Need Some Advice In Considering Becoming A Truck Driver.

Yes Celadon is a company, they are based out of Indianapolis, IN they are growing fast and in the process of adding tankers and flatbeds to their fleet.

Celadon is adding tankers and flatbeds?

The owner came into our class to talk to us and was asked about it and he said they are in the process of acquiring some of both as well as reefers. Take it for what you will but I wanted to do tankers and they have told me what I need to do.

- If any of you had to do it over again, where would a good place be to have your residence in relation to your home time off? Or is this a question that does not have a real answer because of too many variables?

It really doesn't matter where you live. You'll still usually be home on time.

But some places are easier to get you home on time than others. For example, my company has 4 different training schools in the state of CA. A majority of the drivers are from CA. So its very hard to get home usually. My dispatcher always has to get creative to get me home. I never enter CA unless I'm going home.

Just about every week I'm driving through I80 in Nebraska. So if I could choose a location to live I would live somewhere in NE that way I would be able to stop by my house once in a while instead of every 6 weeks.

Now that's a plan. It would be something that I would want to do as long as it was "on the way." The only thing needed for this is knowing where your routine (if there is such a thing) runs take you. I have wondered about the homeless thing. With all the traveling you do, I would think that if you were "homeless" you would probably make more money in that you would not have the expenses of maintaining a home. Hmmm... something to think about.

- I am presently making about $11.12 per hour/40 hours per week. If I am not mistaken, truck drivers are making a lot more than that. Will starting out pay (once you are turned loose as a solo driver) be comparable or better?

It will be better. I am on pace to make about 31k annually for my first year. I take my hometime as much as I can also. But you also need to know that a 40 hour week is a super slow week for us. We usually work 60-70 hours per week.

- Rider policies mean that you can take your wife (or significant other) with you on your road trips? And pet policy means the same with pets?

Exactly. At my company it costs 150$ for a passenger and 500$ for a pet. There is an age requirement for a passenger and there's usually a weight limit on your pet.

- I am a veteran and have GI Bill benefits. Do you know if the GI Bill will cover the cost of Truck Driving School? I have read on some trucking company sites about Vet benefits. I am not sure I understand what they mean by that.

I'm not a pro on this subject. I'll let someone more educated answer this. Again, I'm not confident about my answer and don't want to mislead you.

- The DOT physical. Do I seek out a doctor who is authorized to perform DOT physicals and get one from him? Or do the companies who are hiring have their own and conduct their own physicals during orientation?

If you attend a company sponsored school then you don't have to worry about it. They cover the DOT physical. They can either conduct a physical within their facility or they'll send you somewhere where you can get it done. Either way, its very simple and the company has it covered.

Thanks for all of that. Good stuff to know!

So the course of action is to study for your D rating and pass those tests. Then with the D rating, I can obtain a CDL permit that will allow me to enroll in a school (or company schooling)? Can a person get a D rating without a road test? Were you able to use your GI Bill for schooling?

A class D license is just a regular ole car driving license. Many states refer to it as a class D license. Some states, like Florida, call it a class E license.

In order to get the CDL permit you already have to have a regular license AND you have to pass the general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicles written tests. This is the requirement for Florida and I imagine for many other states, if not all, as well. The CDL permit allows you to drive a combination vehicle (semi-truck) while in training as long as a person with a valid CDL (instructor) is in the truck with you.

I did use my GI Bill to pay for my CDL school. It is school dependent whether or not the GI Bill can be used so you would have to check with the school itself. Most do offer it.

Doh! Okay. I was confused on that as years ago in Illinois, a class D was for the big truck license. So yeah, that makes sense. I will just have to get a regular license in the state that I declare "home" so I have a residency status. Like I said, I am leaning toward TX as they do not have state income tax where IL does. I believe FL is also a state without state income tax. Just trying to plan to keep more of my money as possible.

Good to know about the VA option. I'll definitely use it if I can!

Thank you all for your advice so far. This is really rich.

So here's another n00B question. Since drivers work 60 - 70 hours per week, it appears there is no such thing as "overtime", or? I knew when I stated my present 40 per week wage that you guys work way more than that. I was just wanting to compare my take home pay with what to expect starting out driving, if it was comparable or more. Glad to see that it will be more. I like moving up. But, there is no overtime with this work style?

I would probably avoid FL. Nothing wrong with the state. But a lot of companies don't hire from FL because there's little freight going out of FL. If you deliver in FL then you'll most likely be deadheading a few hundred miles to GA just to pick up a load. FL is not a hiring state for most companies.

Overtime does not exist unless you're a local driver working by the hour. There is absolutely no overtime. You'll definitely pocket more but this job is honestly not for the money. It's for the lifestyle. Truth be told, for the money we make and the hours we work it probably averages out to 10$ an hour. You live at work. So when you compare the rediculously long hours we work to our salary you would see that the pay is actually low for how much we put into it.

So like I said. The job is strictly for the lifestyle. If you hate waking up to work and can't deal with the loniness and the everyday challenges than you'll be depressed no matter how much more you make.

I realize I kinda went off course but I just want you to not come into trucking expecting to get rich. But for your first year I would plan to get 30-34k depending on miles and how much hometime you take.

I would probably avoid FL. Nothing wrong with the state. But a lot of companies don't hire from FL because there's little freight going out of FL. If you deliver in FL then you'll most likely be deadheading a few hundred miles to GA just to pick up a load. FL is not a hiring state for most companies.

Overtime does not exist unless you're a local driver working by the hour. There is absolutely no overtime. You'll definitely pocket more but this job is honestly not for the money. It's for the lifestyle. Truth be told, for the money we make and the hours we work it probably averages out to 10$ an hour. You live at work. So when you compare the rediculously long hours we work to our salary you would see that the pay is actually low for how much we put into it.

So like I said. The job is strictly for the lifestyle. If you hate waking up to work and can't deal with the loniness and the everyday challenges than you'll be depressed no matter how much more you make.

I realize I kinda went off course but I just want you to not come into trucking expecting to get rich. But for your first year I would plan to get 30-34k depending on miles and how much hometime you take.

Thanks, Daniel, for you honest answer. I don't "know" anything about trucking hence the questions. But I also do not want to change my lifestyle and take a hit on my take-home pay just for the sake of the lifestyle. I am not sure how old the oldest truck drivers are, but I figure (barring any unforeseen health issues) that I have at least 10 more years of work in me and ending my work years driving around the country (most likely with my wife with me) enjoying the scenery and all that comes with it would be an interesting change from what I have done for most of my life. There must be a lot of 'positives' in this field or there wouldn't be many people doing it.

Definitely a lot of positives in trucking. Far more than negatives for me! It's a wonderful life if you're cut out for it. I drove with my wife for two months it was a blast!

Hey dude seems like we are on same ship

I am currently a 43 yo casino dealer in Reno and I am looking for a career change. I currently make about 50K take home and would be happy with the same income from this career. However, I would certainly like to make considerably more over time and have put away enough money to retire when that time comes. Since I was a little kid I always wanted to drive a truck. My step father was an OTR driver but I was too young to really grasp how it was for him. That was the 70's and he seemed to enjoy what he did. I went on a couple runs with him, and from what I remember was very bored.

I would greatly appreciate all your advice on where to train, what companies are best for the driver, and what a typical week in the life is like if possible. I would like to be in a truck that is clean and has the creature comforts since most of my life will be in the truck. Also, I think I would like to be an O/O so any advice on possible truck leases or purchases would be helpful, and what the best route to take to accomplish this.

I am an intelligent, college educated man that just did not like working for others and wants a career that I can succeed based on my desire.

If there is anyone in Reno that would be interested in taking me under their wing and mentoring me (if there is such a thing in this industry) I would be sincerely thankful.

I would greatly appreciate all your advice on where to train, what companies are best for the driver, and what a typical week in the life is like if possible

We have all of that and a whole lot more in our TruckDriver's Career Guide. It covers a ton of topics that pertain to getting your trucking career underway.

You'll also want to check out my book. There's a free online version of it: Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Trucking

If there is anyone in Reno that would be interested in taking me under their wing and mentoring me (if there is such a thing in this industry) I would be sincerely thankful.

There really isn't such a thing. Go through our trucker's career guide and it will tell you all about how to choose a school, how to choose a company, and all kinds of stuff.

I know from personnal experience that testing for your permit in New Hampshire requires you to have your Plastic New Hampshire DL, most states nowdays will issue a paper temp first and can take up to 60 it took me 53 days to get mine, Also, New Hampshire has no Personal Income tax either or sales tax, but Property taxes can be a bit intimidating if your not careful.