Comments By Turbo617

I now have the CDL A. Practically aced the brake, maneuvers and road last Thursday.

Orientation with Werner starts on March 13th. Going otr route ( as opposed to dedicated) . They didn't have any regional open, but it can change from here to then.

I'll keep updating on my journey

You probably made it here by now, but canton is about ten minutes away from me. There's a rest stop on 95 north, just after before 495 ( coming from Rhode Island)

You can also park on the street at NETTTS in Pawtucket, I always see us Xpress, tmc, Werner , and few other truck company and owner ops take their breaks there

If you can brave city driving, you can take your break around my area, you'll just have a complicated way of heading back on to the highway. ( this goes for anyone) talbot Ave, Dorchester, park on the field side. Blue hill ave heading towards talbot, trucks park there often.

You'll have to drive up to franklin park, turn around up there OR take a right down Columbia road, straight down until you get on the highway ( seen trucks do both )

The rest stop is before 495*

You probably made it here by now, but canton is about ten minutes away from me. There's a rest stop on 95 north, just after before 495 ( coming from Rhode Island)

You can also park on the street at NETTTS in Pawtucket, I always see us Xpress, tmc, Werner , and few other truck company and owner ops take their breaks there

If you can brave city driving, you can take your break around my area, you'll just have a complicated way of heading back on to the highway. ( this goes for anyone) talbot Ave, Dorchester, park on the field side. Blue hill ave heading towards talbot, trucks park there often.

You'll have to drive up to franklin park, turn around up there OR take a right down Columbia road, straight down until you get on the highway ( seen trucks do both )

I'm doing my research on otr aswell . as long as I Show up on time and don't live at truck stops ( aka manage my time well ) I should get treated well with the FM

I just need the miles

Nightmares of how FM treat the otr drivers ( but depends on which fm you get)

And I am considering going directly to the food service route ( which is difficult but not as much as dedicated dollar)

I won't be ignorant , I am highly considering What are you are saying, it benefits me more not doing dedicated. I'm just conflicted , I wouldn't mind otr at all. But again, ultimate goal is local food service runs for my family

Update.

Roehl stopped contacting me.

Werner almost declined me but I had to reassure them my license was never suspended as my current job does random license checks and you get fired immediately with no license. After a bit of running around for s few days.

Werner has pre hired me

Us Xpress is interested in me but hasn't officially said I'm pre hired.

Both I believe will be dedicated accounts ( I haven't officially picked but that's what's being put as bait )

With my newborn baby boy it is a bit difficult but my wife fully supports me getting the 1-2 year experience for the good local jobs.

Dedicated,..."Dollar General"?

Turbo you might want to find out if that's the case. Not an assignment we recommend for an entry level driver. Use the search bar in the upper left to find archived threads on Dollar General to understand what's behind the caution.

Good luck!

Thanks !

I may end up doing the local food service after my 1-2 year experience. The unloading won't be a problem, if it helps me lose weight that'll be great, hopefully I'll be able to lose 40-50 pounds so I can enter the military ( possibly reserves so I can do 20 years in trucking and 20 years military)

What would be the problem , backing into tight areas. Not only backing , but backing on active roadways, roadways filled with people who have no consideration, even though they are going to park and shop at that store!

Currently reading a thread where Brett posted his experience, that doesn't sound bad at all. Ronnie r in that same thread is saying, spend more time unloading than driving and running into stores that aren't built to fit 53ft trailers

Family dollar I don't see much info on ( there's a store by my house that they park on the street, but the dollar tree also by my house has the most complicated set up but yet there was a we're truck w/ trailer in there)

I'm going to keep researching. For Werner , I will pick from the options available, I wouldn't mind otr but I hear nightmares for that. Also hear you get treated better in the dedicated accounts ( or maybe I get lucky and find a dedicated account that isn't dollar tree or dollar general )

Update.

Roehl stopped contacting me.

Werner almost declined me but I had to reassure them my license was never suspended as my current job does random license checks and you get fired immediately with no license. After a bit of running around for s few days.

Werner has pre hired me

Us Xpress is interested in me but hasn't officially said I'm pre hired.

Both I believe will be dedicated accounts ( I haven't officially picked but that's what's being put as bait )

With my newborn baby boy it is a bit difficult but my wife fully supports me getting the 1-2 year experience for the good local jobs.

Of the three, I'm more looking into Roehl , not sure why. Maybe because I seen the old guy with the picture of battling a tarp as his pic,

I think I represent that remark!

A good long term strategy is to get on with one of the large carriers first - Do a full year minimum of over the road work - then if you want to work for the state start applying for their driving jobs. That would be the most likely path to success in this "old guy's" opinion.

Apologies in not remembering your username, I generally have more respect for everyone, no excuse.

So what you are indicating is prime / Werner over Roehl ?

I don't mind doing the one year, wife is onboard. Her concern is as long as I make more than I do now, which even a truck driver doing the bare minimum clearing close to 40k is more than I make ( sad reality of contract with security)

The thought of starting with swift even came into mind. Getting past all the rookie / dumb mistakes- I hear they pay well. Benefits are good. And the miles are there

Scroll past the line to avoid the typical intro 😁

Hey everyone, I'm a week or so away from graduating trucking school, I'm ready to take the test with the Massachusetts state trooper now though. Just have to wait till my test date is given to me

Studied the pretrip on this forum aswell as the general discussions over the last 4 months or so.

I sent out 5 applications. WEL, Roehl, Us Xpress, Werner, TMC. US Xpress is the only one getting back to me.

Roehl , I called them and they never recieved my application so I did one over the phone / application sent by email. Called them immediately after, all he needs is the police report due to an accident.

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I checked the truck company tab on this forum. Aswell as keeping in mind long term.

Roehl i see as good because I do want to get into flat bed , and if and when it slows down I can just switch divisions while staying with same company..

( are we able to take the Roehl trucks home on home time? Don't think I ever seen a Roehl truck here in the Northeast unless they run the Masspike I90. )

Werner I see the same , switch divisions.

Prime I see the same. Switch divisions.

Of the three, I'm more looking into Roehl , not sure why. Maybe because I seen the old guy with the picture of battling a tarp as his pic, he mentioned a few times to other rookies- look at long term ( imagine that, you guys effort is rubbing off on people who just read and never post). While others may have the nice equipment and maybe much bigger.. I believe I'll be better fit at Roehl.

What's the average pay like ?

Now this is my Main battle. I love trucking , but using the older gentlemens advice, I can get a State job with my CDL, where to start I'll make a bit less, I'll work a 7am-3pm shift. Full benefits . Aswell as room to get a second job IF I want which I may because I can't stand sitting in my ass all day . And as time goes on, I get the licenses and advance on up!

They do have heavy equipment. Mostly class b dump trucks. They have one low boy, few trailers. But only two day cabs. Since I'll have my Class A, I'll already be valuable , I'll just need all my hoisting licenses..

I'm stuck because of his advice 😂