Question About Working For My Father...
Topic 24961 | Page 1
Go get your CDL and work for someone else for a couple of years. Then, if you like the job, talk to your dad again.
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.
Go get your CDL and work for someone else for a couple of years. Then, if you like the job, talk to your dad again.
I agree with hobo. Get your experience and CDL with a major carrier. That is what they preach on this site. You will get better training, if you have a boo-boo they are better able to absorb it than a very small outfit would be. What you are proposing was something that used to happen 30 to 40 years ago. I'm from a small town and I knew a lot of kids growing up that did this with their father or families. But the landscape has changed. Maybe one of the mods will weigh in on this. I'm still a rookie but I've been on this site long enough that I understand how they think about the business. Good luck
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I agree with the above, get your CDL and sign on to a big company so you can have the support you need as a rookie. Plus it will be difficult to impossible to get insurance for you since you will just be starting 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.
I agree with the above completely. As mentioned insurance carriers probably won’t allow it until you have 2 years experience. Get that through a mega carrier. After that time if you wish to go into the family business you will be better equipped to handle it. I will share this, working for family usually is really good or really bad. I have never found middle ground with it. It is great your father is being supportive of your choice.
Agree with everyone else. Do a paid cdl training if you can and put the year in there. That way you save your money and can learn how everything works before starting basically on your own. Also, you won't have to worry about the equipment this way. If something goes wrong or you start out a little rough on it you won't have to absorb repair costs.
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.
If you really want this as a career listen to everyone who has posted. Your experience should be from a major company that will provide you the training and beginners "stumbling blocks" so to say that will give you the confidence and training needed to succeed. At least if something goes wrong with your plan you did not disappoint your father, he did not buy a truck that he did not need and you will not be mad at each other. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your decision and what you finally do.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Welcome to the forum Cameron. I agree with what everybody has said. Get your feet wet at a larger carrier. Spend a couple years there. If you still want to take your father up on his offer after that than by all means. It is the responsible way of doing this. Rookies have accidents. It just is what it is. Why put your father in a financial bind. Learn to become a safe, efficient driver with a large carrier. The large carriers are better equipped to support a new driver.
Btw, here is our welcome packet.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Drive Safe and God Speed
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.
Compare buying your own truck to having your dad go deep in debt to pay for your college tuition based on the idea that you would pay off the student loans. Almost always a bad arrangement.
How do you and dad get along with each other? You have probably thought of this already, but you two could team drive for a while until the muddy waters clear up
Welcome to the forum. Like the rest said, drive for a big company for a year or two. Make sure you love this life style. Working for your dad sounds great, but you will be an O/O. If you want to go home the payment still has to be made. Also, you won't have health insurance, 401K and other benefits. We highly recommend Paid CDL Training Programs. With these programs you are paid while you learn. The company has a vested interest in your success. As a company driver, you can easily go home when you wish without having to worry about that truck payment. Good luck.
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.
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So I have decided to follow in my fathers footsteps and become a truck driver... i talked to him, and he is an O/O and is almost paid up on his equipment... he did say that if i enjoyed trucking he would buy another truck and I could drive it working for him. He does not have any other drivers and I feel like this is a blessing... but I'm also not sure on if this is a just my lucky day or not.. just give me your opinions.. I dont have my CDL yet just was considering it and told him and he said If i wanted to he would buy another truck and i could drive for him if i wanted to.. so just tell me what yall think...
thanks!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: