Profile For Kevin

I seen several posts in the past regarding having trouble getting into school for various reason.... Well I was one of those.

Well I found a alternative to OTR driving in a big rig. I'm now driving a cargo expedited delivery van. It a NON CDL, OTR postion covering all 48 states. NO Force loads. NY, NY is a NO for me. Right now I sitting in LAredo TX. waiting for a load out. 1600 miles from home. While I'm not in a big rig I still living the lifestyle. I haven't seen home (NC) in over a week and not planning on heading back until ??? (still to be determine.)

There are advantages and disadvantages that come along with this type of driving position. Most are 1099 positions (DO YOUR RESEACH on the COMPANY) There are companies that will not pay you or pay you to little. Most Companies will not pay dead head miles... After delivery you may have to dead head to get closer to a better location. I always remind my dispatch to watch the area of my delivery destination so we know which way i need to head once empty. Some pay by the mile while others are paid a percentage of the load "PROFIT" 30% and up However I can get paid 2-4 times a week. You not held back by HOS rules... you can drive as long as you can stand it... That can also be a danger if you push yourself to far. Wait time or layover times can be vary long ... days at a time...epescially on weekend and holidays. However if there someplace within about 100 miles i want to see...... I dont call a taxi.... That also varies.

My van... A F350... does nor have a bunk... so a couple of sleeping bags and a mat acts as a make shift bed. Sometimes there not room if you loaded front to back... if you get lucky you might be able to sleep on top of your load. Use your own judgement. remember you are responsible for delivering that load in good undamage condition. There not much room for extras... like TV refrig and so on... After a few short trips to see if I was going to like it I insisted that a inverter be install. atlease I could use my laptop as entertainment and business.... I also brought along a small all in one printer... No long waits at a truck stop to use the fax machine to send the BOL in.... I scan it and email as soon as i get unloaded follow by a confirmation call.

Do I like it.... well it not the big rig job I wanted but this will look good in my resume if I decide later to get my cdl's I living the lifestyle and seeing alot of wonderful sites..... a 20 mile bridge over LA swamp land in I 10... Crossing the Mississippi river... seeing the Amish horse and buggies up KY... things I wouldnt been able to see if i decided not to do this... Yea I loving it....

BTW... You are still a OTR driver so be sure to get you a reward card and wheep the benifits....

Thanks For the info

Kevin,

I am very happy with Roehl. I have a training log in the diaries forum on here. It is titled Roehl driver training from start to end...

Check it out. It is the experiences I have had so far. They may be different from other peoples. It has been very positive so far. I am going to keep posting in that thread while in phase 2 and 3 of training.

How has your experience with Roehl been so far?

As far as what to take with you.... I think I would ask the trainer that you going be with for the next several weeks...

The under the table stuff may be hardest to prove. The employers may not want to openly admit he worked me without taking taxes out or 1099 me at the end of the tax year. I know of at least one that will not take the time to get it any letter notarized. The 1099 work I have done is two large companies that have contractors, like myself, throughout the US and Canada, no one really know anyone personally, they will only be able to verified that i was a 1099 contractor between dates.

Sound like I really need to start calling some recruiters and see how what there policies are and what is acceptable forms of verications of employment.

TYhanks for the input guys!

For the last several years I have been unemployed more than employ. I have had some jobs that I knew would be a FT short term project through temporary agencies. Some I may not remember. At other times I have been employed under the table. My question is should the “under the table jobs” be included while filling out applications? I also run a small IT service provider company where I pick up work online and am 1099 at the end of the year and have been doing this since 2010.

You right it comes down to "ethics" not just work ethics. There are complainers in all lines of work. Regardless of what you do, they will never be satisfied, they have better ways of doing it. They want the best equipment... Coming from a construction background, work dont scared me, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty of that what it takes. I was foreman for years but felt more like a babysitter of adult crybabies. I dont want that title again. I have tried different lines of work and even have my own small IT business, dealing with all types of people. I hate being stuck inside some small room, monitoring some download to a small server, that takes hours to complete or sitting there waiting to press F1 for what ever reason. I like my fresh air the sun the heat the cold..... seeing that deer out in the field. I miss being outside, but dont want to go back into the construction business again. On them colder days a little heat feel pretty dang good on these old bones. There so much of the lower 48 I havent seen.

I was often put on jobsites where the GM was hard to deal with or the city. county state inspector was a real ___! Because I would go that extra mile it took to get the job done and done right. I can get alone with most people. I dont expect to start with any company and get the best equipment or the newest. However I do like my efforts to be reconized and understand better equipment come with a proven work history. So it comes down to finding a company that I can deal with for a while get my foot in the door show them I can do the job. Being older, I look at more than just the fancy website.... What benifits do they offer? what is the pay scale like? Is there room to grow if I decide I want to do more than what i was hired to do? You get the idea. There a couple of companies I'm definitely looking real hard at right now.... Will be talking to bothe next week......

Once again Brett, you have hit on points that make us think. That extra set of eyes hands ears will always be a benifit. You are bringing up subjects that some of us havent thought about. Trucking is and always will be a lonely job/lifestyle. that some may not be able to deal with. You have to be able to adapt. By no means am i going into this with my eyes wide shut. While I have only been a member of TT for a short period, I have been doing research for quite a while now and really hard in the last several months. Am I ready for the drastic change in lifestyle? I think with the right company, i will be fine whether it solo or team driving.

Hey Brett,

Thanks for the input. I have read pass the first page of the companies and actually a few from the company sponsor training section has made it to my top list... Knight and prime are getting consider hard. Just need to speak to a recruiter from both. and they are some others...

You also gave me a new insight of driving team..... even if the team member was a rookie, it would be a extra set of eyes for backing into that extra tight dock.

Hopefull, in the next few weeks I can find a company and be accepted into their program and get started.....

I've been wondering a lot lately why so many companies are all gung-go to put 2 people fresh out of cdl school Together running team. I know when in doubt follow the scent money but I just don't See the angle here.

Scott, I agree ... I cant see the benifit of two rookies togather either.

Ken, thanks for the input :) Old school done provided the link and I've been reading all the info... it really just come down to me asking the right questions.

I don't know who is responsible for creating this masterpiece but all I can say is "GENIUS".

I couldnt agree more Guys!! Well Done!!!