Profile For PJ

Welcome and congrats getting your CDL at 18. That is awesome.

This is kinda a new area for us. I’m not up on all the do’s/don’t on this situation other than it is intrastate only.

Look into ag jobs and if you can get hazmat at your age propane companies doing home delivery. The big propane companies are buying up the small folks and you could build a long good career with them.

Any driving job would be helpful.

Keep us posted on how things go.

Welcome Wales… I retired early in life, 52 for me and got bored after 11 months. Gave trucking a shot to see what would happen. 11 years later I’m still here. Starting to slow down now a bit. Been a great choice for me, hopefully it will be for you also!!

I agree with the advice already stated. You know very little at this point and compounding that leasing a truck is only going to cause you further problems.

At the mileage example you gave it will be within a year or two and the emissions system will start eating you alive.

Also that per mile rate you state is crap for a flatbed. Rates for everything except specialized are in the toilet, have been for over 2 years and no end is in sight.

Also you mentioned you have a DOT/MC number for a farm operation. That is probably a different type of authority than running general freight for hire. There are several different levels of authority. You wouldn’t be using that anyway if you did lease under WE, you would still be under their authority.

Your letting this stretch of road get inside your head. In reality it is no different than any other time you need to slow and down shift. It may be quicker if a light flips. Like was said pay attention to the lights and how long they have been set.

Also look to see if there is a left turn arrow. Most these days will blink yellow while through traffic is green. It will quit blinking just before the thru traffic light goes red.

If your approaching a stale green slow a bit and downshift 1 gear preparing for a red. If it does go red slow more before using up your space. Try to time your speed so the light goes back green before you reach it, downshift as needed.

In those cases where a light flips quick you just gotta do what is safe. But looking further forward and picking them up early will give you more options.

I have read through your post a few times. Maybe it’s me but you seem to know what you want and have hit the main points, so not really sure what more we can suggest.

You say you have found a number of trucks that fit your criteria already. You don’t say what the budget is, so it’s hard to suggest any particular make or model. You also don’t list what state your in or will be travelling to. Emissons on the 2010 or newer will be a disaster. They become a constant money pit after about 4-5k. If your looking for a public high school then it should be eligible for exempt plates I would look for one that has had a really good emissions person in its past.

Good luck on your search.

Bluntly, they are trash!!!

I could go into alot about expericences with them after 400k but the point is I would stay away from them. My opinion!!

Great news. I hope SC nails that idiot. This goes to show no matter how careful we are things can still happen.

Glad your ok. Grest job on your part.

They drive like idiots through there all the time. Speed limit is 60 or 55 depending on the construction zone or not, but good luck not getting run over. SC has been working it more, but not enough in my opinion. I hate going up through there these days.

Your in a tough spot legally. Different states take have different processing times. Once that temp expired it is unregistered. No grace period legally. DOT can shut you down. The electronics at scales will flag you if they are open.

It sounds like your company used a service for registration. I hate those folks. They sell services they know are false or misleading. I always go straight to my state and never use a service. My state, GA is very clear it takes 3 weeks for a renewal and 6-12 weeks for initial issue. They also do NOT issue temporary’s.

Use your best judgement.

Welcome JB and thank you for you and your family’s service.

Is the school on the base a state or military school?? If it is for a civilian state license then the next quedtion is how long before you retire?? You could run into a staleness issue if you get it too long before you use it. As a new inexperienced cdl holder that is sometimes harder to get a job than if you didn’t have it already.

Read through the forums and there is an AI section you can ask questions and it pulls the answers without alot of time searching through the site.

You will be overwhelmed with information overload for awhile. Just take it in stride and always focus on the current tasks at hand. Kinda a step by step process. Don’t waste time and energy too far in the future.

Being in Texas you should have a vast amount of oppurtunity. Your out west but still a good bit of freight. Flatbed out there is generally pretty limited, but dry van and refer are pretty good.

Ask questions as you go and we will do our best to help you out.

Best wishes!!