Tuesday I Will Start On A New Path
Topic 8763 | Page 1
I am considering a career also (so know that this advice comes from someone in your shoes). After reading through some of the posts and blogs on TT, it seems that the decision to go company or lease really depends on the person. Some experienced drivers have seemed to lean towards going with a company first before getting into any sort of lease or o/o situation. It seems that leasing, while good for some, can mean taking a bigger risk (what if you get into driving and don't like it as much as you thought and you're leasing). I'm going the first route because I'd rather drive for a company and get to know the industry better before making that kind of commitment. The more experienced drivers on here could give you a more indepth explanation as to the logistical pros of lease.
As for your second question, I have no idea because I'm a shorty and didn't even think about that being an issue. :)
Best of luck in whatever you choose!
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Hopefully your funding goes through, Good luck ! Im just about to finish up my school .Hopefully test out this next week. I am going to go company driver for first year or two ( seems to be the advise of all the veteran drivers here, then re-evaluate what options are available.
My hope is that after I have got my CDL I will sign with either Prime, Schneider, or USA and do as much road time as possible, with no kids or major bills to worry about it does make life easier. Now this leads me to a few questions though, should I do the company thing first for a year and then go into, possibly, lease-op or do lease/op out of the gate? I am leaning to the first choice but maybe someone could make it clear why the other might be better. Second question has to do with the smaller sleepers that Prime gives its drivers (from what I have heard anyways); are their special cases for tall or larger folks to opt into a full size truck or no? Even if it would take a hit as a company driver that is fine as I would rather be comfortable and well rested, or at least as much as possible anyways.
The general reply about lease operator is don't. Especially not as a brand new driver. Get a few years under your belt in the industry before deciding. Next, the companies you mentioned offer company sponsored training programs and they hire you if you complete their program successfully. So, if you can't get the funding or want to just get it going, check out Company Sponsored Training. As far as lightweights in Prime go, it doesn't look nearly as bad as it sounds. Prime Lightweight Truck.
If you do your own research, this site and its forums are a wealth of information. I definitely suggest reading through them for any other questions. Check out the High Road Training Program as well.
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.
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.
I am considering a career also (so know that this advice comes from someone in your shoes). After reading through some of the posts and blogs on TT, it seems that the decision to go company or lease really depends on the person. Some experienced drivers have seemed to lean towards going with a company first before getting into any sort of lease or o/o situation. It seems that leasing, while good for some, can mean taking a bigger risk (what if you get into driving and don't like it as much as you thought and you're leasing). I'm going the first route because I'd rather drive for a company and get to know the industry better before making that kind of commitment. The more experienced drivers on here could give you a more indepth explanation as to the logistical pros of lease.
As for your second question, I have no idea because I'm a shorty and didn't even think about that being an issue. :)
Best of luck in whatever you choose!
Another set of eyes in the same position is never a bad thing, if I am honest. I have to agree with it being a high risk high reward kind of thing and the main reason why I too am looking at at least waiting one year before deciding, unless a valid point is made to showing why it would be much better. As for not having the issue of being tall, oh how I envy you for that. I have hit my skull on more thing in my life to cause most normal people dain bramage 
. What I wouldn't give to be about six inches shorter, it would make tieing my shoes less of a chore.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
The general reply about lease operator is don't. Especially not as a brand new driver. Get a few years under your belt in the industry before deciding. Next, the companies you mentioned offer company sponsored training programs and they hire you if you complete their program successfully. So, if you can't get the funding or want to just get it going, check out Company Sponsored Training. As far as lightweights in Prime go, it doesn't look nearly as bad as it sounds. Prime Lightweight Truck.
If you do your own research, this site and its forums are a wealth of information. I definitely suggest reading through them for any other questions. Check out the High Road Training Program as well.
Yeah I know that Prime and USA both offer company sponsored training, however if there is a local option that doesn't need to be paid back (TARFF loan aside) I would rather use that first if possible. Keeping that avenue open of course but by all accounts I should qualify for help due to my circumstances.
As to the LW trucks I would just barely fit laying down in the bed, not to mention I would have to sleep on my side or crammed against the seat. Being 6'4 is a bit of a hassle for confined areas but if I had to for a short time I would, you never know I might figure something out to making it more comfortable. I did drive an 87 escort from Saginaw, Michigan to St. Pete, Florida loaded and with a passenger, it wasn't comfortable at all but it was a fun trip.
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.
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.
Another set of eyes in the same position is never a bad thing, if I am honest. I have to agree with it being a high risk high reward kind of thing and the main reason why I too am looking at at least waiting one year before deciding, unless a valid point is made to showing why it would be much better. As for not having the issue of being tall, oh how I envy you for that. I have hit my skull on more thing in my life to cause most normal people dain bramage
I'll take your extra height if it means I wouldn't have to do this anymore!
Stupid top shelf...
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Prime should give you a fullsize truck because of your gigantism. Just be sure to tell the recruiter and your instructor/trainer. Make it known from the start you cannot be in a LW truck. Be strict about it. They should understand.
Now obviously I can't guarantee it but I have a friend who is also a victim of gigantism and he got a fullsize truck because of his size.
Daniel B- just sent u a PM. Scott McCabe
Even though you're financing school, many companies arrange to pay the loan off for you. Check with the recruiters now. You didn't mention it, are you getting pre-hire letters?
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
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This coming Tuesday I will be going down to the local MI Works office and getting information to help fund my trucking school venture; whether that is through the TARFF loan program or some other program has yet to be seen. My hope is that after I have got my CDL I will sign with either Prime, Schneider, or USA and do as much road time as possible, with no kids or major bills to worry about it does make life easier. Now this leads me to a few questions though, should I do the company thing first for a year and then go into, possibly, lease-op or do lease/op out of the gate? I am leaning to the first choice but maybe someone could make it clear why the other might be better. Second question has to do with the smaller sleepers that Prime gives its drivers (from what I have heard anyways); are their special cases for tall or larger folks to opt into a full size truck or no? Even if it would take a hit as a company driver that is fine as I would rather be comfortable and well rested, or at least as much as possible anyways.
Hopefully I will get some good news on this and I will share anything I find out for others in this state looking for information. Cheers!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: