Comments By Gladiator 76

Deek, I wouldn't know how to address your many issues. I agree with Fatsquatch.....your attitude sucks! Brett has patiently answered your questions. It seems like you are just trying to stir the pot. I know 1 driver who got his CDL on his own and he's not very proficient, in fact he's a menace and cannot hold a steady job. Fortunately, he's very, very slow so he hasn't injured himself or anyone else yet although I did see him "kill" a parked trailer once. We don't need both of you on the road, so do everyone a favor and find another job.....you seem to hate everything about trucking anyway!

I guess I need to clarify a few things. I drag a 53 foot box around the Portland Oregon metro area. Today I worked a total of 9 hours and drove a total of 176 miles. Three hours of my time was spent in bumper to bumper traffic. I don't pull doubles, tanker, or flat bed and probably never will. I started this thread to stimulate discussion about LTL job possibilities not to encourage anyone to do anything they are not ready or able to do. There are some very knowledgeable people on this forum and I respect their opinions.

Im not telling anyone what they should or should not do. I was just stating what worked for me and pointing out an option that others might wish to pursue. When I was in truck driving school OTR was the only option presented to us. I'm not disputing what anyone said. In my case I wasn't going to drive if it meant driving OTR, so I pursued an LTL job. I am not recommending that anyone start job hoping. I've been with my company for over a year and have no plans to leave even though other companies pay a little more. My company gave me a chance before all the others, so now they are reaping the benefits...... Now that I know what I'm doing. I'm not trying to encourage anyone to get in over their head, just offering an option.

I've been lurking & occasionally posting on this forum for about 2 years now. Over and over again I read about how you must have at least one year of driving experience before you can land a local driving job. While this may have been true in the past it's not true today. I spent 28 days in OTR training, found I didn't like it and driven locally ever since. In fact the company I drive for has 5 of us who have never driven over the road. I understand it helps to have experience and it is often easier to get a job when you have a job, but it isn't an absolute anymore. I would encourage anyone who doesn't want to live the OTR lifestyle not to sell yourself short, particularly if you live close to a port or large air port. Ports and air ports = LTL driving jobs. The key is to present yourself well to prospective employers, be persistent, and ask them to give you a driving test. Once you get the driving test, your fate is in your own hands. The company I work for is constantly looking for drivers because driving LTL isn't for everyone either!

Since when is 50 old? When I saw the title of this thread I was expecting to see someone in their 90's starting their career. I'm 56 and have been driving for 19 months. You might be insane, but your not crazy. I retired from teaching, got bored and decided to start a second career. Many companies like more mature drivers. Best of luck with your career.

You might try finding a job driving for an LTL company. I've never driven over the road. I like living at home.

Somebody has to have insurance, so I would guess they would have to use it.

Mountain Girl,

Working on the dock for a few weeks does suck. However, it may be Just what you need. Your company must want to keep you.....it they didn't you'd have already been gone. Take the advice your terminal manager and trainer gave you. I wouldn't be concerned with being out of the truck for 3 weeks, you will not lose your skills in this amount of time. Stay positive! Good luck!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but mountains cannot be avoided while driving in the Pacific Northwest. I suggest driving slowly and down shifting prior to your decent.

Mountain Girl,

I am a city driver as well. Slow and steady wins the race! Every problem I've had relates to speed. I'm not necessarily talking about driving to fast. I'm talking about making decisions to fast, so take your time. Taking whatever time that's necessary to make the correct decision will save time and keep you employed. Good luck!