Profile For Old School

Uh oh!

My old timers might be hitting me...

I think that line is from a different song in the musical. It's from, Oh What A Beautiful Morning. I may not have even quoted it accurately. Oh well, you get the idea.

Hello ID Mtn Gal!

It's great hearing from you. I hope you're doing well.

That line is actually in the song, Oklahoma.

The broadway play and movie “Oklahoma”.

Ding, Ding, Ding...

Bush Country wins the prize! A corn on the cob dinner from me, but first you've got to find me!

I don't think we've heard from you for a while. How are things going in the oil field?

Do you remember that line from the movie, Second Hand Lions?

I've been running the Midwest states lately, and corn is all I see. Man we produce a lot of corn!

The good thing about seeing all this corn is that it indicates football season is about to start.

Who recognizes where this line comes from? "The Corn is as high as an elephant's eye, and it looks like it's reaching right up to the sky!

That was beautiful Nick! It's Schneider specific and that is helpful.

It's the very thing I was trying to convey, but you did it better. I've never considered what time I wake up as all that important. My plan is to always get empty early. That makes all the difference in the world.

You did well explaining that!

That's rough Big Scott!

Trucking is full of surprises. Some of them not always enjoyable.

I'm glad it wasn't worse!

What was super interesting was that, from the perspective of experienced drivers there, a lot of those complaining simply aren't getting up early enough to get the better loads. This makes sense, and obviously those who are complaining aren't really going to admit to getting up at 9, 10am. Do you have any thoughts on this?

MrsTruckerTX, there's a whole lot to getting the best loads. Personally, I don't think waking up early has anything to do with it, unless maybe you're on a dedicated account where you're dispatched locally. That just really sounds funny to me. I might not wake up until 5 in the afternoon somedays, but that's because I didn't stop my driving shift until around 7:30 that morning.

If you're on a 1,600 mile run with four or five stops, nobody cares what time you start or stop. One driver may do it one way, while another does it completely different. The main concern is hitting the appointment times accurately. I go into this a great deal in my book, "Hit The Road." That book would help you guys tremendously.

Getting yourself empty early is one important thing that helps get the best loads. There's a whole chapter in the book dedicated to that principle. "First In, First Out" is an important practice that sets you up for success.

Communication with your dispatcher is also part of it. I never leave with a load until I've given my dispatcher an accurate PTA (projected time of availability). This is done electronically. I don't talk to my dispatcher very often, but he knows I will do just what I've sent him from my truck's tablet.

The best loads go to the best drivers. You've got to prove yourself by consistently performing really well. Your communications have to be accurate. You've got to do exactly as you say, and you have to be dependable and easy to work with. All this takes time. The driver is the one responsible for establishing this all important relationship with the dispatch team.

If you guys can swing it, the book is relatively inexpensive. It is a real game changer for rookie drivers. At least that's the kind of feedback I'm getting. If you go to Amazon and put "Hit The Road by Dale McClure" in their search bar, it should pop right up. It's available as an e-book or paperback. I know it will help your husband in ways you don't even realize yet.

Hey Clayton, it's great hearing from you!

Man, I'm sorry to hear what's going on with you. Trucking can be ruthless. You're finding that out. Have you tried Western Express? I would keep trying to land a company driver position. Try everywhere you can. Even if you don't have the best situation, by staying there one year, you will open up a lot of opportunities. One year without another accident says a lot.

That's been a policy with many Trucking companies. After they terminate an otherwise good employee for an accident, they will usually hire them back after they work somewhere else accident free for one year.

You probably need to rethink how you want to start this. First, you don't have to work for a company based in your area. I live in Texas. My trucking employer is based in Phoenix, AZ. I seldom ever go to Phoenix. I may have been there four or five times in ten years.

There are plenty of companies hiring from the New Orleans area. You just need to do your research and get on with one that will train you and help you get that CDL.

Follow this link and you can find companies hiring from your area. I think there's a place there to put your zip code in and it will show you companies hiring from your area.

Truck Driving Jobs

You said this, and I'm not exactly sure what you mean...

What is the best way to start small in the industry?

The folks who hire you will be looking for a productive member being added to their team. They aren't too interested in small starts. This is an asset based business. When they assign their valuable assets to you, they expect results. They need each asset to be producing good revenues. You can expect to be working long hours from the very beginning.

Is your Dad in Maine? If so, that's going to be tough. There's not a whole lot of freight running in and out of there. It's not likely you're going to find a job running up there frequently.

Lastly, you make this confession...

I'm not looking to burn out after a few years.

All I can say is nobody enters trucking looking to burn out after a few years, but many do just that. This is not an easy career to get started. It's an even tougher one to maintain. A lot of truckers burn out quickly. I see it all the time. Even here in our forum it's obvious.

I wish you the best, but don't romanticize this career as a great vacation that will allow you to go see the country and your Dad. That's just not how it works.

Hey, don't worry about it. They are going to show you their preferred technique which is very similar to what you're doing. You'll be fine.