I was wondering who on here was a professional driver of heavy trucks? My next question if anyone wants to answer, what is a reasonable ballpark figure for starting pay for tractor-trailer endorsment? Is the school the only route to follow? How did some of you get started? Anyone heard of apprenticeship type programs to help you get your licsence and then you provide x amount year(s) of service? Pros and cons? Been thinking about this for a few years now, wanted to work woth heavy epuipment or trucks since a kid, want to give it a go but shy about quiting my current job. Thanks to anyone who feels like replying. Blair in Virginia

 

I hold a CDL, having driven trucks off and on for many years. Trucking is a good life, with time to think and see the country. The easiest way to get into it, is to contact a school that contracts with a carrier. Stephens trucking, Werner, and Rocor all take school graduates nationwide. There are bound to be many more who will. There are a number of schools around who do a good job - I have experience with a couple of them, and the quality of training is excellent. Most school have some arrangement whereby they will continue to provide refresher courses, say from Flatbed to Reefer. Many too provide a job service, where they help find a truck for you.

If you manage to get with a trainer in a company, you will be with them for 4 weeks or so, then you get your own truck. Pay is from 26 cents a mile to 40 cents a mile, for a beginner. After a while, it is good to buy a truck, and work for a company that way. The pay then is from 90 cents a mile to 1.60 a mile. There are companies that pay more than that, but they are not common. I drive flatbed, when I drive, and get about 1.40 a mile. Out of that I have to pay fuel and and truck expenses, but the carrier pays for insurance, tags, and permits.

Trucking really is a good life, but some companies are not very good to work for. If you go this route, and get a bad one, bide you time, and get the experience, then better companies will want you. If you like home time do not try over the road trucking - you may be away for a month or more, even if the company tells you that you will be home every week - sometimes that is not possible for them - they have to pay for their truck, and you the driver are the source of income that does that.

Wm
'96 F450 White with Grey interior Crew Cab. Banks Turbo, Intercooler and Exhaust,
Power pack Chip, shift kit, Auxiliary transmission, electronic enhanced transmission control,
16 forward and 4 reverse ratios. 340hp 660ft lb 4 wheel drive, 4.10 gears, 12,ooo# winch

 

>Is the school the only route to
>follow? How did some of you get started? Anyone heard of

Here in AZ I needed a CDL to drive a bob tail delivering produce a few years ago so I went ahead and got a class A CDL. There was a guy who had a beat up old truck that was rated class A who would rent the truck to you and go through the entire CDL test several times until you got it. He would take you through the air brake tests, pre-trip inspection and even the exact route you would take on the official test. He would let you take his truck (the same one you practiced in). I think I paid about $300 for this but it was well worth it. I passed on my first try.

I very rarely drove anything other than a class B vehicle. If I was going OTR I would certainly go to a school to learn how to really operate a large truck. I've known quite a few people who did this with great success. If I wasn't married with kids I think I would have gone OTR....but life took me in a different direction. I now own the produce company I drove for but I attribute my personal success to getting that class A CDL (among other things like shear luck!).


When on two wheels-
FXSTC
Mesa- AZ

2003, F-350, Lariat, V10, CC, LWB, Dark Shadow Grey, 6sp Manual, "get off your lazy *ss" FX4, 4.30, Camper Pkg, Sirius Satellite Radio, Borla cat-back, Granatelli MAF, K&N Gen II FIPK, et. al., ad infinitum, ad nauseum...

 

Have you thought about expediting? If you need to drive a tractor-trailer to satisfy some kind of craving, fine. If you want to drive a truck and earn good money, expediting is the way to go. You can expedite in a cargo van, or any size straight truck. The most practical straight truck will be a 24' box. You would need a class B CDL and most likely a HAZMAT endorsement for anything larger than a cargo van. With the straight trucks and tractor-trailers, you will have to fill out logbooks, go through weigh stations, and follow a never-ending pile of rules and regulations. The logbooks limit you to approx. 500 miles per day. At $.40 per mile for an experienced semi driver driving a company-owned truck, that's $200 per day maximum. Not much money there, considering you don't get to go home for 4-6 weeks at a time. If you go with the cargo van, you are not limited to miles/hours, you do not go through weigh stations, and no logbooks. Many of the expediting companies pay over $1.00 per mile for a cargo van. If you would like to know more about expediting, e-mail me and I will help you figure it out. It is definitely better paying and more exciting than over-the-road tractor-trailer work.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Aug-02 AT 12:21 PM (EST)]Theologian has it right but he has left off some other information.
I am a trucking broker and agent for several large trucking companies. Been doing it for 25 years. You have to deal with folks like me to get your freight, if you are what is known as an independent owner operator. This means you own your own tractor. You can lease a trailer form some companies but it will cost you a percentage of your earnings. Better to own your own trailer. Total start up costs are well over $100,000. for new equipment. Buy used equipment, and be prepared to twist wrenches on the weekends that you find yourself home.

When you travel the country as an owner operator you either carry your own full insurance package or you lease your truck to a large company to come under the umbrella of their insurance coverage. You also plug into their freight network. This will generally cost you 25% on the revenue of every load. Sometimes 35%if you pull their trailer. They also advance you 25% of your trip earnings for things like fuel. If you operate as a true independent, and carry all of your own insurance, and have your own operating authority granted by the Federal Highway Administration, then you must develop a network for freight. You must have a good bank account to front your operating money for each load. Filling up with fuel can cost $500.00 and these rigs get about 5 miles to each gallon of fuel. You can broker to all the major companies and they will pay you 80% of the revenue of any given load, if you can determine the true revenue of that load.

You must decide what type of trucking you want to do, and which areas of the country you want to run. The Northeast, and the entire west coast, have depressed rates due to an excess capacity. Theo's rate of $1.40 per mile is normally discounted to $1.10, on flatbed freight. Van freight(box trailers) usually outbound from either area can be as low as .80 cents per mile. I am not familiar with refrigerated freight.

Best flatbed rates are in the mid west lanes between Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois. Average van & flatbed rate is $1.50 and up. Other specialized trailers command higher rates. In this business miles = money and when the wheels don't turn, no one makes money. Time is also money. You sit for 8 hours, for loading or unloading, you are losing money.
Forget the Union. They take your money and offer nothing much back.
Set up your own retirement fund.

This is not a business for the weak, the immature, stupid or the infirm. You must be strong and physically fit to handle the job requirements. You must be a smart business man to know which loads are money makers and which are losers. I suppose you can be weak, overweight ignorant, and still operate a van. But I still doubt you will make any money. But flats, steps, and lowboys, require strength and stamina. Many loads require tarps. They are heavy. A 24 x 24 weighs a few hundred lbs. Overall, I must stress that you must be a good businessman.

Most guys I know, get home weekends because they run in a specific region. The over the road guys that run the entire nation may get home one weekend out of each month. Not conducive to family life. Owner operators, and truckers in general, are the last American Cowboys in America today.

Go for it if you think you can handle it. You can email me with any other questions, or I will give you my toll free #, and you can call me and I will cover the cost of the phone call from anywhere in the US. Good Luck



Brien

 

Local work aka; lumber yards,ready mix,and various other delivery drivers make a fair wage. Home everyday or night and you still get to operate a Class 8 size truck. Some employers will work with you to get a CDL. Alot depends on how much they need drivers which is a bad sign as the work must suck. The exam for a CDL is not as hard as expense. Some solid studying should help you get the written part out of the way but you would need a truck for the road test. Schools will get you set up with all this but can be costly. I personelly would stay away from the HazMat if you can. Since 9/11 there has been more empahsis on checking these types of loads out and rightly so. Generally HazMat loads won't pay that much more to cover the expense of having to go thru the BS with the license. Like the the others said it can be long hours for the pay when you break it down in a per hour basis. I own 2 trucks and wish I didn't right now. The truck I drive is supporting the OTR truck and it's not suppose to be that way. Also be prepared to be disliked by almost everyone including other drivers. Why I don't know just one of the hazards of the business. Good luck and hope I didn't scare you off.

 

Mick: Some of the larger companies require Hazmat whether you plan to use or not. Example : Landstar out of Jacksonville Fla. Includes Ligon, Inway, Ranger, Gemini, Landstar Express.

Brien

 

10-4 on that I personally just prefer to stay away from it. But I do understand it is almost a requirement. Not to mention all the freight haulers want that also. Life was easier when all you needed was a Chauffers license.

 

All right, a trucker get together.
First, don't just jump in and buy your own ride. Work for someone else until you learn the ropes, you may decide it's not for you.
Look around for a local company where the owner is active in running the company. Talk to them and tell them that you've always wanted to drive, and that your serious about it. They may take you in and teach you from scratch and you won't need the school. That will most likely be where you get the best training since it's his/her truck, they'll make sure you know how to drive without destroying the equipment. Some of these "Big Companies" are putting out crap for drivers through their training programs, AKA "Thirty Day Wonders".

The "Over the Road" life style is not for me, I do tanker work and at most spend 1 night out a week. Them OTR guys are a different breed

The hazmat really isn't that big of a setback, you can parlay that into better pay. Just be sure you understand the regulations, completely.

I don't know what the national companies pay their drivers but I do know the local pay scales. You can figure 35k up to about 80k if your gung ho and want to work all the time. I usually come in around 60k while working 60-70 hours a week while school is out and 40-50 hours the rest of the year. The truck averages $3.42 a loaded mile, sounds pretty high but a tanker deadheads (runs empty) about 45% of the time and I almost always run at the higher mountain rate. Of that, I earn 25% of the gross revenue plus $25 load/unload per load. You can figure about 15 minutes to load and about 20 to unload. There ain't no waiting at the docks for us, if I have to wait to unload, I just mention demurrage at $47.50 an hour, that's a good motivator.

There are lots of benefits to this job like a flexible schedule, scenery, not being trapped behind 4 walls, no one looking over your shoulder all the time and right now there is a high demand for good drivers.

 

Hey, 78, glad to hear you wanna hit the road!!

Some tips for getting your CDL:

1: Unless you plan on driving a dump truck, do get your Hazmat endorsement! What does it require? Study the book and pass a 25 question multiple choice test. That doesn't sound so hard does it?

2: What ype of CDL to get? Unless you have a compelling reason to get a different class, get a class A, a semi liscence. You can then drive a class B or C vehicle, but you have many more options for employment.

3: Where to get your CDL? You have basically 3 options: a junior or community college, an independent school, or a school owned and operated by a trucking company, examples of which would be Schnieder or England.
A: A junior or community college. Generally these are less expensive and the course must meet certain state acreditation requirements, and you can bet your state DOT has been involved with it's design. If your state uses 3rd party liscence examiners, the driving instructor will likely be the one to administer your CDL examination. The course generally runs $800 to $1200.
B: An independent school. These can be hit and miss. There are some excellent schools out there and there are others who just want your money. These generally run from $3000 to $4000. If you are considering an independent school, ask which trucking companies hire their graduates and then call the companies and verify that. Call your local better business bureau and ask about complaints. DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER A SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESSLESS THAN TEN YEARS!! Some trucking companies will reimburse tuition over a period of employment and some don't.
C: A company owned school. Most of these are 2-3 weeks long, followed by 4-8 weeks withan on-the-road trainer. These tend to be very fast paced with a large number of students, so on-site driving time can be rather limited. You usually pay up front, then the company reimburses you over a period of months following employment.

4: Starting pay for a new OTR driver is around $30,000.

5: Everybody wants a local driving job, but if you read the want ads you'll find that the company wants you to have 1-2 years experience. And to get that, you'll probably have to go OTR. Get on with a good company, and you'll be home every 2 weeks. If your run a regional route, you may get home weekly.

I have a class A and have been border to border, coast to coast, run mountains, deserts and plains. I've driven Freightliners, Internationals, Volvos, Macks, and Kenworths. I've driven 9, 10, and 13 speed trannys. I've driven 53' dry vans, flatbeds, double-bottom grain trailers and dump trucks with pup trailers. I truly believe getting my class A was the best investment I ever made.
Go get yours. You won't regret it!!!

 

Many thanks guys, lots of useful info and tips which is what I wanted. The type of driving I would like to do would be lowboy or rock truck (I don't know what to call it, truck-trailer many axels), or maybe parlay my way into specialized (really big) hauling. This really isn't something on a whim, I have thought about this for almost ten years now, my goal would be to gain experience and then get my own truck. Expediting sounds alright, I see lots of straight trucks for Fedex Custom Critical, would that be an example? I would like to drive for one of a few companies here in northern Va., but am shy about calling up to see what they would say. I have no experience, except hopping in various dumpers to move out of my way on construction sites. The OTR experience and/or schooling isn't something I'm against, however I have three kids, happily married, don't think that is the way to go for now. My plan included down the road when I got my own truck, pulling for someone local, like the brick factory here in town, the guy said they have steady work for flatbeds. I dunno, I guess I'll have to break the ice and call these local companies and see just what they may or may not have to offer. Around here, I see lots and lots of trucks running lumber, heavy epuipment, and lots else, they are home every night too. The pay would need to be decent, I make good money surveying, I think I may be just a little late in trying to get started. If anyone has more to add, please do. Thanks again, Blair

 

FLYBOY-whats wrong with a dump truck. I have a 2001 Pete and pull a 40ft Raven dump. We haul hazardous waste across 48 states. The rates are anywhere from 3.50 to 5.00 a mile. I can live with that. Hauling chickens ain't where its at anymore.

 

Trucker forum i guess

I drive for schnieder(the pumpkins lol) they have good pay EXCELLENT benifites and a great bonus program they have a great training program will provide you with everything you could need to get off to a great carreer as a truck driver and have many decicated routes (i am on a dedicated) where im home every weekend and on average 2 nights a week

The ben. are some of the best i have seen in the business and very very low cost(we have over 37000 drivers so you do the math)

the bonus program is great for all drivers its a bit lower for me since im on a dedicated route i get $350 every 3 months i go without an accident if your a system driver (OTR) its alot more $$$$

If you want more info send me and email @ onlyhalfnuts(No Email Addresses In Posts!) and i can set you up with some info and my driver # you help you get a lil bonus

 

>FLYBOY-whats wrong with a dump truck. I have a 2001 Pete and
>pull a 40ft Raven dump. We haul hazardous waste across 48
>states. The rates are anywhere from 3.50 to 5.00 a mile. I
>can live with that. Hauling chickens ain't where its at
>anymore.

May I politely suggest that you re-read the posts in chronological order? The sugestion to 78 was that he not bother getting his hazmat endorsement. My point was that unless he intends to haul rock, sand, and gravel exclusively he would serve himself well by obtaining his hazmat. As for your question "what's wrong with a dump truck?", my reply is "nothing!" If I had anything against dump trucks I would not have my current job! I run a dump truck with a pup trailer grossing 95,000 all over SE Nebraska. I LOVE IT! It sure beats crossing the George Washington bridge in NYC rush hour traffic! (And, yes. I've done that too.)

 

I am grateful someone asked all the questions I had. I start classes on Monday for CDL class "A".
Could you guys talk about what I need to do, go, say to maximize profits for me?
I want to be a businessman to make enough to have a few trucks in a few years or less. Should I team drive or go solo? Pros/cons. Obviously, I have to find someone likable to drive with and driving alone can get boring. What else have you experienced?