Profile For The Boss

It’s almost as if truckers are homeless vagabonds. I noticed this is a 4 yr old post. If you are still driving how has parking changed for you and how did you figure it out? Too bad there isn’t more infrastructure built into the country for truck parking.

It sucks because I had no choice in it really, my fm was looking for a good load to keep me running there just wasn't one since we don't deliver weekend anyway and our receivers closed for Friday too. I hate to keep burning gas looking for a proper spot but I guess I'll have to go check the truck stops again and cross my fingers

Try places that are shut down like a old factory or stores that went out of business

Thank you for the honesty. I will keep it positive and take the advice of the people like yourself that know the ropes.

A company requiring trucks to be parked at a terminal is pretty strict and would be an important detail to know ahead of signing on with said company

Companies who mandate this will only hire within a certain radius of the terminal.

at least the carrier should make it easier to park where it is convenient for drivers considering drivers have to be responsible for the vehicle, have limited time at home, have difficult time as it is parking a large vehicle, etc

This is a business. It isnt about driver convenience. My company does not let me take the trailer home, so parking bobtail isnt a huge issue anyway.

As I have spent valuable hours researching this new career there seems to be a lot of petty rules that make it seem pretty inconvenient to drivers that are basically giving up their lives to make money for the company and provide for their own families

Every company/industry will have petty rules and they are usually about lawsuits or profit margins. I have not come across anything that is unreasonable. They own the $200,000 truck, so they get to tell me where they want me to park....if they want to.

An example of parking at a terminal is Averitt. My friend gets home every weekend with them, but the truck must be parked at the terminal.

As a totally new person who has only done research...maybe you shouldnt try to pick apart policies. Honestly, not only will it drive you nuts but it can distract you from your goal.

A company requiring trucks to be parked at a terminal is pretty strict and would be an important detail to know ahead of signing on with said company. Considering “the road” is our office I hope that is a rare exception. One would assume it is easier to “park” your truck or at least the carrier should make it easier to park where it is convenient for drivers considering drivers have to be responsible for the vehicle, have limited time at home, have difficult time as it is parking a large vehicle, etc. Living near a terminal would be paramount.

As I have spent valuable hours researching this new career there seems to be a lot of petty rules that make it seem pretty inconvenient to drivers that are basically giving up their lives to make money for the company and provide for their own families. However, I do understand the liability involved. Hopefully, as a driver proves him/herself responsible that the company will allow more freedom. Is this how it works out there? Thanks for the post.

I live 543 miles and three states away from my home terminal. I'm home every weekend, when I want to be. I do train new CDL holders, so when I have a trainee with me, I tend to stay out much longer, but that's my choice to do so.

As others have said, the only advantage to living near a terminal is decent parking for your personal vehicle and for your truck when you take home time... Unless the company you go with requires parking the truck at a terminal. Then, you'd definitely want to live within a reasonable distance.

Thanks for all the advice and feedback.

I live near a terminal with a carrier I am considering becoming a driver for. Does this give me the opportunity to make it home more often? If not, what are the advantages of living near the terminal?

I live near a terminal with a carrier I am considering becoming a driver for. Does this give me the opportunity to make it home more often? If not, what are the advantages of living near the terminal?

As a CDL Permit holder can I still test for any endorsements or do I have to wait until I actually have my CDL A to get endorsements?

I was considering TMC because I heard a lot of good things about their company. Flat bedding is intriguing and I like challenges. Do you think the extended time, effort and risk is worth doing flatbed? I wonder what experienced drivers feel about flatbed vs dry van? Is it worth the money?Do you like the people in the company that you have met? Does TMC put a lot of emphasis on safety?

I wonder if in the past trucking companies put so much time, money and effort to get truckers out on the road?

(Forgot to mention on day one that they did Urine only split drug test (no hair)).

Day 3:

6 am: Same start as 1 and 2, but we left the hotel at 6 am instead of 7 am to complete company mandatory videos.

8 am: Learn the 8hr, 11hr, 14hr, 70hr lines of the Qualcomm and go over paper logs (in fact, we have a 74 question exam tomorrow covering logs only).

10 am: We signed our contracts for the 12-month commitment.

11am: Lunch

1230p: Go over the MCP device this company uses

2p: Go over scaling and trip planning

3p: Watch videos involving TMC trucks in preventable and non-preventable accidents by way of watching via front/driver facing cameras. Some of the accidents blew our minds...one driver got out of the seat while driving down the interstate to get his blue tooth off his bunk. Yup...hit a bridge guardrail and then flipped over into the woods...and that was the 2nd accident he had been involved in.

430p: We missed the 4pm bus back to the hotel, and I didn't want to wait until 6pm for the next bus, so I grabbed a lyft.

I have been around for a while and the “gap” is really the least of your concerns. Be honest about what you were doing and leave it at that. Be more concerned with making sure you really want to drive versus helping your aging parents. I figure if you drive you will be pretty unavailable to help them out so if helping them is a priority then don’t drive. If you do decide to drive you should focus more on passing the DOT physical, exams, driving skills and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

Been doing the research of the various companies and providing a comprehensive 3 year work history seems to be the standard.

I have a clear break for about a year after I left my last job of 10 years. I need to know what I should prep or expect to cover the gap...or is it even possible?

I was in IT and the work morphed from support to sales at which point I bit off more than I could chew and finally had to bow out. (I am NOT a salesman!) I gave 2 weeks notice. I just took a long break; spent a lot of time helping my aging folks on their 'farm' (200 acres). So much so that I ended up moving back in. Crazy at my age, but it made sense. I've been out of the loop long enough now, retraining in IT would cost almost as much as going to truck driving school (which I can't afford) and I still may not find work. Let's all IT plan B.

Will corporate take into account the fact I was with last 'big' employer for ~10 years before taking a long break? (I assume recruiters would say yes, but it's that face to face interview that really matters.) What proof should I prepare? Note from parents sounds pretty cheesy. Should I just gloss over getting in over my head and just focus on helping out my medically challenged folks in their time of need?

I'm heading to the DMV tomorrow to take my 3 tests and get my CLP. Just need to sort this out and I can start applying. Shooting for middle of January if I can. I'm still working full time at a Factory now. Planning on applying Jim Palmer, Prime, and then I'm not sure.

Got some other questions- but need to sort this out first. Thanks in advance for your attention.

As a newbie how is walmart any different than “dollar”accounts? Why are there potentially more issues and more chance for accidents? sam

Jared...I agree wholeheartedly with Old School and Bob.

You’ll make just as much running Walmart, learn a ton, and NOT expose yourself to unnecessary risks and stress.

Online I have seen what the dedicated “Dollar General” jobs entail. It doesn’t appear to be too difficult. The video disclosed the required offloading using rolltainers and conveyors. It also claims that it is a dedicated account with regular scheduled customers. I am sure the duties or tasks are not all inclusive, like all other jobs. So, what are they not telling us that could be so misleading? I thought Schneider was a reputable company to work for?

Sam

I would strongly suggest avoiding Dollar anything accounts, I heard pitches from many companies including US Express while I was in school and they all said the same thing dedicated account, great pay, sign on bonus. My thinking was why are you in CDLs begging new drivers to take these accounts if they are so great? It is because most drivers do not want these accounts due to their difficulties.

Drive around to some dollar stores and imagine trying to for a semi in the lot and then having to unload the trailer yourself no matter the weather. Depending on your route you may have to do it multiple times per day, which means increased chance of problems.