Game: Rookie Unrealistic Expectations

Rainy, I'm confused with your very first itemized "unrealistic expectation." Going local right out of CDL school is certainly not an unrealistic expectation. Rookie drivers do it all the time in the greater Harrisburg, York, and Carlisle area of Pennsylvania. I did. It's quite common here.

We used to have what we're called bookstores so I went to a used book store and bought a case of books. I would trade them in every so often when I finished a bunch of them.

That's a great point, despite the internet and tablets, I still like to read an actual book. Remember seeing the used book section at the library when I took my kids, $0.50 per book, may have to pick up a few. I typically read one a day or two days so maybe a crate is a good idea but once I'm done training.

Rainy, I'm confused with your very first itemized "unrealistic expectation." Going local right out of CDL school is certainly not an unrealistic expectation. Rookie drivers do it all the time in the greater Harrisburg, York, and Carlisle area of Pennsylvania. I did. It's quite common here.

Awesome you have those opportunities in your area. Some areas aren't like that. In my area even if you do find a local job, without the one year OTR experience, you make about half what an experienced driver would make which isnt enough to live on here. Plus, NJ has really high insurance. Even my friend who owns his own fleet of ten trucks told me to wait the year OTR then come work for him. He could still only guarantee three days a week home. He said the home every a night isn't as profitable for smaller companies due to bureaucratic BS costs.

The USPS contracts out their routes. I knew the schedules due to working at the processing center and thought I'd give a try at those.companies.

For regional home every other night I'd get $15 per hour. For a box truck home every night I'd get $12.50 an hour. I made $26-40 per hour in the processing center. So why spend thousands to get the CDL to make half? Aldi's cashiers are making $11.50 per hour in my area.

That amount in WV or AL might be great. But not here. Not for a single person.

Rainy, I've never had to turn my truck in and I've spent 2 separate stretches of 6 days at home.

To me it's strange that y'all have to do that.

Rainy, I'm confused with your very first itemized "unrealistic expectation." Going local right out of CDL school is certainly not an unrealistic expectation. Rookie drivers do it all the time in the greater Harrisburg, York, and Carlisle area of Pennsylvania. I did. It's quite common here.

Awesome you have those opportunities in your area. Some areas aren't like that. In my area even if you do find a local job, without the one year OTR experience, you make about half what an experienced driver would make which isnt enough to live on here. Plus, NJ has really high insurance. Even my friend who owns his own fleet of ten trucks told me to wait the year OTR then come work for him. He could still only guarantee three days a week home. He said the home every a night isn't as profitable for smaller companies due to bureaucratic BS costs.

The USPS contracts out their routes. I knew the schedules due to working at the processing center and thought I'd give a try at those.companies.

For regional home every other night I'd get $15 per hour. For a box truck home every night I'd get $12.50 an hour. I made $26-40 per hour in the processing center. So why spend thousands to get the CDL to make half? Aldi's cashiers are making $11.50 per hour in my area.

That amount in WV or AL might be great. But not here. Not for a single person.

A buddy of mine was able to get a local job right out school with Coke hauling product to various places and stock shelves and coolers. Too much leg work for me haha!

Any myths I had were pretty much busted when I went on a 2 week ride along with my uncle. Really put a lot of things in perspective just from an observer point of view.

I thought I would like the solitude more than I do. I like solitude but enjoy company too.

Rainy, I've never had to turn my truck in and I've spent 2 separate stretches of 6 days at home.

To me it's strange that y'all have to do that.

Think it has to do with demand for trucks and costs. Swift is the same. More than 3 days, hand in the keys

As a rookie myself, I just did my first "drive all night". My unrealistic expectation was that when my partner and I swapped this morning, that I'd get in the bunk and sleep my whole 10 hours. That top bunk is NOT the place to get any sleep. Tips from any team drivers here on how to best sleep while rolling will be much appreciated. I think I slept 2 hours, at least I can sleep in my bed tonight.

Rainy, I'm confused with your very first itemized "unrealistic expectation." Going local right out of CDL school is certainly not an unrealistic expectation. Rookie drivers do it all the time in the greater Harrisburg, York, and Carlisle area of Pennsylvania. I did. It's quite common here.

I'm not in same area you are, but here in Iowa there's local companies hiring you and then sending you to school on their dime, that you're home every night and make great money. I actually just had my first day of class today. They are paying for my schooling with a 1 year contract, but also paying me 15 an hr while in class (40 hours a week for 4 weeks), then goes up to nearly 23 an hr once CDL in hand and going through 12 weeks 1 on 1 training with the company. Also being paid a meal allowance per day of 50 dollars, they're paying my lodging as school is 200 miles from home, and paying me 87 cents per mile driven in personal vehicle from time I left home til I return after week of class ( 47 cents per mile is company rate when travelling for work, and 40 cents depreciation on vehicle).

This is foodservice delivery as opposed to the LTL gig you landed, But this is exactly the kind of agreement I've needed to finally jump in. Its only 1 year, which I know it's gonna be difficult backs and very labor intensive but after the 1 year I'll re evaluate how I feel physically and decide what I want to do. I've wanted to do this for quite some time but having young kids (year and a half, and a 4 month old), and making nearly 60k a year at my warehouse job made me put it on hold.

To anybody reading this that may feel this is how they want to join the industry as well.....keep in mind I have over 5 years foodservice warehouse experience and what I was offered was, in my opinion, a way of luring me away from Sysco (previous company) and switch over to PFG (current company) as they felt I'd be a perfect match knowing the physicality involved as well as knowing the product as it's very similar between the two.

As a rookie myself, I just did my first "drive all night". My unrealistic expectation was that when my partner and I swapped this morning, that I'd get in the bunk and sleep my whole 10 hours. That top bunk is NOT the place to get any sleep. Tips from any team drivers here on how to best sleep while rolling will be much appreciated. I think I slept 2 hours, at least I can sleep in my bed tonight.

Never have and never will be a team driver, but I'd personally try and work it out with your co that if one is driving, the other sleeps in the bottom bunk. Speaking strictly from a safety standpoint, even you have the safety net latched in, what if it somehow comes undone or breaks and you get into a wreck? I know I'd feel more comfortable lower to the ground.