Comments By Zen Joker

Hello,

Does anyone know of any good companies in Southern FL that accepts student drivers (or drivers with 3-6 months)? I know Schneider offers OTR & Team but wondering if there are any regional gigs down in FL? Can't be flatbed. Wife and I might be relocating possibly next year.

Thanks!!!

Just wondering anybody's thoughts on Home time (Regional vs. OTR minimums).

I was looking at regional positions at Schneider and OTR at Roehl. Roehl has an option of 3 days home after 11 days out. I read in a reply to a prior post that sometimes regional gigs can cut into the time EX: Get home Saturday and leave Monday AM. whereas OTR home time is a bit more structured and solid. In considering this as well as the obvious fact that you can make more money being out 11 days vs. 5.5. plus 5.5, I wonder if the better option for the quality of family time would be the 11-3 OTR at Roehl vs. what may be an abbreviated 1-2 day break at home via regional? Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated!

Thank you all and stay safe!!

I work for Schneider NE regional, which is likely to be different. But the recruiter told me what I would make per mile and what my raises would be the first year and how many miles average I could expect, and I've been getting more miles than they said, so if you find out what they say for your region you can do the math. From what they told me, I don't think the raise they promised for the first year will make a huge difference in what I make the second year, and I've found with the "home every week" plan i'm running up against the limit of what can be done in 6 days. At least in my region, where the average run is probably 350-400 miles.

I'd specifically ask what regional means. Some people think it means local.you can be out just as long as OTR the only difference is the area you run. My ex is regional yet ran 32 stat3s

I drive OTR for Schneider and regional DOES NOT stay out as long as OTR unless you want to.

Regional for Schneider means you go home each week. However, if you don't get home until Saturday you will still be expected out Monday. Versus OTR where if I am supposed to be home for two days and I don't get home until Saturday, I come back out Tuesday.

Regional may pay much different than OTR. You may get paid for stops and other things whereas I count on miles for my OTR pay.

I've been very happy with Schneider the past 18 months and The Recruiter's promises came true for me.

Good luck.

Thank you everyone so far for the responses!!! Please keep them coming and be safe out there.

Hello Everyone,

Well I moved my wife and daughter back down to the city and the wife HATES IT!! Need to prepare to move back up north possibly in a year and ONCE AGAIN trucking is on the radar. You would think for all the times it keeps coming up I would just quit my white collar job and do it already!! Now the wife says "GO TRUCKING, JUST GET ME BACK UP NORTH! Working away from home has become the norm so a regional gig may be a viable option to get us back up north and finally scratch a decade long scratch to be one with the road again.

ANYWAYS ON TO MY QUESTION:

Schneider is advertising regional positions in Wisconsin listing "Up to $55k per year". I realize that figure is based on the top 5% of drivers near prime freight lanes. Realizing year 1 will be stunted pay as I would learn the ropes, is there any reason to believe I couldn't make $45-50 k regionally year 2 and moving forward? Anybody currently drive regionally in the Midwest? Appreciate any feedback...BTW you can reply "Hey Jack*** just go trucking already!!!"

Zen, I feel like we aren't looking at all the situations here.

As you know, you'll have to do team driving before you get your own truck. With Prime you'll be team driving 6-8 weeks. Now while I think you'll be fine in the drivers seat, what about laying in the bed while the trainer is driving.

I train students right now so I actually have been teaming for 1/2 year now, and I can tell you from experience that you feel those bumps a lot more in that bed. There is nothing there to truly absorb the impact. The only thing I can tell you is to double up on mattress toppers to help you but I'm convinced that you'll have back issues while teaming. It's very rough on your body especially the construction zones.

Just a diffrrent perspective and something else you might not have thought about.

Thanks man!!! Good points here (as usual)

Hey Zen. Love your profile picture. I wonder how many people actually know where that came from?

Spielberg was 19 when he directed Duel. Good catch Tonya!

Thank you Brett!! :)

Hello Folks,

Need to make my annual post in here

So I have decided to postpone my trucking career to years from now to stay with my family until my daughter is older. Quick shout out again to Brett, Old School, Daniel B and all of TT for helping me make an informed decision last year to stay the course in my current job for the foreseeable future.

So this weekend in speaking to my father in law, I told him maybe 10-20 years down the road I would consider pursuing the challenge of OTR truck driving. Explained to him that I can no longer consider flat bed as I have back problems and can't really lift over 50 lbs. So I explained that Van or Reefer would be my choice. And since he needs to shoot down everything I ever propose to do (he even thought marrying his daughter was a bad idea LOL!!) he said "Your back won't tolerate all the bouncing". Now I sit 8-10 hours a day right now, and that actually is what my back prefers vs. standing.

QUESTION: Modern tractors have decent suspensions and unless you are on really crappy roads all the time and/or driving a very old or poorly maintained tractor, it should not be a major factor, would you agree? Or is my father in law correct to advise me this is a pipe dream and I will be bouncing for 8-10 hours a day.

Your feedback is appreciated!! Thanks!

Sleep is one thing that can save your life whether you are driving an 18 or 4wheeler. Now four wheelers its a bit easier to get rest b/c they can just rent ahotel or a motel room. Truckers obviously use a truck stop or a rest area. My questiob is at the truck stop woth all noise from the APUs, idling trucks, random honk, Lot lizards, how do you sleep with all the noise? Do you use ear plugs, ear buds with music, or do you get use to and it becomes a white noise like the sound of a box fan? I know everyone has there methods. Soooo...I'll hang up now and listen your response.

Another possible aid if you can't get "The brain to shut down" may be to take a very small supplement of Melatonin 30 minutes before you hit the bunk. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone. It is synthetically manufactured and is cheap, non-habit forming with no side effects.

IMPORTANT:

1) Do NOT use unless you can commit 6+ hours for sleep (otherwise you may fell groggy in the AM)

2) 1/2 mg would be where you would want to start. If not sufficient, try 1 mg.

The supplement basically tells your brain it is night time and is time to shut down for rest. It won't knock you out cold to where you are sleeping obliviously to any interruption, but should get you over the "hump" of getting to sleep. Ear plugs and white noise machines (as aforementioned are excellent too.

Good luck and take care out there!

Thanks guys