Profile For scandya

I've noticed that and have used it to my advantage. I'm going back out on the road on Monday, and I am pretty sure that I'm going for my test on Thursday. I'm pretty confident in everything except my in cab inspection and pre trip on my trailer. I'll be going over that probably a dozen times this weekend. If I pass on the first try I'll be amazed. So far I've seen 7 guys test and not a single one has passed their first try. Most have passed on their 3rd attempt. I can't believe how many rules the officers testing us seem to make up on the spot.

Last time we tested, a guy failed because the officer was sitting in his cruiser 10 feet from the truck with his window down on the opposite side of the guy who was testing on the engine compartment. It was windy and he was literally yelling out while testing on the components of the engine. He failed because the officer said he didn't call out certain components when he actually did. The officer just didn't hear him. Hopefully I don't get him come test day!

Im located in Fall River Mass. I was out with my instructor the other day and he actually offered me a job working with a friend of his hauling boats. Im doing really well with backing and driving on the road with the old 10 speed we have. On my 2nd time on the road I didnt miss gears or grind gears that much. I really didnt think my leg would ever shake the way it did holding that clutch in. Man those things are stiff! My test is next thursday, so hopefully i pass. We will see! Thanks again everyone.

Remember you only have to hold it to the floor to I initially put it in gear the first time. After that, you only have to push it in an inch or so, even while sitting at a light.

Im located in Fall River Mass. I was out with my instructor the other day and he actually offered me a job working with a friend of his hauling boats. Im doing really well with backing and driving on the road with the old 10 speed we have. On my 2nd time on the road I didnt miss gears or grind gears that much. I really didnt think my leg would ever shake the way it did holding that clutch in. Man those things are stiff! My test is next thursday, so hopefully i pass. We will see! Thanks again everyone.

The good thing about where I am is that the area is condensed and there are alot of options as far as trucking goes. I want to do flatbed, but Ive also heard it can have more downtime than van or reefer. Im weighing all my options here.

I just found out XPO has a few locations within 25 miles from me. Does anyone know if they hire new drivers out of CDl school? I know they have a dock to driver program, but im all set with that. Anyone know if theyd hire me without doing that program? I could really use some answers on that one.

I know j seen a ton of tmc truck in the basic radius of boston hauling big loads of foam insulation board everytime i was over there which was often id see them

Ive actually looked into TMC quite a bit last night, and I honestly think I will try them fresh out of school. Ive watched many videos from their drivers on YT, and so far so good. Sitting pulling dry or reefer all day just drop and hook sounds less appealing to me than flatbed. It seems more hands on and diverse, which I feel Id like more. I appreciate you telling me about them. As for hometime, thats no concern of mine right now. The concern to me was having a place to park the truck where I live. I live in a typical northeastern city with narrow roads that 2 cars can barely fit down. Think Boston, or some other crammed city. Ive actually seen a few flatbeds, dry vans and bobtails parked at the grocery store I go to, so maybe thats an option for me. Im going to call them Monday and flesh out the details and see what they say. Monday also happens to be the day I start CDL school, so hopefully its a good day for me!

If hometime is your concern I get that. Having a terminal near home probably does help in some situations but it probably doesn’t matter to much. What matters is the freight lanes they run and the accounts, customers and so on. I was offered a different job within my company and they said I was on the fringe of the hiring zone. They said I’d still get home weekends but because I understood the freight lanes of this account they offered me I could see how hard and out of route it would be for me. So I passed on that. I thought about this when I was in school and passed on maverick because there terminal was so far from my house. After I went solo and started parking at a local business for the weekends there would always be a maverick truck sitting there and always home before me. What matters is what the company says they can do for you as far as home time goes. Maverick said I’d be home most weekends but I didn’t trust them due to where they was located. I was wrong. The company I settled on has gotten me home every weekend and for every holiday for three years now. They said they would and they did.

Did you try TMC. I don’t know if they hire in your area but I see them pulling boats sometimes. SOLO rookies make good money there. Solo I’ve heard.

I just looked into them a bit, checked out their page and whatnot. I didnt want to start off doing flatbed, and they are a good deal further from where I live. I will probably still give em a call when im in CDL school and see what they have to offer.

Did you try TMC. I don’t know if they hire in your area but I see them pulling boats sometimes. SOLO rookies make good money there. Solo I’ve heard.

I just looked into them a bit, checked out their page and whatnot. I didnt want to start off doing flatbed, and they are a good deal further from where I live. I will probably still give em a call when im in CDL school and see what they have to offer.

Thanks everyone for your help. Ive ultimately decided to go with Schneider as my next employer. I called a few companies located within 20 or so miles of me, but they all required 2 years of experience. The goal is to grind out for 2 years then switch closer to home.

I feel like I'm going to really dislike OTR for a couple of months and curse myself for even considering this a career. Lol I'm going to give it my all though and do the best I can!

Thanks Errol! Ive realized that since I want to drive an 18 wheeler I need a combination as well as an air brake endorsement. I can basically recite the mass CDL manual, but somehow this slipped past me. The CDL classes start Monday, so ive got 2 more days to take the tests, should I fail tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

This may be a real dumb question, but I cant find the answer anywhere. I'm in Massachusetts. The school im starting at next week trains you on a truck with air brakes. Tomorrow I'm going to the RMV to get my permit, and my endorsments. The air brakes are listed as an endorsment on the RMV website. Question is, will I need to get that endorsment in order to start at the school? I had always thought I just needed my permit, then the school teaches you airbrakes, then when you get your CDL they give you a written test on the air brakes. Again, apologies if this is a dumb question. I just would like to know the answer before I show up and cant get into classes because of it. I also called the school and they said I need "my endorsements", although the woman who answered the phone seemed kinda confused about my question. Thanks!

A little bit of background about me first. Im 30 years old, from southern Massachusetts. I plan on having my CDL A sometime around late January. Im currently looking at Schneider as my first choice, as they have a drop yard 50 miles from me. I plan on doing OTR and am pretty sure im going to question why i made this career choice for the first couple months, but i am not really a people person, so I think its a good career move for me. Ive been working at a boat yard for 5 years and have lots of experience hauling boats around on the road, anywhere from 16 to 28 feet long, and 13 feet high. I know a 53 foot trailer is different, but i feel it gives me a leg up... hopefully.

Anyways, a few noob questions. 1. I have seen that some companies allow drivers to take their truck home, barring they live far from a yard. I live on a crowded city road, so this isnt an option for me at all, right? Basically, i need to live close to a yard? Ive got no where else to park a truck, except for on the street. Ive thought about a park and ride, but i feel thats a big no no, for insurance reasons. 2. Are there any drop yards in southern New England besides Schneider and USxpress? Ive tried to do my research here, but i cant find any other companies that have any close to me. 3. Whats the realistic pay like for a new driver? Currently i make around 480 a week, and am completely expecting to make basically the same pay as that, give or take $70ish or so. 4. My topic header. Are there any OTR companies around me that hire new drivers with no experience besides the big name companies? I want to do OTR preferably, or be out for a week or 2 at a time if its regional. Thank you all very much!