Profile For Tractor Man

Mark, I stand by my original post. Companies are hiring drivers and students left and right these days. If I read your original post correctly, you did originally drive for 7 months? Then had family issues?. If you have a clean driving record, no preventables in your previous jobs with Celadon or Werner, a clean criminal record, (although not completely necessary. There are several drivers on this forum that have been hired, even with felonies), and a steady employment record, there are 50 companies that will have you in orientation next week. Get the Driver Pulse app on your phone and apply today. Good Luck! Please report back and make a liar out of me if necessary.

Absolutely they will. I think your best bet would be to contact Werner or Celadon for starters, although, most any Company will take you on. You will probably be required to take a "refresher" course of some type. I put refresher in quotes because it really isn't a cut and dried term throughout the industry. Probably go through a company orientation and then several weeks with a trainer, mentor, engineer or what ever term the company uses to describe their road trainers. My guess is that you will be solo in 3-6 weeks. Good Luck!

Tractor Man and Gladhand at Little Anita's in Albuquerque, NM. 07/18/19

Tandems set at 42 feet to center of rear axle. (Illinois)

At this stage you can dress like a cowboy even if you're not from Texas or Wyoming.

.....or one of the Village People!

Fantastic! You are among the very few that accomplish 1 year. Not sure of the stats, but I would hazard a guess at well below 10%.

One banana for each month!

Line items from my pay stub:

FWIW.... I went to Orientation with Swift in Phoenix, AZ in January of this year. I live in Tucson, AZ. They scheduled an appointment at Concentra, in Tucson, about 10 days prior to Orientation for the Hair Follicle Test. They PAID ME a $100 ORIENTATION BONUS, for having it done ahead of time. You may want to ask your recruiter about this. Good Luck!

Since you are new, I would recommend using the PFJ or TA/ Petro app and seriously consider paid parking if necessary. Also, use Truckerspath app and check parking availability and history. You will learn over time. The most important thing is learn to trip plan and have several parking locations mapped out prior to starting your day. Pick your ideal spot to finish the day, and start backing up about 4 hours away from that spot. Traffic, delays at shippers/receivers, mechanical issues can all throw a wrench into your best laid plans.

Driving for Amazon is like driving for Uber or Lyft. You'll lose money on every trip, but they tell you you'll make up for it in volume!

It sounds like you have had a long and successful career in other fields. I would list all of your previous careers, dates, employers, etc. Get notarized letters from friends and colleagues stating you have been retired and traveling. It seems that many of these megas have no problem filling their schools and trucks with recent immigrants, some whom even have difficulty with speaking english. I doubt many of them have a verifiable 3+ year employment record. If I were you, I would dig a bit deeper with these recruiters. You can make it happen. Good luck!

Swift pays for ours. If mine are in a dropped trailer, Swift authorizes me to purchase new ones with my comdata card. Learn to ask at shippers and receivers if they have any laying around. Many will be happy if you take them. I have been to some locations that are littered with them, usually bent and trashed laying around the docks. Prime will not reimburse you for that?

Very great points packrat although all i could think of while reading that was the movie Good Fellas...

Hey! Fantastic news Gladhand! The usual recommendation is stay with your first Company for at least one year. You stayed for over 3! As Packrat said, you will be a success wherever you land. You are truly a "Top Tier Driver". 😁 Keep us up to date once you settle in to the new gig.

I won't name the worst because it seems rude, but those guys trailers appear to be decades old and falling apart.

Ill say it, cause' I've pulled a number of them. Swift has their share of decrepit rusty old wagons floating across the fruited plain.

I put my paints on 1 leg at a time

I prefer to put my paints on with a brush and roller, occasionally I'll use my airless sprayer.

Many Drivers today do not even own one. Title should be, Buy a CB, hook it up, turn it on. Could not agree more with both of the above comments.

If you look at the price of insurance, that will answer your question

I noticed you both kept your walkers out of the pictures. Nice move!

I am so proud to announce something I just read on another thread.

One of our members really struggled in training, and faced challenges with backing. Mostly, she was really tough on herself and lacked confidence. She stayed on her trainer's truck way longer than normal, went solo, then went back out with a trainer to improve her skills.

Once solo she called me a few times for help but she was determined to make this work.

This person just announced that in 5 months solo, she has earned $23,000

That is $4,600 per month and she is headed for $55,200 her first year!!!!!

Totally amazing!!!

Donna, you are the "Prime" example of a "No Retreat, No Surrender" driver!

Rainy...........Be careful........its gonna' go straight to her head!!