Profile For OldCrow

Hello Everyone. Sadly this is the 2nd time that I am typing this as I happened to time out the first time and lost it all. Oh Well.

Ok so an Update. The last time I was on this site was well over a year ago. I was still living in Japan and was searching for companies that would take me on. Well as things turn out, my grandfather passed away on 4/12/18 and I was able to fly back to America from Japan on 4/18 to be a pallbearer on 4/19. Well once I got back I went and took a job with a temp agency that had me working on a Logistics dock. During this time I contacted TMC, which was the only company that was willing to take me on with my 10+ years of living overseas. Well, I began to study to take my CDL permit tests when one day a driver from a P&D local company pulls into my temp job. After starting to load his truck he starts to ask me some questions and it turns out we know each other and used to work together during summer breaks from college. So he goes on to tell me about his company and takes my info and say give him a day or two to see if they would take me on. Well a few days later I get a call from their Safety and Operations department asking me a few questions. They go on to tell me that If I take not only my General knowledge, air-breaks, and combination permit test, but also take my doubles-triples, tanker, and Hazmat, that they will take me on in their own company sponsored program. The only difference being that their program is a little longer than most others. (The company is listed on here but has not been updated in a very long time. I will need to talk to Brett or an other admin to explain some of the new contract details not listed on the site.)

Anyway, I had a choice to make. TMC or this company. Here is what made me go with my choice. It is a P&D operation that only runs within 100 miles of my home terminal. My home terminal is now only 9 miles from my house. They offer two different driving options. Line haul which is night time driving and paid by the mile, or P&D which is paid hourly. It is a union position, it has great medical, dental, and vision. I get to be home every day. O.T. is paid for all time after 8.5 hours a day. Not after 40 a week.

So here I am in my second week of CDL school. I am in a class of only 5 guys. They had us in the Trucks on the 2nd day of class. Had us going on and off Highway, off ramps by day 3. Taking a truck out on the road with both 53 and 28ft. trailers on the first day of week 2. I have so much I want to get into but am limited on time. I plan on posting twice a week. Only reason for that time frame is that I still need to deal with lawyer issues with getting my wife and kids to America.

Again to Brett and Admin, please message me so that I can update you on the contract details of this company since what is listed is about 2 Union contacts past. I am extremely happy with my choice so far and am more than satisfied with the type of training I am getting.

Call sign to be either,

BigRed,

or

Oldcrow

So, Sadly I got an e-mail this morning from Maverick. C.T. Sorry to say buddy, they will not take me into their CDL sponsorship program. My work history needs to be the past 3 years in the US and my home state DL MVR for the last year. Having been living and working in Japan since 2010 things are not looking good. So far only TMC has said they are willing to work with me on this issue as long as they can confirm work history here in Japan. I may have to bite the bullet and go to a Private CDL school in hopes of getting my foot in the door. Well still got one more year in Japan till I can move back to PA. Time to start looking for schools.

http://whdh.com/news/police-trucker-drove-from-seattle-to-massachusetts-nonstop-fueled-by-drugs/

Hey C.T., Do you know anyone on this site that runs Glass with Maverick? I am still 1.5 to 2 years out from being able to get into trucking ( I have to move back the the US first.) but I know in my home area Maverick hires for both flatbed and glass. I'd like to find out more about both sectors, however the website leaves a lot open. I'd like to ask some questions before I just go ahead and e-mail the company or a recruiter. Can ya help out?

Hey, Justin. Just stopping by to see if ya have any new updates. I'm guessing you should be done or just about done with your trainer.

Good to hear. I hope you get to keep your post up to date. I'd like to keep and eye and ear on it.

Sorry I'm late on the responses. Otr training was not bad. I had a good trainer. Everything is going well. They definitely have held up to what I was told via recruiter. Unless I get a good offer after my first year, def will stay with these guys

Thanks for the info guys, I have taked to one of the companies I am interested in, and they told me as long as I have a valid PA Dl, no matter of history status and I have my CDL-P they will take me on. No need for Japanese or Korean driver checks. However they would still need to do a job check with the places I have worked while overseas. Will be starting a blog soon on my adventure as I know I have a very unique situation. Who knows, maybe some day in the future somone else like me will come around.

Looking forward to a new updated. How did your OTR training go? Looking forward to what you have to say, TMC is the company I am most interested in.

Thanks for your blog. I am in the same boat. I have been a teacher for the last 8 years. However, unlike you I am married with 2 kids. I am looking at making the career change into Trucking as well in about 15 months. I teach at an International High School in Japan, so my contract is a little different. I will be following your blog for sure. Looking forward to moving back to the states for sure.

Hello everyone,

So I am new to the site. I have been thinking about making a career change. I am currently a High School teacher living overseas. So here comes the first of my odd questions. I still have 15 months on my teaching contract. Now when this time ends, I will have been living and working overseas for 8 years. I have both a S. Korean and Japanese class C & M license. However in the past 8 years, I have only gone home twice and used my International DL. My PA license has long expired. When I move back to the US, what would not having any US driving exp in the past 8 years cause me? Would this DQ me until I have American hours under me again? Or could I bring records from Japan to show I have still been driving? In the US, Korea, and Japan I have clear driving records.

The next question is this, I have been talking to a friend who has his own truck back in PA and also works part-time with a driving school. He has told me alot about different carriers out of PA which is where I would like to live still. So I have been looking at companies that will train you and get your your CDL you know do everything with them the first year sort of deal. I have been looking a lot at TMC, their pay is very fair and home time is good as well. So looking for input on these kinds of companies. I dont want to drop 4,500 bucks on a CDL class first.

Third, I am married and have 2 kids. My wife is Japanese. I will be moving back to the US first to get started on a job and set everything up for her and the kids. Once she and the kids make the move, they will stay with my parents. So being that there may be a 8 or 9 month gap in time, Will a company like the ones I am looking at, let a driver do much longer OTR to start for say 8 months and then let you switch back to your regional or dedicated run. When the wife and kids are still in Japan I would like to try and earn as much as I can.

Forth, I see tons of adds saying make 60K, 70K, up to 80K a year with-in your first year of driving. Are these numbers at all real? They all say drivers are home on weekends, Family time is important, etc... I'm thinking the real number is around the 55~60K a year mark. Am I wrong?

Lastly, My uncle was a trucker after he left the St. Police. He is long gone so I can not ask him any questions, but I remember he used to do runs where he would be out 7 home 3 or 4. He had a nice house, pool, 2 dogs 2 kids the whole set-up. Granted most of all that came from his St. Police job. So how realalistic is it to be able to support a family of 4 and still get home on weekends. Weekends at home are very important as It will be a little hard at first for my wife to adjust. She has been to America before and alos lived in Canada and Australia, so English is not a problem for her, just more adjustment to such countryside living. My kids both have citizenship already and speak both English and Japanese, so the kids no real issue.

Well thanks for letting me introduce myself and ask some questions. Back to the classroom now.