Comments By Errol V.

Santoy, you are not riding with a trainer. You have been driving for a lazy driver who likes the training money and wants you to do the part he doesn't want to do (drive at night).

The training system allows your trainer to team drive but he gets all the mileage pay while the company pays you for getting trained. (I don't with for Prime. I may be wearing about the training system.)

A trainer is there to train you, not for you to be his assistant. If he won't let you back the truck you are getting the short end of the stick. How can you do the hardest part of driving without learning how to back from an experienced driver?

Please let the training office know that your trainer is not training you.

1 millionaire already??

Great going!

Gee Kearsey, did you ever get off the the truck (except the move from New Jersey)?

Some McLane (grocery) locations hire people to get CDL training on site. I'm finishing up teaching a class where one McLane employee's first day at work was the start of the CDL class.

McLane does routes and most are day trips like you're looking for.

This observation isn't directed at the OP, but it's a general concern: why are so many people driving as if they're auditioning for the next Fast & Furious movie? Can we hit pause on those audition tapes? It seems like the need for speed has taken over the streets lately. Let's all take a breath and remember, it's not a race out there. Safety first, folks! 🚗💨

C'mon, Arejay, you know the answer. Impatience is a natural attitude of people. We all want our "time". Some people can manage this natural desire, many can't.

Cutting line in front of others (and those who won't let someone get in front), and driving over the speed limit (a category that covers most drivers) are some easy examples of this.

Truck drivers paid by the mile? I rest my case.

It's very similar to Amazon's DSP last mile delivery system, only the drivers lease the vehicle. Most of the time the fleet owner takes 60%, and we get the 40% as independent contractors.

Out of their cut, the fleet owner handles all fuel, tolls, maintenance and such, all we do is drive. (Being independent contractors, there is no forced dispatch.).

Watch this space...

Not to worry. At the Expedite Expo (2023) Carolyn & I checked out a few expedite trucks. Included in the "sleeper":
* Flip up full bed converts to a dining table w/seats
* Kitchen with microwave, sink & induction hotplate
* Shower with cassette toilet
* Enough standing space for two people to turn around in, if they know each other.

Still, storage is tight. Yup, photos when we get our truck.

Curious Davy wonders:

It's something I've really been fascinated and entertained the idea of myself. I'm really curious to see how it works out.

That's why I'm posting. There's an annual "Expedite Expo" in Fort Wayne in July.

Our onboarding is the first week of April. Even noobs with fresh class B's are on the road in a few days. (Not simply thrown into the pool, there's a mentor/advisor program for all new drivers.)

Oh, and HAZMAT + Tanker is really handy for increased dispatch.

Lower 48. Add passports (not in hand yet) to go to Canada. The expedite thing is strictly team. My wife got a Class B for this.

Yes, Chapter IV will begin soon. Who’s counting? Why am I counting? I dunno. But I have worked in three different trucking categories - not just companies.

• Swift Transportation. I got my start at Swift, getting my CDL through the Swift Academy. Here’s my Swift Training diary.

  I drove OTR (my first week) and dedicated regional with Swift until I saw the opening for Swift Academy instructors. This Academy is in Memphis, near my home. So I applied.

• II (a). Swift Academy I was first assigned to teach a class for students to get a CDL Permit. One week and a Friday test for all. Then I was moved out to the range, and worked with students trying to figure out how that trailer worked.
• III. Truck Delivery Driveaway That was “fun” but I heard about a job delivering new trucks from the factory to dealers. Very interesting, but after a few months unpacking new trucks outdoors in North Dakota and Wisconsin winter, I felt a need to warm up some.

• II (b). CDL instructor (again). I found a job again as a CDL instructor. From The Front Of The Classroom: CDL Class From The Teacher's POV I was sent around the US to various locations to teach CDL for contracting companies, such as Coke, McLane, Pepsi and some community colleges. I spent four years traveling and teaching in places like San Bernardino, CA, Houston, TX, and Scranton, PA.

• IV. I had heard about a sector called expediting, driving a 40’ straight truck with high priority small loads. It’s an Independent contractor job, and I lease the truck from a specialized fleet owner. My wife got a Class B so we will be team driving. The fun part is the truck has a 110” RV style sleeper” with most of the comforts of an RV. This job starts next month, and I’ll be driving for FedEx Custom Critical.

I’ll keep you posted.