Comments By Errol V.

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.

Justin, you are right that no one here "knows" you. On the flip side, you don't know the people on this forum.

Let me give you a short introduction to Kearsey. Kearsey is a Mod here, an Experienced Driver, not just with her avatar, but on the road. I was here when she bailed from a Post Office job and signed in here looking to try this trucking thing.

Over the last few years she has learned enough to be successfull with a YouTube channel and is (I think) a mentor to rookie drivers at Prime.

I'll admit Kearsey showed a bit of 'tude, but everything in her post applies.

Testing? Fact of trucker life. I have been randomly tested twice in two weeks, and I test as clean as can be.

Do you know of drug use, including weed, by other drivers? You could bring it up with management, if is verified they'll do what they have to do.

The FMCSA uses a Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) system that makes every CDL operating company pay special attention to their drivers' fitness to drive.

So if you see a problem, your company should know. If you feel they don't care and you do, either 1) follow the Whistleblower program or 2) look for a new job.

James, once you solve the ca problem, you might want to check PAM Transport

I just read an ad that goes like this:

How to Get Your Class A CDL Training

You can get your CDL training onsite at PAM! PAM has partnered with Select CDL Driving School (SDS) to offer a new CDL school at PAM headquarters, to get your trucking career off on the right foot.

Apply now! As you train you’ll get to meet other drivers, check out the equipment, and learn the PAM culture to get yourself closer to a driving seat with PAM.

NEW! Get $100 a Week While in School

SDS is now offering a weekly $100 stipend for all new CDL students. You’ll get $100 each week for 3 weeks of school. That’s $300 you can use to help with living expenses during school.* NEW! Industry-Leading 6-Month Commitment

PAM just set a new industry standard by only requiring a 6-month driving commitment to have all your school tuition covered. Other trucking companies require you to drive at least one or two years before they pay for CDL school.

Here is the Trucking Truth PAM Transport Review (The details here are not up-to-date.)

PAM's web site

What do you mean by "DOT Driver"? Are these drivers driving commercial vehicles without a current CDL license?

James what you dream about is a possibility, but rare. Generally, many trucking companies have their own school, but not near you. But if you are accepted at the company school, you will get a bus ticket and have a hotel room for the four or so weeks of school. The great thing about going company training is that you all but hired when they accept you for training.

Check these out:
Paid CDL Training Programs
Apply now with the top CDL training programs in the country

Finally, having a company truck terminal near you is not necessary. You will be traveling around, and when you are taking home time, you will be routed in a way that gets you home for a few days.

What Ryan says is true. I've been a CDL instructor for five years. Last year I called Walmart transportation dept, inquiring.

With no recent OTR experience I would not be classified as experienced enough to get a fat bonus and a higher mileage rate.

Jack supposes:

[Trucking] would allow me plenty of time to read at shippers and receivers, and just looks enjoyable in general...

OTR trucking is based on miles driven. There no money in waiting for loading/unloading. But the time waiting for the shipper to get your trailer ready is something you must keep track of.

As for "enjoyable", joy in trucking depends on you. It's a lonely job, you have weird work hours, and more, but then you don't have a boss looking over your shoulder and there's plenty of highway travel. (You realize I can't put a full discussion here, but you can check out the famous book by Brett: Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving)

Arejay wonders:

Huh? Did they actually tell you that you didn't meet a minimum income requirement?

There's no "minimum income" requirement. All companies want to make sure the applicate hasn't spent the last two years in Margaritaville.

Third party (Pastor, Doctor, etc.) statements that you were full time caring for your Dad in his last days will work.

Hey Brett! I asked Jimmy™ this question:

Can another person do a truck pre-trip for a driver?

There was no answer, the text box just reverted to "Submit".

I asked this about 5:30 am. Maybe Jimmy™ hasn't finished his coffee yet

Commercial aircraft are always pre-tripped. But it's not the pilots who do it, the ground crew does. Yes that are trained for that job.

Do you have any training for doing pre-trips? (We have lots of info & help here.)