Considering Starting Long Haul Career As A Foreigner

Topic 11209 | Page 1

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Nickolaos P.'s Comment
member avatar

Hello all

My name is Nickolaos ( you can call me Nick or Nosf ) , currently living in Thessaloniki, Greece. Have been reading many articles here the past few days and i think i have a pretty good understanding of the lifestyle of a truck driver but now i have some questions .

So if anyone is willing to answer it would be much appreciated xD

- If i get a Greek Truck Drivers Licence , what would i need to do to be legal in US ? - Will i be able to work in the US ? ( i understand for a green card i need a company endorsment / invitation ) - How physical demanding the job is on average ? ( no illnesses or handicaps , but i do need to gain some mass/weight ) - What would be the average pay per mile for an inexperienced driver ? ( just some indicator ) - Have no driving experience ( as work ) at all , would that pose a problem ?

Thats for starters , will bombard you lot some more later on as i get more information

Thank you very much for your time

Nickolaos "Nosferatou_" Papantoniou
Keith A.'s Comment
member avatar

The specifics regarding getting here I don't know. Workload wise depends on the division you go into. Flatbed can be labor intensive, dedicated accounts, P&D , those will require a lot. Dryvan no-touch freight is not really that intesive at all. Rate wise, first year drivers seem to place between 30 and 40 thousand, depending on division again and some luck. I'm brand new to this but that's what I've picked up either here or in my own research elsewhere

P&D:

Pickup & Delivery

Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.

LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.

Dryvan:

A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Scott M's Comment
member avatar

You need to have a USA driver's license for 1 year before you can get a trucker's CDL CLASS A license.

Your question of having no experience at work- It is important to get properly trained- company schoolIng or private schooling- companies require a certificate from a school. This is CRITICAL. You need training plus insurance drives this requirement so you become a safe excellent driver.

Rate for inexperienced driver- Solo or team? Varies greatly from company to company. You need to research this on this website or contact company. I trained as solo. CPM varies- solo- around 30 to 44.5 as OTR. 44.5 is PRIME out of Springfiefd MO.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

CPM:

Cents Per Mile

Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Nickolaos P.'s Comment
member avatar

Thank you very much for your answers and time , much appreciated

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