Gonna Be A OTR Driver.....Soon.....I Hope

Here's some stuff about the Not-Comfort-Inn just behind your driver seat. Yes, the sleeper:
You have some cabinets, and something you could maybe agree was a closet if someone told you it was. A place or two to write on (unless your lower bunk can turn into a table nook!)

These days you could even have a small built-in refrigerator (not a cooler - a real refrigerator with a tiny freezer) and either a TV or a place to hang a flat screen. No kitchen no sink no bathroom or toilet. Lots of 12v "cigarette lighter" sockets for all those 12v appliances (there is a 12v oven you an get at truck stops!)

Keep this in mind: the bed & mattress you will get is a XL Twin, so look for sheets that have XLT for a size. After a while you will have enough stuff tucked in there that when it comes time to swap trucks it will take you maybe an hour or so to swap into your new one.

Learn to love the Sleeper cab life!

I'm enrolled in Tampa Truck Driving School

Spoke to them first about a year ago Then made the decision to go for it which I'm doing

I like them Very helpful and friendly and no pressure at all

Prior to them I did talk to another school but I didn't like their approach I didn't feel like I was getting the candid answers I wanted

I'm very satisfied with the school I'm enrolled in I feel like they've shot very straight with me and again, no pressure at all from them

I'm maybe a real PITA in that I'm seventy four years old, with no shortage of life experiances, and appreciate the way the people at the school have walked me thru it.

I'm very comfortable with them

Mike, this may interest you...

I started my trucking career at 53 years of age. It was a second career for me after 30 years of being in the electrical sign business. On the day I got hired at my first trucking job, they also hired a man who was 73! There is no age discrimination in this career. Since then I have met several people in their 80's.

Here's a link to a conversation about the time I met "Eugene" - a flatbed driver in his 80's

Trucking For The Long Haul

You can start at any age, Mike. You just need to see things through. Age, gender, race, background really don’t matter as much as getting the job done, once you get hired as a driver.

I see you are from Florida. Not a bunch of companies hiring out of there compared to other states. Will your driving school offer any assistance with job placement following graduation? Something you need to think about prior to signing the dotted line for a private school.

We’re glad you’re here and asking questions!

Errol V and Old School.....Thanks for the input

Going back around twenty years or more I became friendly with a competitor who was a driver of I believe it was a Volvo called, I think, a Salon" or something of the like. He and I were setting up trade shows and became friendly. Even then I had this yearning to be an OTR driver I thought my ideal retirement was owning a truck like the Volvo my competitor drove and living on the road. Sure, I guess unrealistic but I wanted then (and before) to pursue this.

When it became known within the industry I've spent alot of years in that I was making a change I recieved alot of comments from people saying that they guessed I've finially decided to drive a truck.

I have no visions of a truck like my competitor dove however what I'm learning about the equipment that I'll be driving I feel pretty good about.

Sure was a cool truck though It had a living room!

Pack Rat, yeah, I'm (I think) hired when I complete the school. The people at the school have given me a pretty clear road map as to where I'm headed when I complete the school.

Yes, I learned early on, years ago with my research, that if I lived in Indy life in the hiring catagory would be alot easier. Matter of fact I thought I was headed in a good direction with a company just a few weeks ago but their border line for hiring stopped at Tampa and I live south of Tampa. So for the sake of fifty miles I didn't qualify for hiring.

I spoke to a lady at CRST (I think I have that right?) but she wanted only team drivers which does' not appeal to me. She was very nice and very professional however the job was teaming me up with another driver and off we go. Well, I dont want to do that so we had a nice conversation but it just didn't appeal to me. I believe they were in Jacksonville, Florida.

I think it's tough to live with another driver who you dont know in such a confined area on an ongoing basis?

I have no issue with the team thinking but I'd have to be very comfortable with who my team mate is. My grandson is 25 and I asked him if he wanted to do it with me but he didn't seem all that keen with the idea.

I dont smoke I dont drink I did both....alot...for alot of years but neither one now. I dont think I'd be real comfortable with a co driver that smoked or rank. Believe me, I'm no preacher but at my age I want as much of it my way as I can get

Are you still beginning school today, Mike C.?

Hi Mike,

Old School has answered many of your questions and I'm probably repeating some of what he said. When I started I wasn't told that for the company I worked for it was 7 days out 1 day off with a maximum of 5 days off at one time. It's important to get that information so you know what to expect. Once on you're own your dispatcher will probably try to push you to do your best. Remember it's important that you work with that Dispatcher, but run safe and legal. Do the best you can to be on time, try to make it all the time and if you're going to be late communicate that information. Establishing yourself will help you get more miles which equates to more money.

My experience is to work with your dispatcher because they are the ones giving you your miles. I was almost always on time, except when the shipper loaded me late or dispatcher sent me late. These are not you fault and if you can't make the schedule make sure they know right away. If you do this you'll establish yourself as a reliable driver and get more miles. I was lucky I had a good dispatcher and she realized my potential and I progressed quickly. I would stay out more than most being SINGLE and so I stayed out 2 or more months at a time still only getting 5 days off but if i need a couple more days they worked with me. Again all this was after I established myself. I really enjoyed my time over the road and was making good money, but had to take a local job to be closer to my Parents because of health reasons.

One other thing I'm not sure what you're plan is but talk to drivers and decide which division you might like, Flatbed and tTankerdo have some slow times, I was Refer even certain time are slow there too. Make sure if you haven't made up your mind to talk to those drivers. Most drivers are happy to talk to you and even when i'd stop during break I'd sit and talk to other company drivers, most are easy to chat with. There will be some that won't like the company you work for but I always approached it as you're just another person I want to talk to. I rarely had problems talking to any driver. Finally drivers like to tell stories and so take what they say and sort through whats a story and whats truth. That in itself is sometimes difficult.

I wish you good luck it's a great job.