Profile For Auggie69

I had road tests at several local companies, and got offers. I narrowed it down to two companies, and I would appreciate any advice helping me to make a right choice. Company A has about 300 trucks and 7 terminals. All trucks are auto, 2018-2018, all repairs are done in-house. Work hours are M-F, 8am until done, usually 10-12 hrs, OT after 50, routs are 10-12 stops, pay is $26. Company B is much smaller, it has 8 trucks, 2015-2018, all 10 speed, they do paper logs, work hours are M-Th, 8-10am until done, usually 10-12 hrs, OT after 40, routs are 10-12 stops, pay is $23. Both companies are 20 minutes from my home. I liked the owner at the smaller company, it does look like a family business. I also like the chance to drive a manual truck. I am not so sure about their maintenance though...

If you're going to do P&D you may as well go large and start with a big company. I put a couple links below for jobs with OD and FedEx. FedEx I would apply for the Driver Apprentice position as they will put you through their program. In either case you may even be able to start on the dock and wait for a slot if that's a possibility for you.

OD is out of Dracut, MA and FedEx North Billerica.

FedEx Freight

Old Dominion

From Eugene:

You know what? My second to last comment was probably the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever said. I wish I could take it back and I can’t regret it enough. I am genuinely sorry for it.

We won't be hearing from Eugene anymore, but we wish him luck. More importantly, we hope he learns to appreciate and respect the people who are working so hard to help him be successful.

Say what? We need to find out what happened with Eugene! :)

Today I had my first solo load, so I think I am eligible to participate in this game :-) After getting a truck in Conley, GA I was dispatched to Fairburn, GA and picked up a loaded trailer with paper products from Georgia Pacific. This part was easy, and people were super friendly. This load went to Food Lion in Greencastle, PA, which is about 700 mi. A funny thing - the same miles that I didn't even bother to count while driving with a trainer are much more important to me now when each one of them had a certain monetary value :-) Delivery was OK too, it was a live unload, but the area was huge, and there was enough room for a good setup. The bad thing was that I waited 3 hours for the green light, and left with only 50 minutes on my 14 clock. My greatest luck however was one (!) available spot at the rest area! I parked with 18 minutes left...

That Foodlion is huge - but they are slow. Good thing is there are places to go right up the street.

Oh, and I think there are places you can "hide" nearby if you don't want to go to the rest stop. Actually, I think Food Lion even provides a parking area. Ask the guard next time you leave.

Today I had my first solo load, so I think I am eligible to participate in this game :-) After getting a truck in Conley, GA I was dispatched to Fairburn, GA and picked up a loaded trailer with paper products from Georgia Pacific. This part was easy, and people were super friendly. This load went to Food Lion in Greencastle, PA, which is about 700 mi. A funny thing - the same miles that I didn't even bother to count while driving with a trainer are much more important to me now when each one of them had a certain monetary value :-) Delivery was OK too, it was a live unload, but the area was huge, and there was enough room for a good setup. The bad thing was that I waited 3 hours for the green light, and left with only 50 minutes on my 14 clock. My greatest luck however was one (!) available spot at the rest area! I parked with 18 minutes left...

That Foodlion is huge - but they are slow. Good thing is there are places to go right up the street.

What should a driver do if he/she should encounter people in the road who are obstructing traffic on purpose such as protestors or rioters? What should the driver do or not do so as not to get in trouble with the law?

I was in fear for my life ...

What should a driver do if he/she should encounter people in the road who are obstructing traffic on purpose such as protestors or rioters? What should the driver do or not do so as not to get in trouble with the law?

I was in fear for my life ...

This is one very oddly detailed thread about another person. And it’s kinda creepy. If this is real- 😳

Exactly what is so odd sharing the experience my son has gone through. It is real. I am a very successful business owner that is very well known with a reputation of great integrity (words given by others, not my own).

I know right? Yet the OP claims not to be a micromanaging enabler.

You seemed to have fallen into some some misconception. I've tried to correct errors in your thinking but you are stuck with your ideas. We recently suggested to our son that he look into another company and I provided one job listing. Everything else for the past 13-14 has been 100% his own ideas and choices. How is that micro-managing? How is anything we've done an enabler? You have a few terms you seem stuck in using even though they don't fit the situation.

I'm an moderator of a forum larger than TT and I find it very strange how so many people come here showing disrespect and offering non-constructive criticisms. I had witnessed this shown to many other posters and am puzzled why some people respond this way. I am sure many haven't even bothered to join or post here because of such behavior. I respectfully as you to consider if your comments are really meant to be helpful before posting.

BTW, Old School, good luck with your eye surgery recovery. Hope it's not as serious as what my neighbor has had to go through repeatedly.

You have to understand there are some folks who come in here and "pretend" to be what they are not. You have to admit that your story is pretty fanciful even for the second character. I've been doing the interwebs since 1993 and even to a forgiving person such as me this seems ... grandiose. But, play on. We'll see how this goes.

Its really hard to take this thread at face value, but for the moment I will. Assuming you as a parent are Gen X, and your son is a Millennial or there about. Helicoptering your child in any shape is symptomatic of the catastrophic system failure occurring in the US. Having hired and more so fired countless millennials, mostly due to their entitlement minded, soft and weak nature and overbearing parents raising them. I have no idea why, we as latchkey kids, that were generally left outside to fend for ourselves, and as a generation that brought us the modern connected world bridged with the analog tough world brought about the softest weakest generation in existence. Just an observation, pardon my rant.

If, as you say, you had been lurking here, reading posts, even the most cursory scan of posts would have highlighted which path your son should have taken. This site is almost dedicated to the point of obsession on going with company paid CDL training over private schooling. On not taking a Dollar General account as a new hire, On NOT team driving as a rookie, On how to manage conflicts with trainers, and so much more.

Perhaps you need to flat out tell your son to start making some choices he may not like, as in taking advice from members in this community (not myself) who have the experience to back up their recommendations. Maybe he should get over his fear of social media and forums and engage in this community, might help.

yeah, he needs to join the Army. Kill people, break things will straighten him up.

Paragraphs are your friend.

Anyone else get a random recruiter phone call? She said "I come highly recommended" she probably says that to everyone, so recommended infact she offered me a 30 cpm pay cut.

I got one that asked if I was interested in working for a Nigerian prince and for only $1500 they could secure my employment.

Ok guys been busy with work etc. Small update. Went to the clinic after work today for my DOT physical. Was a walk in so had to wait a couple of hours but I got it done. Got a 2 year card so happy about that.

Written exam for the learners permit is this Sat morning.

Gonna wash the motor oil from work off of myself and get some food in my belly and back to studying.

Hope everyone is well.

In MD pretty sure you can't get your Hazmat till you have your actual license. Not a game changer but something to think about.

How about doubles and triples, should I get that endorsement also ?

Might as well, it doesn't hurt to have it even if you do not use it. Plus like Auggie said LTL companies are backed up and have been using 3rd parties, I have see a couple different OTR companies pulling sets.

I will say if you have the endorsement, be prepared to use it :) Hooking doubles or triples can be somewhat involved.

In our case, and what would probably happen a majority of the time, the O/O were just "Power only". In other words, the sets they picked up were already put together. All they had to do was backup and go.

I think that daylight savings time changes twice a year are a pain in the azz. Either leave it as it always was without it or make it a permanent change. It is too confusing and troublesome for whatever gain it is suppossed to do. Just my 2 cents as being retired it doesn't matter to my lifestyle.

Spring forward ... fall back. Not hard.

I love it because I hate to deliver stupid **** to residential customers after nightfall.

"You mean you can't deliver my 2,000lbs of mulch to my mountaintop home tonight? Why not?"

Depending on where you are driving a school bus would be relevant for combat experience....

LOL! The Army trained me to drive a 53pax bus in Berlin, Germany. At the time I thought THAT was combat experience.

Hey y'all. New guy here. I am considering joining the industry and am really torn on what to do. I've spent my days so far working customer service jobs. I really am passionate about helping people, but don't really like customer service jobs that much. I also am not a home body whatsoever. I like going out as much as I can and I don't mind driving. I am just not sure if trucking is right for me. I doubt myself a lot and don't know if I'm "enough" to get into trucking. I'm kind of always seen as an underdog and don't really feel like I'm good at much, so I worry I would sabotage myself if I got into trucking. So what got all of you into trucking? How did you know it was right for you? Any advice on how to make a decision about what to do?

Money. I hired on at FedEx Express making $16hr. After 6mos I found that FedEx Freight will not only double my pay but will TEACH me how to drive a rig.

Um, duh.

Any tips or links for proper air seat adjustment/set up? I have got to get it right, my numb-butt is killing...

I raise or lower my seat depending upon the angle of the sun :)

How about doubles and triples, should I get that endorsement also ?

Funny you should ask. For the first time that I can ever remember FedEx contracted out hauling doubles to O/O a few weeks ago. We were so backed up due to the weather in the Midwest we couldn't catch up.

Point being, in general folks would say 'NO' about getting your doubles endorsement. I mean, who would use it?

But there were these two long-nosed Petes sat in our yard hooked to a couple of sets so I know we found at least two drivers that had the endorsement :)

My ideal career I'm looking for is as a garbage truck driver for waste management or another waste disposal company, and I have applied for many different positions, but they all say they want someone with at least a year of driving experience. I've been approved as a school bus driver for my area and I am wondering if that would be relevant experience they are looking for?

Also, hello everyone, I am new to these forums and this is my first post. Sorry I wasn't sure if these forums are for CDL-B jobs or not.

WM Driver job:

IV. Qualifications The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.

A. Education and Experience

Education: None Required. Experience: 1 year of experience operating a vehicle requiring a CDL or equivalent military driving within the last 7 years. B. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations or Other Requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age Legally eligible to work in the United States Hold a current Class A or B Commercial Drivers License with an air brake endorsement. C. Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required

None required.

So, yes, I would say being a school bus driver would qualify you.

The problem is the over the top flamboyance, daisy dukes, flirting, and just the in general man trying to be a woman. It’s absolutely disgusting. If I say one wrong word to him or to my driver manager I could be seen as being homophobic.

Well you are, so...

No, he's not. You think a company would force a female trainee to ride with a male trainer? I could give a rat's ass what one does with their genitalia but I refuse to get caught up in this current atmosphere of you MUST abide by this otherwise you are a (whatever)-phobe.

When I joined the Army, in my career field being gay was grounds for dismissal. Even back then, nobody cared. For the VAST majority of people, this isn't a problem. It IS a problem if you find yourself in a truck with a hypersexualized person. Why is that even a issue?

https://youtu.be/7-2jLLMdEBw

The problem is the over the top flamboyance, daisy dukes, flirting, and just the in general man trying to be a woman. It’s absolutely disgusting. If I say one wrong word to him or to my driver manager I could be seen as being homophobic.

Well you are, so...

No, he's not. You think a company would force a female trainee to ride with a male trainer? I could give a rat's ass what one does with their genitalia but I refuse to get caught up in this current atmosphere of you MUST abide by this otherwise you are a (whatever)-phobe.