My Journey To A New Life As An OTR Trucker Begins
Topic 758 | Page 4
Yeah, just apply everywhere you can and keep calling them - don't wait for them to call you. They're not very good about that.
But let us know how it turns out. If Swift hired you then I expect others will also.
Yeah, just apply everywhere you can and keep calling them - don't wait for them to call you. They're not very good about that.
But let us know how it turns out. If Swift hired you then I expect others will also.
I will do that, Brett. I have now applied to Swift, Knight, Celadon and Millis so far. Filling these apps out is time consuming. Tomorrow, I will apply to Roehl, FFE, Stevens, and Prime.
Okay, I have completed sending out applications. I have applied to Swift, Knight, Celadon, Millis, Prime, Stevens, FFE, and a small reefer company out of Fort Worth, Raider Express.
Raider just started a new CDL training program that looks very good, and the company seems to be very highly regarded. They boast of having 39% of their drivers still employed after two years, which appears to be outstanding in the OTR reefer trucking industry. They have a young fleet after recent upgrading, and the company operates 200 tractors and 470 trailers. The pay and benefits look competitive as well once out of training. The Raider Express service area consists of 60% inbound and outbound Texas freight, 93% customer based freight, 99% no touch freight, no HAZMAT , and many runs are drop/hook. They run mainly east of the Rockies, and also have terminals in Houston and New Jersey.
The CDL program is very inexpensive, and apparently is held in their Fort Worth yard. There does not seem to be a contract, and the training is paid back at $75 per week. However, from what I read, it only costs a total of $900. My guess is one may have to take care of living expenses while in their course though. I will call the recruiter if I have not heard from them in the next couple of days and post what I find out.
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.
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
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.
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.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Hey Tim, let me commend you on your posts. You are a great example of perseverance and dogged ambition, wow.
I went to a private school and just wrapped up orientation at Averitt. If I can help in any way, I will be honored to. I haven't been on the road yet (hopefully Sunday or Monday), but I can give good insight on a newbs beginning (I knew nothing about trucking until I discovered this site).
Oh, there is a page here where you can fill out one application that will be sent to several companies. I am goobered out right now and can't remember the link, but it is here somewhere...
Hey Tim, let me commend you on your posts. You are a great example of perseverance and dogged ambition, wow.
I went to a private school and just wrapped up orientation at Averitt. If I can help in any way, I will be honored to. I haven't been on the road yet (hopefully Sunday or Monday), but I can give good insight on a newbs beginning (I knew nothing about trucking until I discovered this site).
Oh, there is a page here where you can fill out one application that will be sent to several companies. I am goobered out right now and can't remember the link, but it is here somewhere...
Thanks RT. I have applied to all I am going to at present. I also wanted to apply with Roehl, but they don't hire from my area at present. Swift has already said they will put me into their training academy, so I have that to fall back on, but I am confident I will hear from some of these others soon as well. To be honest, the last couple of months have been hellacious. I doubt little if any problems I see on the road will be as tough to get through as the death of ones mother, and being unemployed and having some health issues to deal with and overcome that could keep me from my dream job. I plan on taking a DOT physical next week to see if I can pass it, which I believe I will now.
Now, to get back to the High Road training.
Good luck to you and your start at Averitt.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Well folks, I am going for my DOT physical tomorrow. A lot is riding on passing it. Keeping my fingers crossed on my hearing aids working and my BP being good.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Let us know how it goes!!!
Let us know how it goes!!!
I just got back from San Antonio where I took my DOT physical. WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! Not only did I pass it, but I somehow managed a TWO year medical card. I thought I was calm throughout the ordeal, but I only barely squeaked by on BP, and my pulse was racing like a greyhound with its tail on fire. I thought I was pretty calm through the ordeal, but when it was all over I could not believe how the weight of the world came off my shoulders. That was stressful knowing that your dreams were on a fine edged precipice. I was pretty worried about my hearing whisper test. The lady who conducted much of my physical was a little filipina that I could barely understand even with my hearing aids she had such an accent. I really thought I would fail the hearing test, but somehow I heard the numbers she whispered.
Now, onto the easier part, passing the CDL written tests. I know I will pass them without problem because of the High Road and all the practice tests. I should be finishing the High Road up in the next few days, then I will go to the TX DPS and test.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
What all did they do for a DOT physical?? other than the forced whisper, BP and turn your head and cough. I'm due to go anytime, and Im curious what is expected......
Though ... I'm not sure I think the CDL written will be easier ...... lol
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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I received an email to contact my Swift recruiter if I was still interested in working for them, so I called him today and they want to send me to their training academy in Corsicana. I guess I cleared their background check, etc. The recruiter sent me some pre-Academy documents and study materials. I am not obligated to Swift until I go to the Academy, although they want me to go within 30 days or otherwise I must contact them. Swift is the only company I have applied to, and they are not my first choice. The problem is my financial situation is looking more and more grim, and I may not have the money to attend anything other than company sponsored training. Therefore, tomorrow I am applying at Millis, Roehl, Prime, Knight, FFE, Stevens, Celadon, and Central Refrigeration. I will make my ultimate choice from one of these companies most likely, unless somehow my financial outlook changes for the better. I understand FFE may be merging with Knight, so I don't know what effect if any that may have on that choice. I am also going to schedule my DOT physical and prepare to take my CDL-A and endorsement exams within the next couple of weeks if possible. So that folks is where I am at this point.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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.