Pre Planning
Topic 14354 | Page 1
Austin, there's plenty of room for loners on the road. Your "3-4 hour drives" would only get you started! Expect to be behind the wheel for around 10 hours a day.
Here's a List of companies that allow pets.
Also,
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
The High Road Program will get you through your CDL written test.
Along the top of the late are links to other things you may be interested in. Check them out.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Although having a terminal near your home is not necessary...Crete Carrier has a terminal in Wilmer, TX. They are also pet and military friendly.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Averitt has a large operation in the Dallas metro. No pet policy but an above average company IMHO worth considering.
Stevens allows pets and I know they have a program for military. Starting pay is low but they will be happy to keep you out weeks at a time.
Thank you all for the input. I am very appreciative. I still have 16 months before I am able to apply for anyone or what have you. Just curious as to which companies are out there in Texas.
I also am curious as to how many companies have like grooming standards... I am pretty tired of this high and tight hairdo.. nothing that would be deal breaking just one of the petty little things that would improve my quality of life.
Thank you all for the input. I am very appreciative. I still have 16 months before I am able to apply for anyone or what have you. Just curious as to which companies are out there in Texas.
I also am curious as to how many companies have like grooming standards... I am pretty tired of this high and tight hairdo.. nothing that would be deal breaking just one of the petty little things that would improve my quality of life.
I have seen hair of varying lengths at Swift; long, short and somewhere in between.
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I am coming up on a being discharged from the military. I have about a year and a half left on my contract and currently in the medical field. I have wanted to get into trucking for a while now. I want to live in Texas (home state) around the DFW area. I have done research on various companies. TMC, USXpress, and of course Jb, Swift, England and Schneider. Reading through the various forums on this website and others, I have come to the conclusion that trucking is what you make of it. The first year will be the worst year or at least until your prove your worth.
TMC has been a big factor in the process mainly due to the military friendly attitudes so I feel as the transition would be smooth. TMC has a Dallas Terminal and My step mom use to work HR side of things and I have gotten to talk to various truckers about their experience. Figured it may be a good foot in the door? However, after I get comfortable on the road and gain my confidence I want to be able to have a pup tag along with me. I love to be alone and away from people but would also like a riding companion. Hence my interest in USXpress. They have more terminals in Texas also have a good veteran program and have a pet policy. Just curious as to other companies that I may be overlooking. I don't know enough about the rigs themselves to have a preference on Peterblit over Kenworth or vice versa.
A little about me. I love to be alone and I have a passion for driving. I'll go for a 3-4 hour drive just because I enjoy being out on the road. I get tired of seeing the same thing over and over again each day. I grew up working long hard hours and I am not afraid of hard work. I am use to being away from family for 10-12 months at a time. So I wouldn't mind to run a month or two out at one time. Just use resets as my day off. (assumption off of lack of knowledge) I do not want to get married nor do I have kids. I just feel like this lifestyle would fit. However I wont know for sure until I am out there.
Thanks for reading this sorry about the length. I would appreciate any feedback, advice or suggestions.
regards,
Austin
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.