Location:
Huntington, TX
Driving Status:
Experienced Driver
Social Link:
Old School On The Web
No Bio Information Was Filled Out. Must be a secret.
Posted: 2 days, 15 hours ago
View Topic:
Would like to get my CDL. Looking for a good company
SupermuttSadie, I'm enjoying having you in here. You seem very well informed. Some of your information is a little muddled, but it's obvious you've done a lot of research or had some exposure to trucking previously.
We would love you to stay active in our forum during your training and your rookie year. I'll bet you could make an awesome training diary for us, and you could even post about the traveling lifestyle with a pet. That's information that could be so helpful to others.
Hey, I thought of two things I know you'd learn a lot from. First, is our High Road CDL Training Program. It's absolutely free, and will put you way ahead of the class at school. Get started as soon as possible. It's a lot of really valuable information. Secondly, I know you would benefit greatly from my book, Hit The Road. It's available on Amazon as an e-book or a paperback. It's packed with information and tips I've learned from my years on the road. It's written especially for newcomers.
Stay in touch! We are happy to help you.
Posted: 2 days, 19 hours ago
View Topic:
Would like to get my CDL. Looking for a good company
You are not required to do 34 hour breaks. I seldom do them anymore. Once you've developed yourself as a competent driver, you may find you prefer running re-caps.
Most rookies find it less complicated to run hard and then do a 34. You'll develop your own style and will discover the type of places you enjoy taking a 34 hour break.
Posted: 3 days, 12 hours ago
View Topic:
Would like to get my CDL. Looking for a good company
I do not want to work for swift for 2+ years. One year would be fine. 2 years is ridiculous!
Don't be so quick to reject Swift. All that garbage on the internet is useless information. Swift is an amazing company that could serve you very well. They have all kinds of opportunities for their drivers. You could easily transition to another division in the company if you wanted something different. We've had a lot of our members start there and stay on for many years.
I think you would be very surprised to find they have a very large number of million miler drivers. It takes anywhere from eight to ten years to run that many miles. They also have a lot of multi-million milers. That's a testament to their operation that you've never investigated.
The losers in trucking always blame the company. Swift generously gives a lot of people the chance to prove themselves. When they fail they never admit how poorly they were doing. They always blame Swift.
Don't limit your opportunities by believing all the lies on the internet.
Posted: 4 days, 18 hours ago
View Topic:
Update on the Flatbed world research of course
That's awesome Bobcat! Keep us posted. We'd love hearing from you during training. You could even start a training diary. That would be super helpful to others starting a new career at McElroy.
Posted: 4 days, 18 hours ago
View Topic:
Stay in touch. You could write a training with Maverick diary for us. That would be awesome!
Posted: 1 week, 1 day ago
View Topic:
Hey, try not to analyze this to death. You are obviously gathering information from all sorts of places. I know you want to get this right, but that's where you are going wrong.
If you like the idea of a weekly minimum, then go for it. Stop handicapping yourself with "what ifs." None of these companies wants you earning just that minimum. That means they are leaving money on the table. They only make money when you make money. I've never even considered a minimum amount. I'm focused on the maximum amount. That's where you need to be focused.
Don't fool yourself into thinking percentage pay equals more pay. Plenty of people chase that elusive rabbit. It's just another gimmick.
About the only thing you posted that I can agree with is the fact that TMC and Maverick are fighting for the same freight.
I'm surprised Landair is hiring new drivers on that account. If it's a "dollar store," I'd definitely stay away. I don't know what it is, but the reasons the pay is like it is, are pointing to difficulty. I would want to know more before signing on to that.
You can't go wrong with TMC or Maverick. The problem will be whether you have the gumption to be a flatbedder. Whatever you decide, stick it out for one full year. You owe yourself that commitment. It will make a huge difference in your career.
If you can swing it, my book, Hit The Road, will be a major help to you. It's available on Amazon.
Posted: 1 week, 2 days ago
View Topic:
Not trucking related but fun while enjoying time off
Pete knows bikes. He just doesn't understand motorized bikes. He likes the kind that are powered by two legs.
Posted: 1 week, 2 days ago
View Topic:
Update on the Flatbed world research of course
I meant to add that i agree with the things Pete said about TMC and their drivers.
Posted: 1 week, 2 days ago
View Topic:
Update on the Flatbed world research of course
Yes I'm a rookie but I got to find the correct path.
Hello Bobcat!
Don't get all stressed thinking you're going to make a mistake with your first choice of company to work for. Seriously, you could put all those names on the wall, plus another half dozen or so, throw a dart at it and start with whoever gets hit by the dart.
Every rookie, me included, thinks their future career success depends on starting with the right company. It's hogwash! It really is useless stress added to your start. You will determine your future success. Just make sure you've got the work ethic and the drive to push through the difficulties of starting a trucking career.
The flatbed company you choose will provide you with the training and the work you need to establish yourself. All of them can do that. What none of them can do is provide you with the clarity of mind and determination and drive that gets you into position for success at this. That comes from you.
Remember, you are the new guy. You have to prove yourself capable. The companies you are looking at have nothing to prove to you. They may or may not be interested in you. I had a hard time getting my first flatbed job. Once I got it, I never slacked off. After a million miles, I'm still trying to prove myself everyday.
Posted: 23 hours, 22 minutes ago
View Topic:
Reporting ABS light on trailer
Welcome to the real world scenarios of trucking. Hey Christopher, there's a lot of what we sometimes call "grey areas" in trucking. Those are areas where you are required to make a decision which may or may not have a bad effect on your ability to be productive. All rookies struggle with this part of their new career.
Here's how I handle situations like this. That trailer is safe even without the ABS system working properly. I would complete the load, but inform my DM about the light. He and I would coordinate a way for me to drop it off somewhere for repairs after I've finished the load. That way I'm making money, the trailer gets looked at, and I'm getting dispatched on my next load. Everybody wins!
Don't let that attitude take root that claims the company is punishing me for doing the right thing. That will grow into things you don't want preying on your mind. You just didn't know the most efficient way to handle the situation. You'll have hundreds of similar decisions to make during your first year.
Safety is always your priority, but don't forget productivity is right up there at the top also. You've got to make good decisions when you encounter these "grey areas." You just didn't know how to handle this one. Now you do! Mark that one up as a lesson learned.