Update And Starting Soon, Hopefully!

Hey all, wanted to give an update from the last time I was on here and got a lot of great advice.

I am going to be going to NETTTS in Bridgeport, CT once I get the OK from financial aid. I am really excited to be starting this soon and am looking forward to getting on the road.

I guess the biggest surprise is the amount of support I have gotten from my significant other and my blood family. They all seem to understand what I am doing and agree with it and support me. That has made this whole process a lot easier and a whole lot more exciting for me because now I don't have to worry about bad vibes from the people I love. Its going to be an interesting journey but am excited to get on the road and make this dream a reality.

One thing I wanted to ask was what was everyone's opinion on the type of trucks to be hauling, such as dry-van, reefer , tanker, hazmat? I have read a few articles on here about them but they all seem to say the same thing as you should choose whatever your preference is. Well, frankly, I don't have a preference! I am of the mindset that you should take whatever you can get, and while individual types and loads always require variations in your driving, if you drive right and safe you should never have a problem no matter what the load or type of trailer you have. I also believe that no matter the load, I am the master of that load from the time it gets assigned to me to the time I deliver it. So for me I will always take extra precautions to make sure that load is secured and it gets there safe and on time. So I guess you can say that I am a realistic pragmatic! What a mouth full that one is.

Anyways, I want to throw this out there because I am curious to know if it really is going to effect my decision of what company I should go for and/or if it should effect that decision. I know that I want to be with a big company and that I am willing and able to work as hard as I safely can. I want the miles, more for the travel and experience than the money. Although the money is a big bonus!

So all feel free to let me know what is what and what you personal experiences can tell me! I thank everyone for the advice and I really thank Brett for this great site! Till next time, **** happens, get over it, enjoy the scenery!

-Zach-

Hey Zach. You didn't mention anything about home time. If that doesn't matter and you don't have a preference for freight then I would just go with dry van or refrigerated for now. Most tanker jobs require experience and flatbed is an added layer of knowledge, work, and risk on top of the existing levels of each already for a new driver so I would just pick dry van or refrigerated.

If you want to get home more often you'll find better opportunities in dry van.

If you want to see all 48 states (and Canada maybe) instead of staying in one region of the country you'll find better opportunities in refrigerated.

I agree with Brett, dry-van or reefer for your first go for the same reasons Brett gave (I have done reefer, flatbed and dry-van). I am getting ready to do container work here in the near future (as soon as the Dr gives me the ok to go back to work), so will update everyone as that moves forward.

As Brett mentioned, you did not say anything about home-time. You do not have to take home-time at your home of record if you don't want to (although you might want to in order to keep peace on the home front). But there is nothing that says you have to take it at your home of record.

So look at all the companies listed here on TT Trucking Companies and make your decision on what is important to you. You might also look at this link How To Choose A Company to possibly help with your decision.

Ernie

That's a very good point, didn't really think of home time. Honestly, at this point I don't have a preference at home time, and maximum travel is definitely what I want. So maybe referigerated is the way to go. With that being said I got a few questions about that.

Is it true that refer is usually drop and hook?

How often are you carrying referigerated material versus dry goods when running a refer trailer?

Is there a pay increase or decrease for the two or are they the same?

Is it true that you are responsible for the cleaniness of the trailer? And if so how hard is it too clean?

A general question for both: Is it true if a receiver refuses material from a load are you responsible for disposal? And if it is something you want too keep do you have that option?

How are the time constraints on refer versus dry van?

What is the average style of receiver for refer vs. dry van? Aka warehouse, store, open market?

What is the live load situation like for a refer vs. dry van and how often for both would that happen?

That's pretty much all I can think of for now. Hope you don't mind me picking your and everyone else's brain with all this stuff.

-Zachary-

That's a very good point, didn't really think of home time. Honestly, at this point I don't have a preference at home time, and maximum travel is definitely what I want. So maybe referigerated is the way to go. With that being said I got a few questions about that.

Is it true that refer is usually drop and hook?

How often are you carrying referigerated material versus dry goods when running a refer trailer?

Is there a pay increase or decrease for the two or are they the same?

Is it true that you are responsible for the cleaniness of the trailer? And if so how hard is it too clean?

A general question for both: Is it true if a receiver refuses material from a load are you responsible for disposal? And if it is something you want too keep do you have that option?

How are the time constraints on refer versus dry van?

What is the average style of receiver for refer vs. dry van? Aka warehouse, store, open market?

What is the live load situation like for a refer vs. dry van and how often for both would that happen?

That's pretty much all I can think of for now. Hope you don't mind me picking your and everyone else's brain with all this stuff.

-Zachary-

Reefer is 95% of the time live load/unload

Reefer is probably 80 - 90% refrigerated

Pay depends on what the company you work for pays (some are better than others), so the link for Trucking Companies will possibly help with your decision.

Yes, you are responsible for the cleanliness of the trailer (no matter what type of trailer you pull). Usually with reefer you need to go through a truck wash to get it clean (but not always). With dry van most of the time it is just a matter of sweeping the trailer out real well.

As for load refusal, it is up to the trucking company to decide what to do with a refused load. Now if you did not follow the procedures to keep the load safe, then it could possibly fall on you because of your not doing your part. As for disposal, I was always at the mercy of what the company wanted to do with the rejected product as to if I could just throw it out, give it away, or keep part of it for myself (I have had all the above happen).

Depends on many factors as to time constraints on any given load. I have been on loads that had all the time in the world to complete, and on some that was so tight for time almost did not have time to even sneeze and I would be late.

Reefer loads most of the time go to some sort of warehouse. Dry van I have been to almost anything you can get a 53' trailer into (some so tight that it took almost an hour to get the trailer into the dock it was so tight).

As I mentioned earlier, most reefer loads are live load/unload. So you could be sitting for several hours getting loaded/unloaded. Dry van could be mostly drop/hook and some live load/unload. Just depends on what the load requires at the time.

Any other questions, let us know. We will be glad to help if we can.

Ernie