CHOSEN MID-FLORIDA TECH (STARTING DEC 2) 8 WEEKS ,GOOD FACILITIES,GOOD PLACEMENT RECORD,LOTS OF IN CAB TIME...85% OF THE TIME.....
DRIVE A NON CDL STRAIGHT TRUCK ABOUT 1000 TO 2000 MILES A WEEK NOW IN FOR MY FAILING ANTIQUE BUISNESS..SOMETIMES MORE (MUCH)..SO I DECIDED TO GET PAID FOR IT....
I'VE GOTTEN SOME GREAT INFO FROM READING THE BOARDS HERE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS....LIKE: DONT GO NEAR CR ENGLAND....
NEED SOME MORE HELP ..WHAT I NEED TO ASK THESE RECRUITERS I'LL BE RUNNING INTO FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.....
P.S LIVE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA...WOULDNT MIND FLATBEDS

Answer:
Questions to ask
Little tip, find a company that fits your needs to a "T". Also, don't go for the frist company you speak to. If you have to call 30 different companies, so be it and many smaller carriers are alot better at meeting needs of drivers than the larger companies. Larger isn't really better.
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

Answer:
The kink provided you will give you lots of possible questions to ask a recruiter. Since everyone has things that are important to them feel free to puick through those questions and toss out any that you could care less about.
One final thing. In internet ettiquette it is considered yelling, and rude to use all capital letters, not to mention it makes your posts hard to read.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Sorry about the capitals...didnt realize....,
As for personal needs...I have none....I'm a gypsy now...allways was...I have a place in upstate New York and a little place in Central Florida....dont see one or the other for six months....I'm usually sleeping in my truck at some antique show in the middle of nowhere now...pay my bills over the internet....eat on the run.....I do get home a couple times a month to see what plants I've killed...
maybe some advise as what warning signs or catch frases to listen for from recruiters..thanks

Answer:
Don't know if there are standard phrases to watch for coming from recruiters. Just bear in mind that most of them will lie to you in a heartbeat. Never sign up with anyone without thouroughly checking out what they tell you.
I am an o/o and am quite satisfied with the deal I have. Some of these recruiter types have tried to convince me to sign on with their outfits. They always go away when I ask "who furnishes the vaseline?".
Daytripper
Sometimes you have to dig through a lot horsesh#t to find the pony.

Answer:
Originally posted by BIGMIKE44:
maybe some advise as what warning signs or catch frases to listen for from recruiters..thanks
When they say something like........."Yeah, We can do that for you"......They most likey won't.
The easy way to tell if a recruiter is lying to you is.....if his lips are moving.
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"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
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"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
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Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
Before you plunk down your $$$ make sure the "advertised" drive time you will get is actually you behind the wheel yankin the horn and playing with all the knobs.
About mid way throughstart sending out your apps. Central Fla is better than South Fla, so you'll get a lot more hits than I got. Living close to Lakeland is a big plus....
Take a look at FFE,Werner,and Willis Shaw. Taxibob drives for Shaw and loves it. Werner and FFE both have yards in Lakeland...might be worth a trip one weekend for you!

Answer:
2 more questions to ask the recruiter:
1. Are you telling the truth?
2. Would you put that in writing?

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Ignore recruiters. The vast majority of them haven't the slightest clue about how the company is run, how they treat drivers, how many miles you'll get, or anything else you care to think up as a question. They are worthless to you for finding out facts. Just take the silly and equally useless brochures from them and walk away till you decide which companies you are going to allow to buttrape you and go from there.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
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This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
TIP #1
Regard everything a recruiter tells you as a LIE! If you want accurate info, talk to drivers. But! Remember, there are some drivers out there who would work for nothing because they love trucks.No joke, I have seen some. Ask several drivers from each company and then form an opinion.
TIP#2
Remember this when talking to drivers about the company. They can get $200+ for talking you into going with there company. some don't give a dam about you, but they will sweet talk about the company, and try to get your name, etc to put on a referal and collect the bonus.

Answer:
Try this like I did for FFE. See if you can find a recuiter that was once a driver for the company. It's hard to find these recuiters but, they are out there. They will be "somewhat" honest with you. Just Becareful and choose wisely. Oh and if the recuiter for the company doesn't seem interested im talking with you or put you on hold for asking alot of questions for a long time and then end up hanging up with you, you dont need that company. I feel this way if they dont want you then you dont need or want them. This has happened to me with Werner, Prime, Central Refigerated Services and Schneider. Which all of the above are jokes Although Reohl (very good company), Arrow, FFE, American Eagle lines and Cressler Trucking stayed on the phone with me for as long as they needed or I wanted to. Old Drivers for companys turned recuiters like Bill from Reohl, Kent From Arrow, and Bobby from FFE are some of the best and nicest recuiters you will ever talk to in a first time call and for your interveiw. Interveiws also go easier when you are relaxed . I had a very hard time getting off the phone with those guys and did spend more than a hour on the phone with each of them. I did conferm with drivers of what they said too....
Just remenber your going into this blind. All you can do is have a very detailed plan to make it through
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

Answer:
Well,I guess talking with a recruiter is pretty much like speaking with a USED CAR SALESMAN...sign you up...get you in the seat..watch for the tail lights to get out of sight and run like you know what..before you figure out what happened to you.....
But I am supprised that my future-fellow commerades on 18 wheels would lead a newbie astray... ....

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But I am supprised that my future-fellow commerades on 18 wheels would lead a newbie astray... ....
Are you serious?
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
__________________________
This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
#1 Home time. DON'T tell these people you have no family or you don't care about getting home. Why you ask? Because then when and if you get hired, this info is related to your driver manager who will have you laying over in truckstops spending more money than you need to. Even if you don't have family etc., get into the routine of getting by the house and living a life away from the truck.
#2 MONEY How much pay/mile? How many miles per week? Pay periods--weekly?monthly? When they feel like it?
#3 Equipment-- What makes/types do they run? Would you be comfortable in them? Don't worry how fast they go--you're a newbie speed means nothing at this point. Also ask about tuition reimbursement--hey it can't hurt!
#4 Take this advice--unless you're a glutton for punishment or a fitness freak, STAY AWAY FROM REEFERS/FLATS!!
I drive for Roehl. I pull curtainsides around the 48 states. IMHO it's the best way to go for me. With flats/curtainsides, you're usually hauling building materials and equipment. A whole different world from reefer/van biz. They usually load/unload pretty fast, and a whole lot nicer people as a rule. Try and stay away from grocery hauling. That is unless you LIKE sitting around warehouses and being treated like a 4th class citizen.
BOL to ya. Regards/RAZZ
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
Now, thats good info!....I will say I have a life somewhere...Thanks.......
As for the flats...I thought maybe there would be better money in it down the road....
Just projecting a bit,but would like to look at Owner Operator in a few years