Profile For Davy A.

Well, I was going to wait to post this until I had more time in it.

The long and short is that I went back to Knight Transportation. I am doing a lease purchase with them.

Its something that I've been planning and researching for the last couple years.

There is many reasons why I chose to go down this path. I definitely do not recommend it for most. Also, keep in mind, that I chose to after 4.5 years and 500,000 miles.

Doing it for the money isn't one of the reasons, I'll be lucky if I make what I made as a company driver, with comparatively much more risk and effort. Doing it for a shinny new truck isn't either. In fact, I hate the fact that I have to buy a truck to be a subcontractor in this industry, but it is what it is.

But having owned and operated my own business for years brought up that itch again. Also, achieving a more flexible schedule are high priorities. That doesn't mean having more time off, just more flexibility of when I take it.

Wow. First off Brett, thank you for everything. I wouldn't have the career that I do, had I not found this community. I feel a kindred spirt to you in many ways. We have had many spirited conversations and threads here.

The words and lessons here are such a valuable tool for so many, im certainly willing to help volunteer to preserve them any way I can.

If anyone is inclined to perhaps join me in seeing if we can use Brett for our inspiration and build a site to continue this work so that we can continue to help others, I'd be really interested.

Once again, a massive thank you to Brett and best wishes in your new path.

If you're intent on running otr, have a good safety record, and are good with running without much direction from the office, Hummer would be a great fit. They pay well, great equipment that's well taken care of, no cameras and nanny state equipment on the trucks. Fast paced, lots of work and they trust the driver to make sound decisions.

12 out, 2 in. They have lots of consistent freight in your area. If you run good there, you can figure on 100k a year-ish.

Everyone has brought up some great points and you can see that we all have different experiences within the trucking industry.

I wonder if, in asking the question "Is it worth it?" The op means from a philosophical and or lifestyle point of view.

That's a very subjective area. I think obviously most of us replying feel that it is or we wouldn't still be in the industry. Furthermore, we wouldn't be donating time to help others launch a successful career.

I know for me personally, its been worth it, I've made sacrifices in other areas of my life to accommodate this lifestyle and I very much enjoy enough of the positives of the regional/otr lifestyle that I still do it. I may be in a minority but I don't have a desire to do local or linehaul, p&d and other such. But again, personal preference, goals and objectives define that. One the benefits of the industry is that it is so varied in areas that there are many niches one can find.

In this context, only you will be able to decide if its worth it for you.

Hi, welcome to the fourm. There are a lot of great companies to start your career at. Many of them do not require you to have your permit, some do.

There are many different methods they use but in general, its obtain your permit, cdl, then training then solo. Most cover travel, some cover lodging, others pay to start but not cover lodging. It all washes out to similar ends.

Many of us used the high road training program to prepare for our class, cant recommend it strongly enough.

Check the following links, check out the CDL diaries section, make yourself known here, engage with our members, keep asking questions.

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Hey, I'd recommend getting really involved here. Ask questions, read the materials here and get advice.

There are many of us who started our careers with the help of this community and were still going strong.

High Road CDL Training Program

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Truck Driver's Career Guide

Good questions. To add to what OS said in regards to kids and attachments, the first year can lead to extended absences for more than a month. Not meaning to scare you, its just that during schooling and training, which varies from company to company, you may end up away from home for an extended time.

Generally, at least at the company i started at, Knight, they set up new drivers with routes that match their skill level and the time it takes them to execute. A more experienced driver will be able to deliver a load more efficiently and effectively. I found that they set me up for success as much as they could, its part of the learning process.

I would highly encourage you to dig into our cdl diaries section as well as ask questions as much as you can.

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This went under the FAFO category. You found out, the hard way.

In terms of learning from this. Keep your trap shut next time. Seriously, unless I was done with the company and even then I wouldn't do it to avoid burning a bridge, I wouldn't bother telling a manager I did not like them. It will have no good possible outcome.

I mean really? Who does that? This is something we learn not to do early in grade school. Maybe its just a Gen X thing, but we were raised to work hard, keep our mouths shut and if its not working out, go elsewhere or find a way to make it work.

If your dispatcher is not working for you, and you're unable to resolve the issues, request a different dispatcher. Use language that is non combative. Like its not working out or we have different approaches to work that are incompatible. If that fails, go to work elsewhere. But leave in such a manner that you could get rehired.

Learn how to be a tad bit diplomatic. This is just basic communication and work stuff, really has nothing to do with trucking so much as it's stuff that used to be taught in school.

People fail in this industry a lot because of really basic reasons, usually poor choices and personality traits thst will haunt them at any and every industry.

I use the seats, armrests and upper bunk rail. Most of what i do is geared for body recomp, with concentration on progressive overload in each set. Im very lean, require very little cardio and if i do cardio, i just end up burning fuel. That said, i do have a bit of a cortisol belly going that i want rid of, it goes away when Im consistent with my program. Also, I mostly go for whole body rather than targeting specific groups.

For push-ups, I do 3 sets of decline to failure, feet on the bed hands on the chairs. Wide arm alternating to narrow.

Then put the arm wrests down horizontal, raise the air up, do 3 set of crouched dips to failure each set.

Then kneeling pull ups using the upper bunk rail. Again 3 sets to failure each set.

Then to push ups using the arm wrests, narrow pattern, 3 sets to failure each set.

In between sets Bulgarian squats done slowly.

All movements are done slow down, explosive up. Usually 4 to 6 seconds each down cycle.

I do that pattern 3 days a week, off days I shoot for walking a combined total of 45 minutes in addition to normal movement.

Protien intake i shoot for is 1 to 1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight. I eat probably about 80 percent carnivore but its difficult for me to get that much protien in consistently. I just don't eat much.

When I'm following my program consistently, it works well for my body, I'll gain lean muscle mass and reduce fat, but like so many, the consistency is difficult to attain.

Knight is a great company to go with. There are several that have schools in Phoenix as well.

Yes, the market is tough in general right now, there is a surplus of drivers and applicants but its still doable.

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