anyone know anything about trucking?

[Dr sharp]

My neighbors son is 23 and was thinking about going to truck driving school. Does anyone know what they make a year, and if its a good profession? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks guys.

 

[fruitbat]

I'm sure there are others here that know more about this than I do but I thought I would share this. Years ago a friend of mine looked in to going to a truck driving school that had been advertising on TV. He went to the school to check it out and found that the classes where pretty cheap, then he found out why. If he had signed up for the classes, he would have had to sign a contract to work for the school for 2-3 years for very little money. Basicly some company was using the school to get cheap deliverys of there products. I don't know if they are all like that, but I'd be carefull

 

[Bob W]

I talked to a recruiter once from a trucking company (was it JB Hunt?). They would pay for truck driving school as long as you agreed to work for them for a certain time period. Larger companies have their own driving schools.

It seemed to me the driving pay is very good, and pay is per mile. The mileage rate is rather low during the probationary period when the new driver is assigned to a "finishing" driver for on-the-road training. After the training period the mileage rate is significantly higher.

That's for long-distance drivers. For local route drivers, pay is often per-hour and there is more job competition. I've been told that truck drivers in the gasfield (water trucks, etc.) make $15/hr.

I think long-distance driving is a very good carreer choice for someone who enjoys driving and travel. It could be hard for someone who's already started a family or simply doesn't enjoy being on the road.

One of my cousins was a long-distance driver, but quit after a short time. He said the stress of driving in the cities was too much, and he left to work on a barge in the Mississippi River.

Truck driving is one of those jobs that I've always wanted to try, but haven't gotten around to yet.

-Bob

 

[cockroachfarm]

Don't mean to hijack your thread, Dr. sharp, but since SOME of my questions about the same topic have already been answered here, I'd like to add one more:

I have also considered becoming a long-distance driver as sort of a second or third career (kids are grown, wife is happiest when I am _out_ of the house, etc., etc. )

However, there is one *slight* stumbling block: I have ZERO knowledge about auto mechanics. And when I say ZERO, I mean that in a zip, nada, nichts, ABSOLUTELY NUFFIN' way! My sister can rebuild a 4-bb Holley carburetor with her eyes closed and I need to read the Owner's Manual just to figure out where to put in the gas.

So, my question: would I have ANY hope of becoming a long-distance trucker without having the basic skills of an amateur auto mechanic?

I'm asking because I have two friends who are career truckers and one says, "No problem! If you break down you call roadside service anyway." and the other one says, "Are you nuts?" Am I correct in assuming my second friend is closer to the mark?

(I've been told I'm a 'natural' long distance driver and I would love to do this for a couple of years.)

 

[Bob W]

So, my question: would I have ANY hope of becoming a long-distance trucker without having the basic skills of an amateur auto mechanic?

The best person to ask would be a recruiter. I doubt most major companies want their drivers touching anything under the hood, but other smaller companies might expect you to perform basic troubleshooting.

Just a guess.
-Bob

 

[Dijos]

Cockroachfarm;
Working on rigs and working on cars are almost completely unrelated. A 16 gear, zillion hp deisel is a world of its own.

 

[cockroachfarm]

Cockroachfarm;
Working on rigs and working on cars are almost completely unrelated. A 16 gear, zillion hp deisel is a world of its own.

OK, in that case I'll apply to NASA - I might have a better chance!

 

[cockroachfarm]

The best person to ask would be a recruiter. I doubt most major companies want their drivers touching anything under the hood.....

As Jim Carrey said in "Dumb & Dumber": "So what you're telling me is...there's a chance."

Asking a recruiter is a great suggestion.

(I know most working truckers would probably laugh at my question, but I've thought about this for a while. And, I've heard of vocal coaches who can't sing a note!)

 

[AmadeusM]

My neighbors son is 23 and was thinking about going to truck driving school. Does anyone know what they make a year, and if its a good profession? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks guys.

Union, local jobs like driving Coke and Pepsi trucks, best jobs in the driving world.
OTR, 70 and 80hr work weeks, stuck unloading a trailer, etc, the worst job in the world. Unless a person likes to be away from home. Definitely a cheap way to see the country.

 

[Clydetz]

I'm not a truck driver, nor do I play one on TV but I do deal with truck drivers on a daily basis at work. These guys are hauling flammable liquids locally and cross country. Some are owner/operators and some are company drivers. They all complain about the long hours and the dwindling pay and how much they hate their jobs but every morning... there's those smiling faces! A lot of trucking companies seem to be 'gobbled' up by the competition and these guys jump from one company to another pretty often. If the company drivers break down, they get on the phone or radio & call the company repair truck. Not sure what the cross country drivers do but I'm sure there is only limited repairs they can make out on the road.