Profile For Ryder M.

Any company that will fire you over something like that is not worth working for. Youre better off somewhere where they will value you.

Not having any experience yet reading this thread about pay. I feel compelled to bring a few things in on the subject. Prior to thinking about becoming a trucker i was in property management. Being in the industry for 10+ years when i first started out i made $9 an hour when i recently got laid off i worked my way up to corporate at $55,000/yr. I feel like there are a lot of students and new people whom come in with false expectations. Youre starting over as a rookie in a field that already has high turnover rates. Whats wrong with coming in paying your dues earning $32-35000 and moving up from there. As far as being paid 24/7 while your in the truck that is just foolish. You work 10-14 hours at most a day with the bulk of the money coming in while driving. When i was corporate i travelled extensively and had layovers and last mintue things which would delay a trip some in and out of company control but i never got paid extra it was a apart of the gig i signed up for. Further, you get extra money in the forms of detention pay, stop pay, and of course we cant forget the per diem pay which accounts for the time away from home. I know my dad was in the industry for a lot of years. Towards the end he made 75, 80,000 but he also worked hard for theoney and went onto the oil field business. I think new drivers should come in and worry more about safely maneuvering this equipment and learning the trade before they even begin to think about money. Get in pay your dues get experience and do what you love. I for one am very excited about not having yo punch a clock any more and look forward to the open roads and getting paid to see the country. After all is that not what trucking is all about? You want to get rich quick play the lottery or hit a jackpot.

Thanks Dan. Yeah i live in and around Fontana so the lines in and out are not too horrible. My plan is to do otr for a year or two then look at the local market. Driving in and around So Cal all the time seems like it would not be worth it to me to start out. Plus I'd like to know its something i want to to do. Plus its better to put in my time and work my way up. I will look into Schneider as well i know they have a terminal near me.

Thanks Sue. I have it down to either Knight or Prime. Knight's training course and terminal are the best fit and i have found they kewp their drivers regional with an expectation that you'll be out 10-14 days. However in reading a lot of the blogs and forums it looks as though it is best to be out 3-4 weeks to maximize bonus potential and other incentives. I am worried about the adjustment periods as is my wife as this would obviously be new to both of us. I appreciate your feedback and will definitely work on that list with my wife as i do value her input as well.

Thanks to both for your replies. I have read various blogs here about maximizing the HOS. That seems to be the thoughest aspect of the job. Besides all of the other things you need to learn. My wife's biggest hang up is the home time. I am doing my best to tell her the truth while also understanding her positions and being realistic about the expectations of home/work balances. She knows it will be a sacrifice on both ends. I have told her once we get past the first year the doors slowly open up for more hometime.

So i am considering entering this lifestyle they call trucking and i had a few questions. This has been a great site full of straight forward answers and i can't even begin to say that it has really been an eye opener to the realizations of what i will be under taking.

My questions are.....

How do you balance the day to day of trucking with the family life?

Realistically, can you make enough being out 2-3 weeks at a time and how hard is it to make the transition from home time to work time?

To all of the people that make this site function and work i thank you. I don't know that i would even be considering this without having read what i have on here. Most of the other site focus on the bad with little positive.

I am hoping to go to Knight in Feb. I am working on my permit now. I wanted to thank you for the great insight that you have provided. Its comforting knowig what i will be getting into. Stay safeand thanks for keeping up with your posts. I have enjoyed reading them.