I've Managed To Do The (nearly) Impossible

As some of y'all know, I tested out on Friday June 30th. Now 11 days later I have officially accepted my first trucking job. The (almost) impossible part is it is a local company called Tyler Trucking in Racine WV. Company consists of roughly 50 tractors which are very well maintained long nose Pete's and some older Kenworths. The trucks are all really clean inside and out and the owner seems to run a tight ship. I actually googled their CSA report and there has been ZERO out of service failures for the last few years which gives me confidence in them. I know some may disagree with this practice but I will be pulling a lowboy trailer hauling equipment which at times will be oversized but not to the point requiring pilot cars. Will be home most every day with 1-2 nights per week spent in the truck. Also due to reduced speeds and mileage it's an hourly pay job of $26.50 an hour. What? My last job paid $9 an hour for something I did for many years and with a little over 4 weeks of school I've almost tripled my salary? Should have done this years ago.

I owe a huge thanks to everyone here. Y'all may not really know me but I spent so much time in the background reading and absorbing every word of advice posted especially that of Daniel B. and Old School but everyone here gives such solid advice. Brett should be extremely proud of what this site has become and so should everyone else. I have already recommended this place to many and will continue to do so in the future.

Tomorrow is my first day of training but before we get started I have to do a drug test and DOT physical yet again.

Thanks for everything guys (and gals).

Wow Minnis. That's a heck of a first job to land straight out of school. It sounds like they know what they're doing over there so I'm guessing they'll start you out pretty slow with a trainer for a while. I think every experienced driver that reads this is going to gasp a little bit at the thought of someone fresh out of school pulling oversize loads on a lowboy through some of the most rugged mountains in the East. You have your work cut out for you, that's for sure.

Just take everything real slow. Once you get out there on your own don't get into situations you're unsure of without asking someone for advice. Make sure you have the phone numbers of some of the other drivers, and of course the office, and ask for advice if you're facing a tricky situation.

Have they said anything about going out with a trainer at first? What's their plans for you?

Love this line:

". Also due to reduced speeds and mileage it's an hourly pay job of $26.50 an hour. What? My last job paid $9 an hour for something I did for many years and with a little over 4 weeks of school I've almost tripled my salary?"

Have they said anything about going out with a trainer at first? What's their plans for you?

Yes Brett, they actually came up with a brilliant plan. This company mainly hauls coal but has the equipment division that currently consists of 1 truck which they are looking to expand. Their trainer (who is also a good friend of mine and a big reason I landed this job) is also the equipment transporter. Their plan is for me to roll with him in a mostly solo setting for 3-4 weeks (a few loads will require him to use up a bit of his clock as well but not very often and not in a situation where I'll be driving alone) and after he feels I'm ready for my own truck we'll be running as a team of sorts but in separate trucks following each other around and moving 2 pieces of equipment at a time vs a single piece which will let us move on to the next job site sooner and start clearing up the backlog so I will always have my trainer within cb distance if an issue arises. If for some reason we don't have any loads one day we drop our lowboys and pick up coal buckets to haul coal for the day. The guy that owns this company definitely has a business mindset. Hopefully soon I can add to the "Flatbed Variety" thread once I figure out how to do the pictures. That upload feature sure would come in handy lol.

Love this line:

". Also due to reduced speeds and mileage it's an hourly pay job of $26.50 an hour. What? My last job paid $9 an hour for something I did for many years and with a little over 4 weeks of school I've almost tripled my salary?"

Thanks. I can't help but attempt to be a comedian. I think at times I missed my calling.

Congratulations Minnis! That's a great pay rate. Soak up everything you can when they're teaching you securement, and do some additional reading on it as much as you can. You'll do fine as long as you take it easy and ask questions.

Post some pics on Flatbed Variety of you think of it, too. Love the West Virginia area and would love to see the loads.

Yeah those large machinery pullers rarely get out of services which is why insuring them is cheaper than insuring the dry vans pullers lol....congrats

Congratulations! Good luck.

Where do I apply?