Several Questions About Becoming A Truck Driver.

I am new here and I hate to come right out of the gate with tons of questions. I have made jobs changes in my past that I am not proud of and I don't want to make a mistake going into the trucking industry. So I ask questions. Sometimes a lot of them.

I have been reading this forum and the information on the pages here at Trucking Truth for a few days now and everything is fantastic so far. Other trucking sites not so much usually.

A little bit about me first of all.

Making truck driving a career for me has been in my mind for a very long long time. I attended a Truck Driving school many years ago. Which turned out to be a rip-off. And I actually drove truck many years ago for a small local company. It lasted for 4 days. No fault of mine. The company didn't allow CB's, 8 track tape decks (for those of you that know what those are will know how long ago this was. LOL), radios, or anything like that. Said their insurance company deemed it a distraction. Try spending 8 or 9 hours in the cab of a truck with the only noise being the sound of the truck. But anyway, that was years ago and it turned me against trucking for a time.

I have my Class B CDL's. I am currently a motorcoach driver and drive both local and OTR with my company. Please don't hold that against me. For those truck drivers that hate bus drivers, there are bad truck drivers as well as bad bus drivers on the road out there. I have worked for my current employer going on 5 years. I drove for another company for almost a year. So all in all, I have just under 6 years of OTR experience.

I like driving and I love traveling.

Now to ask the first of my questions. I am sure more questions will follow.

People have jobs to make money and make a living. I am looking for a career where I can make good money. I know trucking won't make me a millionaire, but I would like to have a good income. Since drivers are paid by the mile, you would want to make as many miles as you legally can and safely can. But in almost all the forum's about trucking, I read that trucks are governed to usually less that 65 mph. Some as low as 60 mph. A driver from one local company that I talked to said they are governed for 55 mph. If a driver is paid by the mile, why govern a truck so low? Doesn't that really limit his/her level of income possibilities?

Is it possible for a driver to make $50,000 a year or above without risking his life and making sure he is legal?

Something I don't read anywhere or find anywhere on the forum's I have visited. I want to drive OTR. I have no problems with driving coast to coast. But as a driver, will I be able to "see the sites" while driving? I mean, if I am doing my job and making my runs on time or before, will companies allow drivers to stop and "smell the roses" so to speak while on a run?

Or once loaded are drivers expected to hit the road and "non stop" (not literally non stop) till delivery?

I don't mean to be a pest. But I don't want to make a mistake and choose the wrong path for my life. Just because something on the outside looks great. When you see behind closed doors, it is not all that it seems to be. I am sure everyone will agree to that.

One of your article talks about picking the right company. How do you find real information about certain companies without talking to the company direct? Not many companies will talk to outsiders about information that concerns employees only. Such as cost of insurance. Types of insurance. Uniform allowances. Per diem for meals and such. Just general, everyday questions.

Loading and unloading trucks. I know some companies require their drivers to load and unload. Some drivers don't even touch their loads. I have talked to some drivers that have to handle loads and they don't get paid a dime extra. Others handle loads and get paid extra. Other company drivers drop their trailers and hook to another one without even touching their load. Where do I find information on which company requires what?

I am from West Virginia. And as stated above, I have my Class B CDL's. The companies I have been looking at have their own driving school. I am sure, even though I do have experience driving OTR, I need to go to a school somewhere. All the company schools are out of state. Will the schools/companies provide me with a truck to come back to my home state to take my Class A test? If that is up to each company, how do I find out which company will and which won't?

Home time. On average, how much home time do OTR drivers have? How do I find out about bringing my rig home with me?

Expenses. Do all companies pay for truck expenses? (Fuel, repair, parking fees, etc.) Or do drivers pay and companies pay them back?

Lodging. Are drivers allow to go to hotels between stops or do companies require them to stay with the rig when parked overnight?

Thank you all for any input you have to my questions. Drive safe out there.

I can't answer all of your questions but I can answer a few.

It will probably be difficult to make $50,000/yr. Maybe as an owner/operator but not likely as a company driver. If you do it will take a few years to get to that point.

If you go to a company school they will bus you in and then you will take the tests there. You won't go home for your testing.

As a company driver the company will pay the expenses. Some things like scaling a load will be paid by the driver up front and reimbursed to the driver. As an owner/op or lease driver you pay for everything.

Home time varies by company. It seems like the avg would be 1 day home per 6 or 7 days out. Minimum of 3 or 4 weeks and max of4 days at home. Some companies have a 7 on 7 off and things like that. Regional or local gigs may get you home daily or weekly but you generally need experience to land those. Having a class b may help in that area.

Depending on your load you may be able to stay at a hotel. Obviously a high cost load and things like that would require you to stay in the truck.

The best way to get info about the company would be to call and their recruiters or talk to current drivers.

I'm not driving yet so I can't give you any better info but I hope it helps.

Hey Joe, (Wow that sounds like Jimmy Hendrix, so now you know that I'm old enough to know what eight track tapes are) Welcome to the forum! You did ask a lot of questions, but I'm going to try and answer them.

Okay, as far as making money and getting those miles with governed trucks here's the deal. The reason those trucks are governed is because that saves the company a lot of money in fuel. It's simple physics that works and gets the needed result. Fuel is a huge expense for these companies, and let's face it companies are in business to make money. Sometimes you have to find ways to cut expenses when you're trying every which way there is to squeeze a dime out of a nickle. It's a very tough business, as far as making a profit is concerned it's quite easy to lose money, so everyone does what they can to cut expenses - it's just smart business. When you have a fleet of several thousand trucks out there on the road, even just the idling time adds up to a very large dollar amount.

I drive a governed truck and still can turn 3,000 miles a week, which gives me a good solid pay check. I don't think you'll make fifty thousand in your first year unless you're really special. It takes a good while to get savvy and accomplished at this business, but if you're a hard worker and can put in the necessary hours it takes you can eventually make that kind of money. But let me just add that you won't do it by stopping to see the sights and smelling the roses along the way. You have to be able to roll with the punches. Here's an example: recently I had a rush load to New Orleans, but when I got there the receiver was totally caught off guard and not ready for the equipment I brought. It took them two days to line up a crane to unload me. So I rented a car and acted like a tourist for those two days. So I got to see the sights and relax, but the point is that I only took that opportunity because I didn't have a chance to move forward with another load. Had they been ready I would have unloaded and taken the next load that was sent my way so that I was still making money.

As far as what they expect of you when hauling a load, you will be given a pick-up time/date and a delivery time/date, as long as you make those time frames you're good and the company is happy about it. What you do in between those times is up to you. Where you go may be a different story though, because they will be giving you a route to follow also. There is good reason for that route, because it's very easy to get yourself in trouble in a big rig if you get on some road that is not designed for truck traffic.

When seeking information on trucking companies you can start with their website, and if you still need more then just call a recruiter at their office and you'll get your questions answered. While you're investigating companies though don't fall into the trap of thinking you've got to find just the "right" company. Most all internet trucking forums and research sites are stuck in this ditch, and it is a completely unreliable way to go about breaking into this most misunderstood industry. What you bring to the table will make all the difference in whether you are successful at this or not. I personally work for a company that it is hard to find anything good said about them on the internet. I am making more money than most drivers I know, and I'm loving every minute of my job. I've got a great dispatcher that tells me that I'm one of his best drivers, and he just keeps on feeding me the good stuff. I just got started in this business, but I came in with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic, and that makes all the difference. If you can offer them a "get er done" attitude and a relentless effort at efficiency and productivity you will find that you didn't have to pick the "right" company, but that you came on as the "right" employee, and it will make your adjustment into this new lifestyle so much easier.

As far as handling or unloading freight, very few over the road drivers handle their freight. That's the kind of job you want for your first year anyway so that you can get the experience you need to make yourself a viable asset to other truck driving opportunities. Remember get on somewhere and stick with it for one accident free year and you will be opening for yourself a world of opportunities for employment.

The company sponsored training schools will get you the CDL in whichever state your school is in then you just go back to your home state and they will transfer it to your home state.

On average most OTR drivers get one day home for every week that they are out, this may vary depending on what type of job you have, some flat bed drivers are home every weekend. You will drive your truck home when they route you for some home time. The companies pay all the truck expenses, you will have a fuel card to purchase fuel and other items needed for the truck.

Usually you will sleep in your truck, but if you want to get a hotel occasionally you can. The company will not pay for the hotel unless your truck is in the shop or something like that. Occasionally you will have a "high value load" that you will have to "babysit" so they may want you with your truck at all times until you get it delivered. I had one recently where they requested that I didn't even shower! Sorry, they don't know it, but I got a shower anyway - a quick shower!

Hope some of that helps!

Thanks Britton and School for the answers.

I totally understand there is no "right" company. A Company is usually what a person makes it. But I am sure you will agree there are some out there better than others.

Your answers have been very helpful.

From what information I have gathered so far, I am leaning toward looking more into Prime. I am sure they are not perfect. None are. But from the information here and what other info I have found, it is a pretty good start up company.

School, you mentioned you turn 3000 miles a week. How many days driving on average is that? And I totally understand what you mean about getting from point A to point B. A company would not want any driver to set in a truck stop killing time when they could be on the road making money. And a driver would not want that either.

As far as the routes go. I totally understand. Driving a motorcoach I am limited on where I can go too. Not near as much as a rig, but I get the picture.

That brings another question to mind. If you are traveling a company set route and run into trouble, a car wreck, road construction, and need or want to reroute, will the company do that for you? Do you need to contact your dispatcher before hand?

Thanks.

Joe, Prime is a great place to start. Their training is top notch and their staring pay is way above average. We have several drivers on here that started with Prime and they are quite happy with their situations.

I stay out weeks at a time, and I'm usually driving every day. I sometimes turn more than 3,000 miles, but sometimes depending on how my hours are unfolding I will take a 34 hour break to re-set my clock. That's another thing about managing your time that helps you to enjoy the places that you are at. Recently, I had to pick up some parking lot light poles in Brenham TX, which is twenty minutes away from where my two oldest daughters live. Well, if I took my 34 hour break that weekend it would let me run wide open all next week, so I did and got to spend the weekend with my daughters. That way it worked out great for me all the way around.

As far as re-routing to avoid a delay, it's going to vary from one company to another. I do this all the time just as a practical means of getting things done in an efficient manner, but my company is very lenient on out of route miles. I'm not sure how it's handled in other places, but generally companies will have policies in place that let you know how they deal with that particular situation.

If you are traveling a company set route and run into trouble, a car wreck, road construction, and need or want to reroute, will the company do that for you? Do you need to contact your dispatcher before hand?

Welcome aboard Joe!

Your company will give you suggested routes, but 99% of the time the route between customers is just obvious anyhow. You'd want to let them know if you're going to deviate far from that route, but normal things like swinging around a bad wreck on some back roads doesn't need to be reported.

I can tell by the fact that you "duck and cover" when asking questions that you're used to TheTruckersReport and other nasty forums where people constantly slam and criticize everyone and everything. But you have nothing to fear here. Nobody speaks disrespectfully to anyone else here. You can ask all the questions you like and we'll give you the most honest, helpful answers we can.

Thank you Brett. That is so appreciated. I think I have found a "new home" for talking with truckers or soon to be truckers.

Thanks, Joe

Someone correct me if I am wrong, or nieve, but according the the High Road Online CDL Training Program I am studying for my CDL-A, i pretty much have to stop every 150 miles or so to do a check. Seems to me there would be opportunities aplenty to snap a few shots, while checking tires and wires.

Another option, as alluded to, would be in yur pre-planning. If (when) I get routed through Arizona, I will plan to have a rest time during sun hours to get a few shots of the landscape.

Just a thought.....

Egad ...horrible spelling there. But I was re-reading Old Schools post, and he says he is turning 3000 miles as a rookie solo driver. Assuming he is making .40 cpm , thats ... $1200 a week? Drive 50 weeks, thats over 50k. Before taxes and expenses.

Speaking of which, can anybody give me an idea of what weekly expenses might amount to, and how long the typical reimbursement time is?? Weekly?? Monthly?

And as far as finding out about what the companies offer, and insurances etc, I know the Trucking Truth has info on several truck companies that you can use as a starter, then, you can go to each companies website to learn more.

Using Prime as an example, I was able to read about their insurance options, costs for self and family, deductibles and age of trucks by visiting their website. I was also able to find similar info by visiting other websites, and never had to pick up a phone. When I did talk to a Prime recruiter, I peppered her with a bunch of questions, and she answered them all.

Now, again, I am also a newbie, and just sharing some of what I have found so far.

Peace

PG brings up an interesting question. If you are turning 3000 miles in a week, how can you NOT be in the $50,000 dollar a year income bracket?

3000 miles per week X .34 cents per mile = $1020.00 X 50 weeks = $51,000 per year. Or 3000 miles per week X .34 cents per mile = $1020.00 X 52 weeks = $53,040 per year.

What is the average milage a driver can or does drive in a week?

I know a lot of factors play into that question. Are loads available. How much down time do you have when loading/unloading, etc. But there is a large difference in turning 3000 miles a week but only making in the upper 30's yearly.

If a driver has to deadhead from drop point to pickup point is he/she paid the same mileage pay? Or are they even paid at all?

I am not afraid of working. I am not afraid of putting a truck down the road to make money. But at the same time, I don't want to expect to get into this wanting to make money and drive my butt off, and then find out that I have more down time than I have driving time.

And in the comment, "driving my butt off", I know you have to manage your time driving and resting. I know that better than you think. I won't even mention how many hours I have had to spend behind the wheel of a motorcoach to get a group to appointments and such. Time management is almost nonexistent in some parts of the motorcoach industry. LOL.