Profile For Dan S.

Although I've never drove for WSTL, I lived in Troy, Alabama where they're home based for twenty two years and worked for Sanders Lead Company X 6 years as a Lab Tech.

This much I do know and can tell you.

Wiley Sanders Truck lines was begun in 1957, by Wiley Cowarts Sanders, Jr. with help from his Dad Wiley C. Sanders, Sr.

Mr. Wiley (Jr) passed away last March.

His oldest son Stephen has been involved in the trucking side of the family businesses for a number of years now.

I'm certain he's taken control of that part of the businesses.

Notice I said "Businesses"

Aside from Wiley Sanders Truck lines, there's:

Stephen Sanders Truck Lines (His trucks looks identical to other Sanders trucks, except his name is on the side of the sleeper)

Then there's:

Sanders Lead Company

K&W Plastic K&W Plastic Recycling ~ Troy K&W Plastic Can ~ Troy

And about eight other Plastic recycling plants throughout the United States

Sanders Lead is one of only about 3 remaining re-snelters of recycled lead; specifically lead from batteries.

They control 2/3rods of the recycled auto batteries in the United States.

Thus a lot of what they do haul is DEAD batteries into Troy.

The batteries are chopped up, with the lead going to the lead plant, and the plastic going to the plastic recycling plant .

Cleaned, reprocessed, recycled the plastic is extruded into small pellets and hauled throughout the country by tanker, in boxes by dry vans and rail tankers.

The lead is recast into various alloys of lead, typically 10 or so of the various 77 alloys possible. Used for making wheel weights, batteries, ammunition radiation shielding, vests etc.

Although they DO haul other types of freight? They haul A LOT of their own products. (Each tanker of recycled plastic pellets is about $45k, with each load of recycled lead being about $65k ~ depending upon current market prices)

"The average profit margin in the trucking industry is about 3% - 4%"

Wow! That's certainly and definitely news someone could use when thinking about going out on there own? Especially if you're thinking of going (F) ~ lease!

There's NOTHING CHEAP about running and maintaining a truck that I've seen or heard of.

Drives home what Brett said about trucking companies screening as they do, to ensure a positive return on their investment when hiring drivers.

I found Britt's recent post about a 30% CDL test fail rate interesting.

I've also read that most new drivers leave the trucking industry within 7 months?

Elsewhere on the internet, I've heard that 90% of new drivers have problems with backing, even after having gone through training!

What are some other interesting statistics others may have about the trucking industry?

Retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant here.

I would NOT recommend using your GI Bill, as tempting as it maybe to obtain my CDL's and training.

With that said, I'm also not up to speed on the current version of the GI Bill or the version that you fall under? I myself fell under the Vietnam Era version. Pretty much wasted pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration ~ Finance. Which at my age, pretty much would have gotten me a job in a Title Loan or Payday Loan office, a finance office if I was damned lucky ~ a finance office, or a low paying ~ dead end job at a credit union, maybe a bank.

If you've a disability rating, and depending upon your rating you maybe eligible for VA Vocational Training at your community college above and beyond using your GI Bill? Contact your VA representative for additional information, also DAV ~ Disabled American Veterans. This may or may not work against your counter to your goal of becoming a truck driver ~ or it may synch right in. It depends on the individual. But worth looking into.

Another thing, that I didn't discover until much later (too late) is that in some States, you can apply to (With a 5 to 10 points Veterans Hiring Preference ) and for a state job.

Pay $20,000 or so of your own money (in addition to the 7 ~ 8 % deducted on top of regular payroll deductions ) each pay period, and you would be eligible for retirement from the State in as little as FIVE YEARS! Alabama is one of them. You'll have to check into it in your own state.

There are ALSO State resources for Veterans, Google it and contact your state's veterans office. It varies from state to state, some are more generous than others. Veterans cemeteries, burials, and retirement homes are common, but some have tuition free or reduced tuition at state colleges etc.

I'm not an old hand at trucking at all. I do have sine experience in regards to your questions about "Getting into and training for trucking though ~ or at least a couple of ideas, thoughts and suggestions on the subject.

No. #1. Attitude.

Initially and I would say that it's the No. #1 thing you've got to vigilant in. keeping the right attitude, and your mind focused.

There's going to be moments let alone days on in, when you might have to at least work if not struggle to maintain the correct attitude and frame of mind.

You may find yourself having " to reset" your perspective, mindset, frame of mind, even perspective from time to time.

I myself try to maintain a professional attitude, perspective and frame of mind as much as I can. I'm not always successful, have to "catch and check myself" and get it together.

No.#2. The 5 P's

"Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance"

Become a sponge 🧽 and absurd any and all knowledge, pulling from any source of such and experience you can. Such as here!

The one source you don't want to pull from? Any source of negativity. Stay away from the Terminal Rats 🐀, Negative Nancy's and such. Avoid them.

Always watch out for 90 Day Wonders, guys that haven't really been driving for very long, yet they've all the answers to all the questions, have the solutions to all the problems, know any and everything.

I'm. If the opinion that this is a business that you NEVER quite quit learning. If the day ever comes I ever reach that point? That'll be I hang it up..

No. #3 Hyper Vigilance and Attentiveness. Speaks for itself. You've ALWAYS got to be on your "A" game 🎯. Take NOTHING for granted.

In your training? You'll be taught proper processes and procedures. Listen 👂 to them, adhere to them.

There's REASONS we do what we do!,

Drivers with a MILLION MILES or more Safe Driving 🚦 records and awards 🏆 are methodical in everything they do, everytime they do it.

No. # 4. The Learning Curve

In any human 🚶 endeavor, when learning a new subject, skill, etc, ........

There's a formula, .....

In which in the beginning?

E = r. That is to say, that in the beginning of learning 📕 🎓 a new subject or skill? A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT (E) yields very little results, (r)

But with the right INVESTMENT of time, effort, energy combined with the right attitude and perspective? The equation flips to:

e = R, in which very little effort yields BIG RESULTS! 😉

#5. Trainers

I would suggest you conduct your own interview with a potential trainer.

~ How long have you been driving?

~ How long have you been training?

~ How many students have you trained?

~ Will have be taught and allowed to__________(Backing for example)

~ What your rules 🚷 for the truck

~ What endorsements do you have

~ What is your home 🏠 time schedule 📆 and how does that synch with my training schedule.

~ Do you yell and cuss?

~ Showers?

~ Sleeping arrangements

~ Pet Peeves

None of the above are all inclusive or may be personally relevant to you individually?

Above all?

Attitude, attitude, attitude. ☺

When all is said and done? You can spend a month of Sundays splitting the hairs difference between one vs the other, this or that.

As a veteran the 1st place I would go would be the state employment office. If not at the particular office you visit locally? There IS someone tasked with helping veterans find jobs.

If your drawing a veterans disability you may be eligible to vocational training courtesy of the Federal Government.

Also contact the VA rep in your local county. He or she may be in the next county over as they may cover more than one country

You may wish to check out MIllis Transfer. I believe it comes down to around $500 for training for veterans when all is said and done. They've a 5 star rating on the Indeed job website

Always as about veterans programs. Prime has one but it's not commonly known of

Good Luck

Exactly, About the only time I know a veteran would say something along those lines (At least in the Marines) would be to another Marine that he was familiar with and knew, or at least worked with. More often than not? Almost as a term of endrarment (for like of a better word)? Used primarly for talking "smack ~ trash" amongst each other.

This Hobo character sounds like what we in the Marines call a "Posser". A Vet can spot them a mile off. You ask where they went to boot camp? They tell you some Army base? That's a red flag. 😅

Or it they tell you they can't tell you where they went to boot camp because it's classified! 😂

I don't care what anybody says about my Veteran status in so long as my retirement check hits the first of each month.

NOW that's something if that doesn't happen I'm going to get SERIOULLY OFFENDED about. 😠

That’s all well and good...I think to some degree you may be correct.

His last quote suggesting that “I lick his privates” tells me all that I need to know about him. Vulgar, disrespectful, childish and yes (Harry), cowardly. Not something anywhere close to how the true vets conduct themselves on this site.

Rainy, Hobo? Forget this clown and his getting butthurt

I know of no military veteran who would get upset over the simple analogy you used?

In fact I would question his connection if any to the military other than perhaps video games?

Confidence and experience speak in volumes, but usually in silence.

I attended college after retiring from the Corps, in what just so happened to the same town as the main terminal for Wiley Sanders Truck Lines.

They kept two or more semi retired career truck drivers sitting around just for recovering among other things abandoned trucks etc.

I always thought that would be something I might be interested in down the road?

After reading this thread? I'm having second thoughts?

I'm mean who would have thought recovering a six month old abandoned truck would involve a Level One decontamination, detox and echelon maintenance inspection?

Always amazes me how much crap some drivers have on their dash!!! My Lord if that's what your dash looks like? I don't EVEN won't to see the rest of your truck.