Profile For Old School

Benjamin, I forgot to welcome you to our forum - so, Welcone Abiard!

Also, I should have pointed out that I drive for Knight. My terminal that I'm dispatched from is in Gulfport, MS. I live in Texas! As you can see, there's no close proximity between the two. We are mobile. Don't let locations be a deterrent or a difficulty for you.

It's really quite simple. You don't need a terminal or drop lot near your home. You just need somewhere to park the truck. That could be a nearby truck stop or a grocery store or maybe a lumber store or any other business that will give you permission to park there for a few days.

I park at my home, but you probably don't have that privilege. Be on the lookout in your area. See if you can find places where you see trucks parked. It may surprise you once you start looking.

Incidentally there are a couple of drop lots that Knight has near you. There's one in Oakland, and another in San Leandro.

I think Pat is still driving. He's just not active here in our forum.

Congratulations Victor!

Keep us posted. You've been making some good progress, and that's great to hear!

I was wondering if the trucks are alway on the move? I know they must get some maintenance at some point. I heard we’d get like one day off a week and 3 days off every few weeks or something like that. Is the truck moving during that time?

Isabell, make sure and read those links Rob provided. There's some really helpful information in them that will help you understand more about the trucking career/lifestyle.

You'll definitely want to be an over the road driver as you start your career. The big OTR companies that hire inexperienced drivers are the best way to get started. Your company will help you know when and where to have your truck maintenance done. They will also help you understand how to schedule your "home time," or time off. Rob is correct in that you may take it where you want.

As you gain some experience you'll understand better how to set it up where you want. I've been known to find myself making a delivery near an interesting place and just messaging my dispatcher to let him know I'd like to take a couple of days off here before you assign me another load. You will be in control of scheduling your time off, and those drivers who are dependable and easy to work with typically find a lot more ease in scheduling time off.

Here's an article you should check out about being a Top Tier Driver. Take the time to read it, and keep hanging out here with us. We should be able to help you considerably - that's just what we do.

What It Takes To Be A Top Tier Driver

Oh yeah, welcome to our forum!

I heartily agree with Brett's sentiments and want to add a little from a different perspective. One of the biggest things we constantly see tripping people up as they start their new trucking careers is unrealistic expectations. It's common for newcomers to think their trainer is going to be as kind and patient as their fourth grade school teacher. They don't realize how challenging this career is, nor are they aware of the serious ramifications of a slight error on their part.

The trainer takes a great deal of responsibility on himself to allow a total greenhorn to drive his truck. It's typically not a carefree time of enjoying sunsets and rainbows while two new friends gently cruise down the interstate on a recreational road trip. It's business. It's serious business in which the trainee is expected to catch on quickly. The company needs you up to speed without wasting time and resources unnecessarily. These trainers get anxious if you don't show progress. They know there's another trainee waiting who just might prove to be a better risk to gamble on.

I was 53 when I jumped into this rewarding career. My trainer was much younger than me. He was terrible. He spoke to me in very demeaning ways. My experience was nothing short of hellish. The approach I took was to always keep myself calm. I never once responded angrily or in a frustrated manner. I endured even racist remarks with one goal in mind. I was determined to win this battle. There was no way I was going to let this trainer keep me from my goal. I wanted to get past this brief but painful experience and move on to what I started this journey for.

Guess what it did for me? It taught me how to be a successful truck driver. There is a certain toughness and resolve required to handle this job. The passion and commitment demanded by the rigorous challenges one faces out here were honed and perfected during my very difficult conflicts with my trainer. I learned to stay calm and keep my composure under really stressful situations. The benefits of that experience have come back to me a hundred fold.

You see, we all think we are learning to handle a truck while with a trainer. There's actually a much bigger goal. We are too focused on the micro elements and we lose any thought of the big picture focus. We must remain humble and teachable even under duress. When we don't understand why our trainer is so upset we need to be able to defuse the situation and still be able to learn from it.

The things I learned about myself while with this very difficult trainer helped to forge my very successful trucking career. All the little details that I once thought vitally important, like backing perfectly or shifting smoothly, came to me over time and repetition during my rookie year as a solo driver. The determination and the commitment to succeed at this were developed during my difficult encounter with an obstinate trainer.

What Should I Expect To Learn From My Trainer?

Cool! I kind of figured you knew about it, but still thought it was pretty cool that some industry insiders find our insights helpful.

Do you know what they say about people copying you? It's the highest form of flattery!

Well, you guys are so awesome that some guy decided to copy one of our conversations and put his name to it as an article. Congratulations! You are providing for some writer struggling for content.

Owner Op - To Be Or Not To Be

How about we start with you explaining why you think that's a smart move on your part. That will help us give you pertinent advice.

All he needs to know is if it can be done or not.

That's the kind of statement people make when they already know they're on the wrong track. Our purpose here is to help your "friend" make a proper start as a trucker.

KP, it can be done. However it's neither an intelligent or useful way to get a CDL. No "reputable" trucking company will hire someone as a driver without a certificate indicating 160 hours of training. As challenging and dangerous as this career is, your "friend" needs the proper training. There's no faking it in trucking. I hope your "friend" doesn't learn that truth the hard way.

I want to back up what Brett's saying. I'm not trying to pile on, but just want to affirm his comments. We've been helping people do this for years. You just fell into one of the biggest traps that snares the wannabes. People wring their hands over which company to start with. They do tons of research, some of them even create useless spreadsheets trying to pinpoint some special company that is so superior that even we don't know about it.

It's a complete waste of time. All trucking companies have their detractors. It's never a realistic reflection on the company. Very few people who go into this career make a go of it. They fail. They are the ones writing these ridiculous reviews. Why take your advice from the people who failed?

Brett's point is based on economics. You're wasting both time and money. Jump in the water man. You don't need to be afraid you're going to be cheated. You're cheating yourself by delaying getting started. It's costing you BIG TIME!

Here's a personal example. In fact, I'm gonna give your wife an assignment to help you guys understand what we're saying. I started my trucking career at Western Express. I honestly couldn't find any positive reviews on them. The reviews were so bad it sounded like the devil himself was running the place. I was literally scared when I left home for orientation.

Here's what I learned. Trucking is trucking. It's not important who's name is on the truck's doors. Drivers determine their success, not corporations. I did great at Western Express. That's where I learned to hone my skills at time management and communication. I was treated like Royalty. I was always busy, and received multiple pay increases and awards. I also encountered people who were miserable and lazy. They came and went almost weekly. Those were the rascals writing the reviews!

Here's the assignment for your wife. Tell her you want to start at Western Express. Have her do her research. See what she comes up with. Then compare that to my genuine success story. It won't make any sense. I honestly hope you'll do that exercise. It will show you the futility of trusting those reviews.

Delco, I'm convinced that former small business operators do well in trucking. They are accustomed to "making things work." They have already been working long hours. They are usually focused on getting the job done, and are willing to do what it takes to complete the mission. They have the drive to face the seemingly impossible and consider it just another day.

Most importantly they comprehend producing something. Did anybody notice how our friend "Concept" was constantly speaking of being on the take? His biggest concern was how much he could get, and it was never enough. A small business operator's biggest passion is getting the job done. He wants to produce a product or service that satisfies his customer's needs. He understands that he gets paid for producing something of value. It's not his time he is selling, it's his ability to produce under pressure. It's the same way in trucking. That mentality is a game changer for a truck driver.

Cool!

How's the driver's pay calculated when you run back empty?

Hey Robert, what kind of backhaul do you typically have?

i was kinda where this guy was once and i wish people like myself then or him now would just swallow pride and listen cause without the experience one real screw up is most likely the end of a potentially life changing carreer. Sorry for babbling im not well spoken but im sure yall catch my drift

Jeremy, we certainly understand what you're saying. One of the most frustrating things for me, when laboring to help people understand how to succeed at trucking, is trying to help them have the proper mindset. Almost everytime I have a discussion like this one, I end up berating myself for not doing a better job at it. I know how to break through all the misinformation and unrealistic expectations. I've done it.

Being able to successfully articulate the path through this mysterious maze has proven to be challenging. It's clear to me, but when trying to explain it to someone, we end up dealing with their own ideas which have probably been cemented and confirmed by their association with other drivers.

It's pretty revealing when he refers to me as a "stupid tool." He's never had interactions with another driver who said the things we teach here. It's no surprise he comes to this conclusion...

You are an idiot. You probably aren’t even a driver.

I'm quite sure I sound like an idiot to him. Ninety nine percent of drivers would wholeheartedly agree with his lofty ideas that he's not being compensated fairly. He's never encountered anyone who challenges him to focus on building his credibility and his value by laying down a proper track record. He's convinced he's arrived, therefore everyone else should agree. He's not aware of how much more effective he can be at improving his results.

He's trying to place a value on his time, which is a classic rookie mistake. Value in trucking, is placed on productivity. The guys who get the most accomplished each week are the most valuable. Productivity doesn't have strict limitations like time does. Two people may both work 70 hours while one of them gets much more accomplished during that time. Which one is more valuable? Hence we refer to this as a performance based business.

I wish I were better at expressing these concepts. I work hard at it, but it often falls flat. I know it helps some people who come along later and encounter these conversations. I keep banging away.

I've been on this dedicated account out of Delhi. Louisiana for over five years now. When I first got on it they mentioned that on a rare occasion they have a load going into Alaska. They wanted to know if I'd be willing to run it. I told them I'd jump all over it! To this day I've not seen any of our drivers dispatched on that mystery load.

Thanks for nothing

You're welcome!

I'm gonna give it one more shot. Though I'm not sure why.

You're making all the classic mistakes. You want to convert mileage pay into hourly pay. That's silly. There's really no way to compare the two. You do not understand "performance based pay."

18.50 is hardly even decent pay in itself.

You are honestly the only person I know who has the gumption to make such a claim! You seem to consider yourself highly valuable. Let me teach you a very important lesson in economics. You are only worth what someone who needs you is willing to pay you. That's your market value. The beauty of trucking is that your employer allows you to prove your worth by your performance. You just don't know how to improve your value.

Look at your statement...

You aren’t going to convince me that I need to improve my performance because the majority of time I am waiting for loads. Dealing with other people’s bull**** and I don’t get paid for any of it.

When I was earning 27 CPM I would hear other drivers at the company who said the same nonsense you're claiming. I never found myself waiting for loads. I was pre-planned ahead of time on almost each dispatch. Why do you think that would be?

I'm gonna help you with the answer...

It was my performance. I had built an awesome relationship with my dispatcher. I communicated very effectively with him. I had established a track record of always being ahead of schedule. Because I focused on my performance, he developed a trust in me. If I sent him an email, the morning he dispatched me 2,000 miles, telling him exactly what time I'd be available, he knew I would make it happen. Therefore he could keep me moving. They can't do that until you prove your worth.

You haven't even been out here long enough to establish anything but an attitude. You need to back off your approach and recognize the sound advice we're giving. Quit blaming your company, your dispatcher, your pay rate or anything else outside of yourself. One good look in the mirror and you'll find the culprit. Aha, hear me now... You'll also find the solution! You can be a really great driver who is making great money. You've just got to recognize the problem. We've been trying to help, but you're stuck - you're convinced you know what's wrong.

Between me and you - which one of us is doing really well out here? I'm not trying to boast. I'm wanting you to think clearly. I know you're capable, but you still aren't doing so. I started at a lower rate than you. I never once considered it too cheap. I measured out what I was worth by demonstrating it. You have got to produce some evidence that shows your value. That comes from your performance not your pie hole.

Congratulations Matt!

Man let me tell you, we've all got some crazy stories about our first solo week. It's an adrenaline rush with some serious embarrassment thrown in to keep you humble. You'll not only feel like you don't know what you're doing, but it will be obvious to everyone else too! Take it in stride, it's all part of the process.

Relax, be willing to laugh at yourself, and realize you are entering a new level of the learning curve. I couldn't wait to be extricated from my trainer, and then I found myself wishing he were there to tell me what to do. It's a big adjustment at first, but in a few weeks you'll be getting things done on a different level. Just stay calm and teachable, you'll get to where you're an old hand at this after a few good years.

Focus on these three major things your first year...

ALWAYS BE ON TIME

DON'T HIT ANYTHING

BE KIND AND HELPFUL WITH DISPATCH

Those three pillars will see you through your rookie year and help you build the foundation for your advance to a higher level of performance as a driver.

I feel like I would have to be doing more than average

Bingo! You're starting to understand!

The problem is you are content to be average. If you can find inspiration to perform at a level that is considerably above average you will excel at this. You need some inspiration. Right now all I hear from you is desperation. There are a million or more truck drivers who sound just like you. I'm trying to help you break free from the status quo. You need some inspiration.

You're a rookie. That's your biggest problem. You must commit to developing yourself into a professional. It will never happen with your current attitude. Work hard on increasing your reliability, productivity, and establishing a great working relationship with your dispatcher. One full year of that and you'll realize how misguided your concerns about CPM rates are now.