I'm thinking about getting the ball rolling on getting my CDL, preferably class A with tank and hazmat. Things have been getting progressively worse where I'm working now, so it's time for a change of direction. Any pointers or words of wisdom? Pros/cons of the job? Average starting pay? I'm not necessarily interested in coast to coast line haul, however being gone for a few days at a time wouldn't bother me too much.

 

You're in a very good area to try talking to Schnieder National. They're pretty decent for a training company, and at one time they would help you get your CDL. The thing is, you would sign on with them for a year or so, to pay back the tuition and training. And, when I was with them, they really did treat the drivers decent, unlike another company that has red automatic trucks did.
To start, forget about being gone for "only" a few days at a time. You'll be out for 3 weeks likely at a time, with one day off earned for every week out. That's pretty much the norm where ever a new guy might go.
The pay isn't that great in the trucking industry in the big companies, nor in most of the small ones. Sometimes a guy with little experience lucks out though, and you can always hope. I don't have an idea what they pay anymore, when I was there, I think it was .38 cents a mile, loaded or empty, for a few years experience, I think a new driver may be down around .28-.30. Best thing to do is call around and see what they say. I can give you a list of companies to stay, er, run from.
It usually takes a couple 2 years minimum to get on with a non-training company. This industry expects some dues to be paid to get a good gig. The 2 years is some sort of insurance requirement, that sometimes a company can get around. The guy I drive for has actually hired rookies with only 6 months experience in a big truck. Bluntly, that scares the dog dung out of me. We do a bit different thing than an 18 wheeler does.
I wish you the best, it can be fun, but frankly, most can't hack it, and don't last a year. Don't think I'm calling you one of those, it's just the nature of the beast.

 

No worries. I'm working as an automotive tech for Monro muffler brake right now (google them and see what pops up), although I went to school for auto and diesel. Worst case scenario I end up working on trucks in the future, which still requires a CDL. I was thinking of finding an in-state or regional gig at some point. My uncle hauls fuel for Durand/Wolf transport and likes it so far. Even driving a dump truck or a roll off for Waste Management pays better than what I'm making now.

 

I'm retired but I drove OTR for 15 years then went local. I found sleeping in my own bed every night to be a huge plus. Now I'm semi-retired and haul hotshot part-time. Driving OTR will give you an office view nobody can equal, but it gets real old, real fast.

If I was a young guy getting into driving I'd look at oilfield work. They are begging for drivers in North Dakota and paying top wages to get them. Many offer OJT to get your CDL. There's nothing to do there so you can save up a bunch of money in a short time. If you have mechanical experience that's a huge plus.

 

I work for and around OTR drivers all the time and have realized its a great trade mostly because there are more than enough jobs, most go unfilled due the lack of qualified drivers.

There is a relatively high turn over rate equally due drivers and companies both being at fault and of course the time away from home plays a factor too. While these seem to be downsides the trade is mostly what a driver makes of it---the shortage of good drivers makes it somewhat easy to move around employer-wise until you find the right fit.

I know more than a few qualified drivers who have left the road for now, working somewhere within the trucking business. Some are simply taking a break, others have decided to leave it pretty much forever but keep their qualifications just in case.

Schneider would be a good starting point but for long term they're probably not someone you'd stay with as a company driver. Investing a year under them would be a good move since they'll foot the bill getting you to your CDL's. Once you have a year of good driving under your belt time to start looking around. A lot of times you'd be recruited at truck stops by companies looking for new hires; some with experience wanted, others willing to look at newbies with clean records.

Being a bit of the maverick or "independent" sort the flexibility and abundance of jobs would make this a very attractive business if I weren't already self-employed. IMHO being a driver is a great fall back profession even if its not a life-long one.

Best of luck!

 

agreed. OTR is fun for the first few days, then it gets old real fast.
and pay by the mile sucks if you have a breakdown, or get stuck unloading.
plus, OTR requires a log book. there is a lot A LOT pf paperwork.

local work usually is no log book if under 50 miles from home base or do not cross state lines.

i run a dump truck and low boy trailer for a small construction company.
pay is in the $20/hr range for local work, and $25 for trailer work.
prevailing wage in NY city is $75 per hour, but i try to stay out of the city.

 

You've gotten some good feedback so far. Don't be afraid to call a trucking company, they're scrambling to find "good" drivers. Unfortunately, a number of them will take who ever can walk and chew gum at the same time. Hence the biggest reason why big trucks are shunned by the public. Not all drivers are good, that's where the terms, "set meat, " and "steeringwheel holder" come in, and why I tell anyone who listens, to stay far, far, away from ANY big truck. Just look at some the drivers staring straight ahead with out a clue of their surroundings. I see it everyday.
Once you get some time in, there are some companies out there that pay pretty decent, but they tend to be specialized, like oversize and heavy haul, those are the guys that have a good handle on what they're doing.
Yes, the oilfields are hot. I got another mailing the other day requesting my presence there, but I'm somewhat retired, and like the Dakota's, but no thanks, I'm staying where I am.
Bear in mind, a recruiter at some companies will lie to you. Then you get there thinking, "Oh boy, I'm in the big time now", and it doesn't take long before you find out you've been mislead, or flat out lied to. Like I said, I can tell you a few to stay far away from.
Another thing, and it has already been said, it's what YOU make of it, not always the company is bad, but, like I said,,,,,,,,

At the risk of maybe being slapped, here is a link that I'm a member of, but haven't been active in awhile, The Truckers Forum - The Top Rated Truck Drivers Message Board and Community

One thing you'll find, you'll rarely get two drivers to agree on much!! LOL

 

Trucking once it gets into your blood, its a part of your life forever.

 

Forget about being gone only a few days at a time. No local company is going to hire a newby. They have the more desirable jobs, so they can insist on only hiring experienced drivers. And the only way to get experience is by driving coast to coast line haul.

You're right about it being fun for the first few days. Then it's real work. Pay by the mile also sucks if you work for one of the "starter" companies that runs the blue trailers. You don't make a lot sitting in a truck stop for four days constantly asking for a load. My son drove for them for two years. They left him sitting with no load so many times that he only made $21k a year. He was out for 4-6 weeks at a time, then home for 4-6 days. Once he had his two years in he was easily able to get hired at a much smaller company that has loads lined up waiting for him.

Many (most?) companies are switching to electronic log books. MUCH less paperwork. And MUCH harder (though not impossible) to cheat the system. The blue trailer company has them, and so does the smaller company he now works for. And so did several others that he applied to.

 

Blue trailer company? The one that has the sticker on the door that says, "We hire only good courteous drivers", or something like that? Now there's a lie right there!!!!. I lasted 11 weeks with them, I couldn't stand being associated with the very poor drivers that company usually attracts.
I'd still recommend Schneider to any new guy.
I think there is some sort of law being thought of to require companies to install on board electronic surveillance, for lack of a better term. IMO, that includes electronic logs. I absolutely HATED them, and no, I really am one of the guys that tries to stay legal. It just isn't worth the consequences of not being legal. No matter what you do, sooner or later, you will be illegal, the trick is, DON'T try to hide it. Most DOT guys will cut ya break if you don't cheat, lie, try to cover up, and always deal with them like you want to be dealt with. But ya, I have dealt with one or two that were nothing but arrogant pigs. That's a rarity though, there's always a bad actor no matter what a group is about.

Has the OP been around lately?

 

by blue trailer company, are you talking about Werner?

we call them German for J.B.Hunt

 

Yep, that's them. I used to call them all blue, but they have different color tractors now. My son's was a white Volvo.

 

Yepper here as well. Other names, "Blue Screw", "Weener Wagon", among other names I'd be banned if I said! LOL. You guys know why they have that arrow pointing forward on the trucks don't you? That's so the driver knows where the front of the truck is. DOH!!!! I didn't write that, did I?


Well, YES, I DID!!!

 

 

here in Joisey we say it is so the drivers know which way to go down the road.