The Journey Ends And A New One Begins..
Topic 2711 | Page 1
Maybe try to find a dispatcher job or a diesel mechanic.
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.
I thought about doing dispatch but dont you need to have driven or been in the industry a while to do that? Also the mechanic idea is something that sounds great too
Nick, most drivers have a different personality that doesn't always translate over into being a good dispatcher , consequently most dispatchers I've encountered have never driven a truck. I think I have a really great dispatcher, but he was a professional football player before he became a dispatcher.
There are a lot of different jobs at a trucking company terminal. There are people who monitor the electronic logs of the drivers, there are usually shuttle van drivers to escort drivers into town or to the hotel. There are people who issue equipment out to drivers, people who keep up with the trucks and trailers that enter and leave the property. There are people giving road tests to new drivers, safety coordinators, people doing training for new drivers, people teaching how to use electronic logs, people issuing trucks out, people cleaning trucks, and on and on.
Electronic Logs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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.
Hi Nick...if you can hang in long enough to get your CDL A then you will have more options even if you don't want to go OTR...Check some of the trucking company websites and see what their hiring for and apply for jobs in your area...having the CDL can't hurt and maybe even if you had to pay Prime back for finishing the Training I would try to finish but that's just me.
Good Luck
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.
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Advice For New Truck Drivers Becoming A Truck Driver Truck Driving Lifestyle
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Sadly after all the studying I did on this very site and traveling to Prime to begin my training to earn my CDL I ended up cutting the journey short when I realized as much as I love the industry and the tractors and how they work it just was not for me to actually drive one and it took me actually going through training for a month to come to this understanding. I may not end up a trucker myself but I want to ask you all what else can some one who loves it so much do in the industry beside actually being on the road. I do not want to walk away from this path all together and I am wondering if any of you know some other ways I can stay near something I enjoy. : )
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: