Turning In My 24 Years On Patrol To Becoming An OTR Truck Driver. Any Advice For A Female Starting Out?

Hey Six Stings, If your ever in the Outer Banks of NC again let me know. I will show you around. There is so much to this place that you miss from the road.

Thanks Ernie for the suggestion. I am actually from Cumberland County NC area so I will move back home before I start with any carrier. Ha! here's proof for sure that I am a rookie driver..... I had to look up what a "Reefer" truck was. You tell a cop to go drive a reefer truck and they will look at you funny. You had me there for a min..

Larry,

Thanks for setting me straight on BOL. I suppose you shook your head when you saw I called it Laden. Oh well, I will be the first to admit that I got a long way to go to call myself a driver. I like your input on how companies handle them. I worked for a short time as a security officer for Premier. I loved working with the drivers and apparently they weren't used to someone with a good attitude. Even when they gave me a hard time when I had to photograph their trucks (Locks/trailer number) I still liked being around them. Thanks again Larry.

Mountain Girl,

Thanks for the positive remark. I guess it will be like eating a pie, one piece at a time. I sure look forward to be out there on the open road.

Larry,

Thanks for sharing that you too are in LE. In NC you have to give 30 years of service before you can fully retire, unless you age out. I guess I am just tired of risking my life for only $500 a week. That's after 24 years on patrol too. Looking for other options and I really appreciate the trucking industry. I have always looked out for my CDL drivers while on shift. I know how hard of a time they have with 4 wheelers. Take care Larry.

Mr.donna ty for your service. u know i believe that u pick a fine new career for yourself

have u been using the study materials here?

what route ru going to take; company training or private schooling???

well whatever u do i wish u luck / blessings.

lilrichie

Larry,

Thanks for setting me straight on BOL. I suppose you shook your head when you saw I called it Laden. Oh well, I will be the first to admit that I got a long way to go to call myself a driver. I like your input on how companies handle them. I worked for a short time as a security officer for Premier. I loved working with the drivers and apparently they weren't used to someone with a good attitude. Even when they gave me a hard time when I had to photograph their trucks (Locks/trailer number) I still liked being around them. Thanks again Larry.

Ms. Donna, that is what we are here for. I didn't shake my head at all since I've been there done that. This is my third career and each one has their own lingo and ways. That is part of the fun; you get to learn new things. With your background, you will do fine in this industry.

Have fun in your journey and don't hesitate to jump on here with questions.

My hesitation is that I am weak in backing. I can back a horse trailer and boat just fine but backing a big rig intimidates me. I am afraid I will get an assignment where I have to back into a loading dock/area that is tight. I also want to know about Bills of Laden and how you select the trips you take. Ha! I guess I am a "Rookie" again. Not crazy about that!....Well, any ideas, comments (no cop haters please), suggestions or support will be appreciated. Thanks!...Ms. Donna

Hello ms Donna I have a couple of things to add. First off I'll address the backing thing. If you've backed up small trailers like horse trailers and boats, a big 53 ft trailer is the same concept and in fact, the bigger the trailer, the easier it is to do. It takes them much longer to react so you have a bit more control over them. It's only intimidating because odd the size but IMO they are much easier than small trailers.

Bills of laden are handled different depending on the company. My company will give you an app to download on your smart phone that scans the documents (takes a picture) of each page and had you send them in that way. You also scan receipts for tolls or fuel to send in and get reimbursed for.

As far as "selecting" trips you take well good luck with that. Lots of companies simply tell you where you're getting dispatched and you go. You can ask your dispatcher to send you to areas and if they have freight going that way you're in luck. When you first start out you have very little input on where you go until you prove yourself to the dispatchers. Look on the trucking websites for the term "forced dispatch." Some companies are more lenient than others. It really depends on the company and who they have freight contracts with that determines where you can go. Also depends on the type of trailer you pull, for instance you now know about "refer" truck's. If you pull one of those you'll be hauling produce and will be making many trips to California to haul out of. That's not all refers haul but it's a huge part of it.

There is so much to learn about the industry I'm only mentioning a tiny little pin prick of it. I wish you all the luck in the world and thank you for years of service in law enforcement.

LilRichie, Larry E, and Terry C,

I spent all day yesterday watching youtube and listening to drivers explain the industry. And I mean all day. I pulled out my lap top at the kitchen table, put in my ear phones (which add so much clarity) and watched trucker blogs. Some drivers are really entertaining. I found out how hard it is for truckers. From leaving a dock with a heavy load where there is no weigh scales and busting your hump to get to one only to find a cop waiting at the gate to stop you (man that ticked me off and you know already I am a cop) - and why I am on that I was watching a two man crew blog video where a cop stopped them for texting and no seat belt when in fact they were filming a new blog at the time and she was clearly wearing an orange seat belt and no where near her phone. This is just harassment. I put that on my facebook page because I have alot of friends on FB that work for the state working weigh stations and interstates...Any way - truckers have a hard time. I also noticed that a lot of truckers were talking about how there was no support towards each other in the field. How there was CB bashing of each other, no one offering to help spot each other in a tight squeeze and how women were not respected in a mans field of work. I tell you, watching all that perspective from different posters I got discouraged. I am leaving a career field where all that is going on (I suppose that means I would be use to it) and I sure don't wont to get involved with a lot of ugly attitudes. Tell me, what have you guys experienced out there with other truckers? I am not a social butterfly. I keep to myself most of the time and will be the first to step up to help someone but I don't stick around and gab. I just want to get it there and back. How does a woman truck driver gain respect out there? or at least not run over. Any way, as far a training goes - I think I am still gonna stick with getting my CDL on my own and then sign up with a company. I know in this scenario I may have to go through training twice but at least I will reduce my chances of failure. I have been watching backing videos over and over and I think I will be better at it than I thought. We will see...My current work schedule gives me 14 days off a month. So, I have been asking my trucking friends if I can ride with them on a trip or two to see how it really is on the road but they have company policies where they can't have passengers. If any one out there is willing to let me ride with them, I would like to. As long as I can carry my Glock. (and its on a professional basis - aint looking no hook up, got no time for that!) Well, I am starting my shift soon. Thanks for the intel guys. I sure enjoy hearing from you. MSDonna

Signing on...

...looking forward to catching up on the thread.

It seems we have quite a few folks leaving "first half of life" careers to start up "second half of life careers".

I was a recording engineer in Nashville for 25 years.