Profile For ID Mtn Gal

On top of those things you asked about, there is the bookkeeping side. You will be a 1099 driver, NOT a W-2. So your Worker's Comp is paid by you. Your Social Security is not 7.65% like regular workers, but double as you are now Boss and worker. You will need an accountant who knows the trucking rules and they aren't cheap. I do see in a post up above that you now know what we think about LO's. That's good.

Laura

I ran that route regularly after dropping my container at the Port of Oakland.

From Fresno it is shorter by 80 miles going south to Bakersfield getting on 58 to Barstow. There, pick up 15 to 70 in UT. Go across Utah and Colorado to the Denver area. Get on 76, which will take you up to Big Springs NE, on 80. Time-wise it is as long as the extra 80 mi going across Donner. It depends on if your company wants you do the shorter miles or the faster time.

It's a good time of the year to go the above route. I've done it in winter but I don't like chaining up. Also, as of September 1st, you are required to carry chains in Colorado and going over Donner. Six is the minimum you have to carry. Colorado will probably have overhead signs with the new areas that they are requiring chains on. Just pay attention and have them on your rack or the side box.

Have a safe trip

I was told I should start in propane, and then move into fuel. That it is harder to go from fright to hazmat because of a lack of hazmat experience? Should I attempt to start hazmat this way? Also, I am willing to work for minimum wage my first year, is this a good idea?

I thank the original poster for their bravery in even asking their question.

Howdy!

We never recommend going into tankers hauling any kind of liquid because you don't have the basics down and you throw that sloshing around into the mix, and it's an accident waiting to happen. I understand propane is a tanker on a chassis attached to the truck. I've seen plenty of them out there, but it's still liquid that moves a truck around.

It would be far better for you to do dry van or reefer, get your year or two experience and then look at doing propane or fuel. Most of those companies require 2 or more years experience driving.

I don't understand why you think you have to move out of the USA because of your RSO incident. My company laid off 3/4 of their employees back in May, including me, and at the end of May the last of the employees got let go and the doors were shut. I have been looking for local work because I really don't want to go back over the road again, 10 years was long enough.

What I am seeing on indeed.com, glassdoor.com and my Idaho unemployment website, Idahoworks.com, is that there are a lot of companies with regional or local jobs that will put this statement in their description of the job: "People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply".

Use our link to apply everywhere. If you get turned down by all of them, then go to the above websites and look there. Also look at Craigslist.com. As long as you have not reoffended, do as your parole officer says to do, you stand as good a chance as anyone out here.

Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

Good luck to you.

Clickable link:

Immobilizer

I've never seen anything like this.

Truck had to go into the shop in Albuquerque, while I was running containers at the time. I asked the Freightliner people where to drop my trailer and they told me down the street a little ways and so I bought a kingpin lock at the Love's and put it on. I expected to be repaired and back on the road in 6 or 7 business days. That didn't happen and then the company had me come to get another truck and I did not get back to that container for 4 weeks. I don't know if the company had somebody stop by ever so often to see if it was still sitting there or not. When I did get back I was shocked that it was still there with the kingpin lock on it.

Clickable link:

Semi Fire

Laura

Why are you feeling that you are beating your head against the wall? What have you done to start getting your CDL?

Can't give encouragement when we don't know what you've done so far, what you've come up against and what your plans are. Your age isn't against you at all. What is against you is the economy that has tanked, too many drivers and not enough freight to go around.

When my company closed their doors in May....like over 1000+ other companies, I decided to look for local work rather than go back out over the road. I am 73 and I have talked to several companies, but they have had to let guys go. So, I can hold off until after election and then see what is happening before making a decision to go back over the road or get a job at a local grocery store or something. I'm not a workaholic, but do have to work to support my house payment.

James M.

That was very smart thinking and using your head!

Laura

There's an army surplus store in Idaho falls, great website too, where you can get very good equipment for excellent prices.

Robert B.

Idaho Falls isn't too far from me and I will be going there in a couple weeks. I looked up on Google and there are two different Army Navy supply stores. Which is the one that you recommend?

Thanks!

Laura

Team Trucker Funny Moments

Kearney that was too funny! How hard was it to do the two of you? Is that the first time you've done that? It was good though.

Laura

What is the name of the online school? They have to be approved by FMCSA which requires 160 hours of classroom and driving. So really that wouldn't work either if they don't have the means to provide driving experience, I don't believe.

Moving to Texas and getting on with a company that requires a contract to train you is really the best way to go. The time frame that you have to give will go by so fast you will wonder where it went and realize that it takes a year or more to become skilled as a driver.

Good luck!