Profile For Sidney V. (Chris)..Popeye

Many of you may have read Old School's excellent post the other day about leasing or owning a truck. If not, this is your chance.

Old School and I have kind of led the charge when it comes to persuading people to avoid buying or leasing a truck altogether, but especially as a new driver. We've both written on the subject many times, and this was another great one by Old School that I wanted people to take notice of.

When Is The Best Time To Become An Owner Operator Or Lease A Truck? Never.

If anyone has any questions about buying or leasing a truck we'd be happy to answer them. If you feel we're wrong about this, well quite honestly there's no need for you to waste your time trying to convince us with words. Get out that checkbook, sign on the dotted line, and go make yourself a fortune. THEN come back here and teach us how it's done so we can follow in your footsteps!

A very well written article by Mr. Old School. I would have to wholeheartedly agree with it concerning "Leasing" a Truck. Maybe I misunderstood the line about Owner Operators. From what I read he is talking about the owner operator side of "one's own authority".

There is another side to being an owner operator, you know. That is with your own truck, lease on to a company. I would never advise anyone to lease his truck to 99% of the companies running the highways. The trick, I believe, is find a company that fits you and your plan.

I began driving in 1999 and was a company driver with two different companies my first 6 years. I believe that in proceeding slowly during this phase is the key to being successful in one's' future endeavors. There has to be a certain love for the highway and some even say it's in the blood. I agree.

The first company I leased my truck to was my last company as a company driver. It took very little time to see the error of my ways. The company always filled its' company trucks first with the best loads. The owner operator leased to a major player was left sucking hind t-t! I was lucky to to find the perfect fit for me a bit later. It was a very small only owner operator trucks and doggone few of them (54-56 total), hauling lightweight freight (less than 15K lbs), no satellite communications, no ELD, no YARD, just some really good people on the other end of the phone. Like I said, it works for me. No, I don't figure to retire a millionaire, only a man living his dream and being paid a decent wage.

Remember, you have pay your dues, a company driver or an owner operator no matter how you finally do it. Final thought....I would never recommend that a newbee (less than 5 years) move on to his own truck. Do your research, scrunch the numbers and most important FIND YOUR NICHE. I decided a long time ago that having my own authority was NOT a deal for me. So, I saved my money, bought the right truck and am doing what makes me happy. I'm not teaching anyone, Mr. Brett, this is just what works for me. FLDS FOREVER (although I have now bought (cash) a Peterbuilt). Guess my old handle will just have to work for this old trucker.

True, however I don't believe (returning after 25 years) we're talking to a newbie. JJKellers' FMCSA Compliance Manual is where the material that DOT officers use and, in my opinion, should be part of every drivers' library. When one is looking for the ANSWER or just boning up on the rules and regs that govern our OTR lives, this manual is priceless. Just my take. Not trying to sway anyone. Stay safe.

If I may, best advice I can come up with is JJKellers' FMCSA Compliance Manual

Actually that book isn't for drivers. That book is for the companies themselves to stay compliant with DOT regulations. From their website:

An authoritative safety compliance manual to help companies operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) comply with DOT regulations

What drivers need to study to get their CDL permit and endorsements is our High Road Training Program. That has the CDL manual built in, which contains the materials that drivers will be tested on for their permit and endorsements.

If I may, best advice I can come up with is JJKellers' FMCSA Compliance Manual. It's a three ring binder containing the answers to your questions and concerns. Retails for a pretty penny ($268.00), but it's all there in an easy to read format. Beats the heck out of those little 5X7 paperbound manuals the majority of the companies hand out during orientation. One also has the advantage of instantaneous updates via the web. A very impressive addition to your "road library". Stay safe, driver, and good luck.

hey there everyone trying to return to this buisness after 25 year pause .im amazed and surprised attain;; a CDL OMG its so vast the material is insane ,,,,go OTR with a trainer ,good grief what happened amazing stuff---------- all included i see school,,trainer,,loads dipatch, etc etc best luck to all of you still hope to join yu as soon as i can .pretty scary stuff though -keep the rubber on the road dudes thanks

Hard for me to believe this guy is still going on about his perception of real world trucking. Look, driver, in case you haven't picked up on any of the blunt advice or captured some of the "between the lines" help being offered, it is not really the COMPANY, but the people that make up the company. Reputations, good or bad, are perceived by most of the world by what one says, does, or does not do. Remember it is better to be thought a fool or an idiot than to open ones' mouth and have it confirmed. Your mouth, sir, has been open far too long. Put up or shut. Regardless of which way it goes, stay safe out there and good luck.

You're going to find out or figure out that the only thing that really changes from company to company is the phone number. Try to hang with a company, any company, any driving situation, for one year. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. Keep your personal peeves, expectations, promised deals, broken promises, and opinions of companies to yourself. Muster up to the task, stay safe, and commit to the moment. Good luck.

The pay package with wadhams rist division isnt bad 1,800-2,500 miles per week -35.5 cpm to start -38.5 cpm after 90 days -41.5 cpm after 180 days -44.5 cpm after 1 year plus 200-300 per week for things like pre/post trip inspection pay. they pay 1/2 hour for pre/post trip per day. most companies that i know of do not pay for post and pre trip inspections. its not huge $$, but its required therefore you should get paid for it. my trainer with werner didn't even do a daily pre and post trip. his idea of a pretrip was putting it into the qualcom and sitting there for 15 minutes waiting for the clock to tick down.

this company is also more aligned with my goals. 1 year after starting with them i can transfer over to the milk or fuel division and be home every day. i will also be able to keep all of my seniority, time, paid vacations, and personal days (yes they offer those).

do you guys at least think a regional no touch freight is a better fit then a dollar account for a new driver? if you had to pick one or the other?

Started with Werner in 1999. Had a trainer that was only interested in telling "sea stories" (USMC). Had to pummel him with "look, dummy, I don't give a d--- about your former career, how about giving me some insight into what I can expect when pulling into fuel stops, pickup and delivery locations, and maybe even some (God forbid) DRIVING Tips". No matter what I said he always returned to what he did and how he did it in the service. Short story...I survived, made it through training, got my own truck and moved on. His training was "running team with a student". Even used to show me his paycheck numbers for each week. Once again, I could've cared less. My job was to soak up something, anything related to OTR trucking. I did. Mostly on my own. Still trucking to this day, it's just with my own truck and leased to a great little company; Moral of the story...Yep, there are a bunch of egotistical jerks out here; take it one day at a time, try to learn, no matter how insignificant it may be, something. Good luck.

trai

I guess all i can say is i will go with wadhams and stick it for a while, really make an attempt to make it all work. working as a milk receiver i met allot of truck drivers, some of which is still am in communication with. shall i ignoredid their advice? i have a tendency to ask questions to someone who i know has been through it all, and these are people that i personally know. all i can say is i will go to wadhams stick it out for a year and see if it works out. if i cant do it, then i will bow out of the industry and come to the conclusion that its not for me. at this point i like what a hear and i have to give it the benefit of the doubt. if i don't succeed i fear with the crappy paying jobs that are otherwise available i very well might be doomed for failure and loosing my home. $480 per week before taxes isnt enough to buy toilet paper to wipe my rear end. i have to at least try.