Profile For Gary M.

Thanks Gary... I may do that when I head to Columbus on the 7th.

For those of you that find my current job (soon to be former job) interesting, Here is a link to my website: http://www.parableguitars.net Here is a unique build video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEUfDHw2GO0

Just for the record, I still plan on building guitars in my off time. I have an apprentice, and another helper that have helped me with the sanding. Starting next week I will be banking up enough sanded bodies & necks to keep me going for at least 4 years in my off time. Who knows... There may be a truck themed build in my future.

Wow ,that was an incredible guitar build. The Master. My baby son 26 years old just bought a Taylor 514. sunburst top?. I cant play but he sure can. They got a few little gigs they do in Siloam Springs Ar. in the summers. I will check back in a few days if im not directed elsewhere.

Thanks for all the honest opinions. The info helps a lot. It looks like perspective is key to ones opinion. I've been researching 2-3 hours a day minimum. At some point all the info becomes a wash, and you go into information overload.

As of today, the plan is to step into something new at the first of the year. I like some of the options that Roehl offers. I'm not a big fan of being tied to them for a year or more... But, I'm not scared of a commitment either. On the other hand, Schneider looks good too. I've looked at SWIFT. I still need to research them more.

I live between Dayton & Cinci. It looks like a good location to live as a prospective driver. I'm an hour & 1/2 form Columbus too. Schneider has a recruiting event south of Columbus on 11-7. PastorC: are you planning on going to that?

HuntinDoug Here is some good advice...Go to a truck stop and talk to as many drivers as you can.. Talk to some Swift drivers Roehl drivers, make sure to talk to as many drivers from different companies as you can. Dont be afraid to ask there length of employment with the company. Research.. Research.. Research different ways to get schooling. This conversation that is going on really benefits YOU. I'm very glad i joined. I guess what i say is fodder and will be directed to some other place soon. If you make the plunge into trucking i would love to read an update.

Good Luck To You

Jack,

Trucking is a hard job that requires commitment and absolute professionalism. I personally don't think your lack of gainful employment at this point will be a huge problem.You have been in college and worked in the library done some off the books work. We have drivers out here that come from overseas ,im not sure how they would show a work history. I (think) we are required to list 10 years for driving jobs if you haven't been in a job that follows dot rules then its only 3 years. So you would just put down your college and work study ect. In my State i have been told there is no restriction on how long you need to have your regular drivers license before you test for your CDL, this may vary by State.

Call your DMV then call some company's.

Good Luck To You

Gary warns:

Many will steer you to company paid schooling sign a contract and say you must stay with them for a year, (there are other ways i would do it ).

What is wrong with a little commitment??!!

No, it's not "company paid", it's company financed. You are going to pay it, either through payroll deduction if you stay with said company, or they will follow you and collect on you if they have to.

One year, and getting paid for working, isn't such a big deal. Also, if you want to jump to supposedly greener grass, your record of job hopping may not set too well with the new company you want to work for so badly.

Nothing wrong with commitment.. Its obvious hes given lots of commitment in his life. When your 50+ years old why lock your self into 1 year contract with an OTR company?. If he decides at 6 months to go home and work local hes free to do so if he doesn't have said contract. The area he lives in has good opportunity for local work.

The stamina part you'll adapt to. Everyone is utterly exhausted pretty much all the time the first few months of their career. After a while you'll adapt to the long days and it won't be a big deal.

Back pain really isn't something you hear much about in trucking. The trucks have several layers of air suspension between you and the road. You have airbags in the suspension, the cab sits on airbags, and the seat itself has an air suspension. You'll still be bouncing around somewhat but it isn't bone-rattling awful unless you're on an exceptionally bad road. If you take care of your back by do some stretching everyday and get a little exercise you should be fine. If you can sit in a regular chair for a few hours at a time you should be fine in a truck.

As far as home time, there are indeed jobs that can get you home at least every weekend straight out of school. There are people that have landed jobs that get you home every night straight out of school but those are pretty rare. You'll normally need at least a few months of OTR experience before a local company will give you a shot. But your long term plan sounds perfectly reasonable.

Go through our Truck Driver's Career Guide from beginning to end and follow all of the links you come across. That will give you a ton of information about what it takes to get your career off to a great start.

Some of these giant OTR company's have drivers out there that could qualify for food stamps. Many will steer you to company paid schooling sign a contract and say you must stay with them for a year, (there are other ways i would do it ). There are drivers landing local jobs right out of Community college driving schools. Now when the big company guys jump in here , remember, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

Gary, you're free to dislike working for the large companies and you can do things however you like. But spare us the snarky B.S., the ridiculous exaggerations, and the insinuation that you're somehow smarter or more honest than the "big company guys" or any guys for that matter, ok? We're trying to help people get their careers underway and understand how the trucking industry works. You're not helping. You say you would do it differently. If you were hurting for money and couldn't get a loan, how do you propose someone should go about getting their career underway? The company schools exist to help people get started in the industry that don't have $3,000-$6,000 lying around that they can use on private tuition. And in case it hadn't dawned on you, most people switch careers because they're in a tough position financially and they're looking to make things better.

HuntinDoug, you'll be doing yourself a great service by ignoring that kind of baloney.

I will just say you know as well as i do that this is a hard job and very demanding so why sugar coat it? Seriously? "Back pain really isn't something you hear much about in trucking " Back problems effect a lot of drivers in this industry. Will Prime still hire him to pull a skateboard if he tells them he has back problems? I would think (some) company's might even be reluctant to hire someone with known back problems. Because i said (there are other ways i would do it ) meaning i would personally NEVER recommend someone sign a 1 year contract for schooling. He could get a student loan or a grant, maybe even go through a state program for the unemployed and go to a community college for 1/4 the cost and then have his choice of company's to work for. I was not using snarky B.S and rediculous exaggeration, i was telling the truth. Of course our trucks have air ride but ive had jaw rattling nights even trying to nap in the bunk while the wife drove .

In no way do i think im smarter than anyone, i made it clear my book education is extremely limited , everything i learned was looking through the windshield of a truck. I just got my first smart phone this month just so i can communicate with the grandkids and look on a few websites. Im to old to waste anyone's time sugar coating the truth. I just gave the honest truth and my suggestion on how i would do things if i were in his shoes. I have absolutely no problems with big company's , but when there drivers get these large bonuses for referring drivers sometimes the facts don't always make it to the surface.

I looked back over everything i said and cant find anything that wasn't 100% accurate. I don't like to argue in person and sure don't like to argue with my terrible grammar and im real slow on these buttons.

Sorry was tired when i made that last post. I guess the consensus could have been you and your wife..

Thanks for all the ideas. I would like to do training together but the consensus seems to be that training together wouldn't be good. But if it is doable, I think that would be best for us.

If YOU think it would be best then who cares about the consensus ...You and your wife make the decision..I would not throw my loved one on a truck with a stranger for a month. I've had her 31 years not going to feed her to the wolves yet.. I think the company i saw training husband and wife together was Armellini logistics from Florida.

Doug

I started driving trucks in 1978 and OTR for 26 years now. I have raised a family and almost paid for my home. Trucking has been good to me. Would i do it again.. MAYBE... I should have stayed in school and got at least a minimal education.

The decision on the Company you choose to drive for is totally your decision. I have noticed a few select company names regularly being mentioned. Research Research Research!! Ask lots of questions..Driving truck is hard work. Long irregular hours and tough on your health and family life. I cant say wether or not your back will hold up,but i can say the nations roads are deteriorating and you will be in that seat long hours grinding it out.

This is the first forum i have joined so im not sure what i can really say, but i like your idea of local driving work paid by the hour home every night. Some of these giant OTR company's have drivers out there that could qualify for food stamps. Many will steer you to company paid schooling sign a contract and say you must stay with them for a year, (there are other ways i would do it ). There are drivers landing local jobs right out of Community college driving schools. Now when the big company guys jump in here , remember, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

Good Luck To You

I live in Missouri and was able to take test but couldn't get physical permit till I had physical. I took my test results with me to prime and obtained the actual permit once I had done my physical at the terminal

Thank you that's good to know. This must have taken place after July 15. I know they had a lot of changes tied to there HWY funding bill.

I don't know about Illinois, but Wisconsin required a medical card before receiving a permit. Initial drug testing was a part of the medical exam. The DMV let me take my knowledge/endorsement exams before my physical, but I couldn't actually get my permit until after I could present the medical card.

Im rambling way off subject

I may be totally wrong, but our Doctor said the urine sample he collects at the Physical is only for Kidney screening and something about sugar in the urine? I really don't care just like to know facts.

Michael, If money is tight and the money for the physical is an issue,you could go in the dmv today take the test and walk out with your permit, it would just be intrastate. Then if you take a dot physical for the school turn that physical in to the State and then you have a interstate permit that you can drive on.