Looking For Thumbs Up

Topic 8856 | Page 2

Page 2 of 2 Previous Page Go To Page:
Bill R.'s Comment
member avatar

The more replys.. the more I am thinking company drive.......THIS A GREAT SITE........

I have been reading this site for a few months. Finished CDL school, drove bulk grain for a farm in a blue Peterbuilt (picture) and after all that, I KNOW I want Company Driver, not O/O!

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.
Katdaddy's Comment
member avatar

Thanks Bill....... Im still on the fence, but leaning......

Old School's Comment
member avatar

Garry, I'm retired from my privately owned custom sign business, and driving a truck for a second career. I owned six big trucks in my sign business. I learned one thing about big trucks during that thirty year tenure - they are money pits - big time!

I seriously considered being an owner operator at the beginning of my career, I was accustomed to being the boss and had a great handle on accounting and what it takes to make a dollar. No matter how hard I tried, I could not pencil out a plan that made an acceptable amount of profit when considering the full picture. Trucks are pieces of equipment that regulators are continually demanding improvement on, so you just can't expect to keep one for a really long period of time and expect it to keep making you money. The guys who are turning the kind of miles that they should be to make a dollar are going to need to replace their equipment in just a few short years. The profits are dismal in my opinion.

I met an owner operator one time who named his business after what was really going on with his balance sheet - Don't make the same mistake that he made.

20140710_020318_zps9e40f63d.jpg

Owner Operator:

An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.

James U.'s Comment
member avatar

You should go company first and learn the ways so to speak a lot of companies will give you that nice new truck. Some will give a nice used truck at first but after awhile they will turn and give you that brand new truck. Once you learn the ways which will take awhile learn how to run when to run get good fuel mpg and never late. If you want to try the lease thing after awhile go ahead some companies have a walk away lease so if it doesn't work out you can always go back to company for them and they won't down you for it. You never know until you try right? Best of luck be safe out there

Hammer St. James's Comment
member avatar

I spent the day with a retired veteran owner/operator turned instructor; a serious no bull manure slinging man. For conversation I asked him to consider lease operating and replied, "absolutely positively NO!".

I then continued asking him if his thoughts were the same for lease purchase. He said, "Yes, no lease anything!". I asked him why. He replied, "If you want to starve go for it. They'll give you just enough miles to make the truck payment. The smart move is to go company driver".

Coming from a VERY knowledgeable man (take my word on it!) I would seriously consider his opinion.

Hammer St. James's Comment
member avatar

Continued. ..

I further inquired: "In today's trucking world, you wouldn't advize anyone to go it alone even if they paid cash for their rig?".

He looked at me and said, "Are you a good mechanic? You'll be doing all your own repairs. No owner operator could afford to pay someone to fix everything on their truck. The only things that most owner operators don't do themselves are the engines and transmissions. And that costs THOUSANDS to repair".

Owner Operator:

An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.

Katdaddy's Comment
member avatar

Concur.......Company Driver is the BEST for newbie..........Thank all ya"ll smart and experience folks for your input...School is 2 weeks away and after it off with my trainer for 6weeks.......Reading the CDL book and taking tests here ............

Bless everyone and thanks again

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.
Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

Here's a basic company driver's job description: Pick up, Deliver, Drive safely, Follow the rules, Don't mess around.

Treat your equipment well. PM service, tire issues, engine problems, drive in to the nearest terminal shop. (This happened to my mentor: oil drops under the front end, he took it in. Got a brand new 2016 rig! Just try this as an O/O.) Yes owners get paid more, but they get these problems as headaches and business costs.

Just today I drove in with a scalloped steer tire. I thought it may be alignment. The mechanic found it was bad shocks. New shocks, and two new steer tires without even asking! It cost me one afternoon of time, and I was on my 10 hour anyway. How would an O/O have to handle this?

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.

DAC:

Drive-A-Check Report

A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).

It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.

Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.

Page 2 of 2 Previous Page Go To Page:

New Reply:

New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features

Bold
Italic
Underline
Quote
Photo
Link
Smiley
Links On TruckingTruth


example: TruckingTruth Homepage



example: https://www.truckingtruth.com
Submit
Cancel
Upload New Photo
Please enter a caption of one sentence or less:

Click on any of the buttons below to insert a link to that section of TruckingTruth:

Getting Started In Trucking High Road Training Program Company-Sponsored Training Programs Apply For Company-Sponsored Training Truck Driver's Career Guide Choosing A School Choosing A Company Truck Driving Schools Truck Driving Jobs Apply For Truck Driving Jobs DOT Physical Drug Testing Items To Pack Pre-Hire Letters CDL Practice Tests Trucking Company Reviews Brett's Book Leasing A Truck Pre-Trip Inspection Learn The Logbook Rules Sleep Apnea
Done
Done

0 characters so far - 5,500 maximum allowed.
Submit Preview

Preview:

Submit
Cancel

Why Join Trucking Truth?

We have an awesome set of tools that will help you understand the trucking industry and prepare for a great start to your trucking career. Not only that, but everything we offer here at TruckingTruth is 100% free - no strings attached! Sign up now and get instant access to our member's section:
High Road Training Program Logo
  • The High Road Training Program
  • The High Road Article Series
  • The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
  • Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted

Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth

Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:

Apply For Paid CDL Training