Comments By 9Ether

This is unfortunate, I guess I'll throw some resistance bands in the truck or something.

Just curious, while in cdl training, some of the instructors were saying how truck stops have gyms for weight training. Is this few and far in between or a common thing?

Great info guys. Much much appreciated. Reason I want to pursue tankers is because I come from a tanker background (jet fuel and liquid oxygen/nitrogen), though the largest amount on a tractor trailer was 12-15k being prior Air Force (flightline refueling and cryo production). I'm not ENTIRELY new to it, I've only dealt in hazmat and the tanks always had baffles for front to rear slosh, however, overturning one from turning to fast was still very easy to do. Not sure if food grade tankers have baffled AT ALL.

I'd hate to give off the impression of a know it all, surely I don't, but I'm not all the way green in tankers haha. For the past 12 years I've been moving hazmat via vehicle, pipeline, and tank transfers. Just not in the capacity of "commercial driving". For that, as much as I 'think' I know, I know I have wayyyyyy MORE to learn to be seasoned on the road.

Oh, forgot to answer the "experience" question.

Most of the time a company will only count certain types of jobs as "driving experience" and it's normally the same type of job they're hiring for.

Hiring For OTR or Regional Work

If a company is looking for OTR or Regional drivers then they normally want drivers with experience running Interstate (from state to state) as opposed to Intrastate (staying within your home state). The lifestyle of running Interstate (OTR or regional) is quite a bit different than it is for people who get home every night so they want people that know what they're getting into.

Hiring For Local Class A Work

If a company is hiring for a local Class A 18 wheeler job they will normally count any 18 Wheeler Class A experience as driving experience. I specify "18 Wheeler" because there are Class A straight trucks that companies often will not count as experience because you're not in an combination vehicle (one that bends in the middle). I've driven Class A dump trucks in the past where we could gross 72,000 with 12 wheels (the standard 10 plus a two wheel helper axle).

So the bottom line is you want to get experience in the type of truck you'll be driving doing the types of routes you'll be running for it to count as experience in the eyes of future companies.

If you're really smart you'll explore every possible opportunity with the company you're at before moving on to another one. Remember, you're starting over at the bottom in trucking when you change companies. You're going to have to prove yourself all over again before the new company is going to trust you with their best freight or put you in their best equipment.

If you can find a better opportunity at the company you're already working for it's a huge advantage because you keep all of your seniority with the company and you know some important people already. So why not try to move up the ladder starting from the middle instead of changing companies and starting over from the bottom again, right?

Good stuff, makes perfect sense! Thanks a ton for taking the time to reply in depth. Let me ask you, my ultimate goal is to pull tankers locally or regionally; to gain the experience to do so would you recommend staying at my starter company for a few years or transitioning over to a tanker company 6-12 months in?

better yet, know of any starter tanker companies other than prime and Schneider bulk?

Look at for Old School's posts. He started with them and now works for Knight.

thanks bro. he's just the man i need to see then, as im contemplating between W/E flatbed and Knight to do my first year.

Anyone currently running western express flatbed division (north east)? Id love to hear how its been treating you, your total experience in general.

Regional is very much like OTR. If your doing CDL-A driving, then it's experience.

Yes, many local companies don't have the resources to train newbies, so they look for experience in their new hires.

Ok cool! Thanks for the response.

Are regional as useful as useful as local miles when it comes to applying to better companies down the road? Seems most local companies require at least a year or 2 of otr experience, but does regional experience count for anything?

Oh I did forget to mention that a prehire is simply an "invite to the party". Always keep in mind that orientation is a really long interview. Glad you got lots if prehires. I can tell you my daughter only had 1 such ticket, and she ended up with only 2 choices, so decided to wait till everything drops off.

Ohhh ok I see. Yea I learned that while I was still in cdl school, so what I started doing is calling them and asking before I submit an app "will I be hireable with these 2 tickets". I'm not looking to shoot up to the top of the echelon out the gate, just a decent "starter" to get my years worth of "feet wet" and time for the tickets to drop. I'd sure hate to wait, then when the time comes I have no tickets but no experience as well. A year or 2 of experience and no tickets seems to knock out 2 birds with one stone.

Those wreckless driving tickets will certainly hurt. I recommend applying anywhere and everywhere, hoping youll get an offer and be willing to tske what you're offered and stay there until you have a clean driving record. I don't believe you will have the luxury of being choosy.

Best of luck!

Yea I made that bed, I'm going to lie in it. I've filled out at least 20 apps, I'd say about 5 said he'll no (they aren't know to be starter companies in the first place), 5 said they'll hire me in 3 weeks when one falls off, and the remaining 5 gave me offers. From the companies I've been applying to, the biggest thing is either waiting until one falls off in 3 weeks or waiting until the other is older than a year in may. I just don't want to sit around at all waiting, I'm super anxious to start, and well, the bills will still be due lol