Profile For Larry H.

Old School, Logan; Guys you're why I joined this forum! Your insights and experience are super valuable to me. Thanks for sharing the reality of city driving; tight turns, aggressive 4-wheelers, and those delivery schedules on multiple drop runs. Don't really like energy drinks, because they would take off the road to kick tires to much. Coffee I love, but in moderation. I'm getting offers from several large companies and my wife knows we have challenges in changing career and lifestyles. The right opportunity will arise so I'll become a happy safe truck driver. I'm keeping all options open for now. Thanks again!

Thanks Old School & Thinks Too Much! I am grateful for your comments. What details I know so far are the Dedicated position is for Dollar Tree stores, involves unloaded at stores and driving back to Chesapeake, VA to get the next load. To unload, I'd be setting up rollers and handling freight off over them into stores. I've heard VA, TN, NC, and MD, but I'm sure it'll be within a radius to get back to Chesapeake to get the next load out. I was told Dedicated drivers for this account weren't eligible for quarterly bonuses after one year as are Swift's OTR/Regional drivers. Training after 3 days orientation would be 4 - 6 weeks, or 240 hours, behind the wheel. Heard runs would average 2 - 3 per week. Pay would be $4 to $5C (C=hundred) per week during behind the wheel training, and after that average $9C to $11C a week. I've heard of bad things on You Tube about accidents, and about not getting what you were told to expect about timeout and home time. It's great to hear from those who've been out OTR and in the truckers' life to help make good choices.

As a recent graduate I'm looking for a driving job and more training. My wife and I agree we need time to orient ourselves to me being a truck driver. I want her to be comfortable with us being apart and not overwhelmed by home matters or my safety OTR before accepting a continuous OTR job. I am considering Swift Transport here in Virginia, because a recruiter offered orientation and training in Richmond, VA terminal, plus a dedicated driving position from Chesapeake, VA. I would unload store deliveries, but I would also be getting training and experience. Any thoughts anyone could share about Swift, their training, safety atmosphere and equipment would be very helpful to me.