About To Sign, Get It In Writing First?
Topic 26407 | Page 1
Welcome, Tina. Join the fun!
What company are you signing with? We have people from many trucking companies, and they could get you exact information.
We feel Paid CDL Training Programs are the best way to get started in OTR trucking. Yes, you need to sign a contract to pay off the tuition over (usually) one year. And on the other hand, your pay per mile may vary. Distance, load, origin and destination all come in for various loads. So there's no promising that. The usual rookie year may start out slow, both so you can get used to your new lifestyle, and so your dispatcher can figure out what kind of driver you'll be.
The most important relationship you will have is going to be between you and your Driver Manager (DM/dispatcher). It's a team effort. What you put into that relationship will determine how much freight you pull over how many miles in a week. You might think of 2000 miles as a doable goal in a week, though if you get something like 1500, you're doing good. Not to worry, if you get your assignments done, you'll be making more than your basic "nut".
I'm glad you are looking forward to training others. Yes, female drivers are still rarer than they should be, but companies are doing their best to "even out" the balance. And having a student on board is a good way to put even more into your paycheck. This is a good combination for you.
Many have asked about the difference between the dry van and refers. I pulled only a few refers on a local route for a while. I understand refer loads are often live loaded/unloaded and may take several hours on either end of the trip. On the other hand, you'll mostly be driving across the country more than in a dry van. The refer people here will fill you in better soon.
Come on in, Tina, make yourself at home. One thing you could do is to start a training diary on the CDL Training Diaries forum.
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.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Driver Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dry Van:
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.
Hi Errol V,
Thank you for your reply.
I’m signing with Swift. I was told that after so long I will be reimbursed for my portion. I was also told that I was tagged for a specific dedicated run. 2 weeks on, 2 days off. I’m assuming being “tagged” was a sales pitch but I’m hoping for the best!
I read the article about paid training versus on your own, that’s what helped me decide. I’ve been making good use of this site. Such an incredible resource of knowledge.
As soon as I posted my question I saw the article about reefer/dry van. I’m hoping if there is anything else though that someone will let me know.
Great to know about the importance of the relationship with my DM/dispatcher!
Start a diary? Really? That makes me even more nervous than driving a truck! LOL I’ll take a look at the entries and see if others get as “passionate” as I would want to. Don’t want to offend anyone.
Thank you so much!
Dedicated Run:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dry Van:
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.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
I started my career with Swift. In fact, here's my training diary:
It's four years old, but you'll get the idea.
Generally 2 weeks on then 2 days off is the usual ratio. I started OTR , and within four months got switched to a shuttle assignment. Home every day, went to the same location, swapped trailers with another driver and came back to Memphis. Then a few months later, I asked to be put on a regional job (stared in the Southeast USA), and was home every weekend.
The assignments all had different pay structures, and as I've noted different kinds of off time.
(BTW I'm not with Swift anymore but I run a contract school in Memphis.)
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
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.
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Hi everyone!!
I’m about to sign on with company sponsored training. I’ve been told by the company recruiter a certain amount per mile but have yet to see it in writing. All the logistics of what I owe them is in writing but nothing else. I don’t know if I would be breaking with protocol to ask. Also, I found out that, once I’ve been on my own a certain amount of time, that they are in need of on the road female mentors and what that pays. I couldn’t believe my luck! Driving and teaching adults, especially when it comes to safety and practical knowledge is a passion of mine but if someone is going to live with me, for any amount of time, I want to know it’ll be a fair exchange.
Oh, one more question. Dry van versus refer, any real difference besides making sure that the cooling unit is always operational? I’ll not lie, I would love hazmat but this company doesn’t offer it. Perhaps in a couple of years.
Thank you for any input.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Dry Van:
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.Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.