Big Career Change--looking For Feedback

I am a retiring schoolteacher of 31 years and I am looking into KLLM--for a 1 year commitment they train you, they pay $800 a week while driving with trainer, and then 60 cents a mile when you upgrade (and it eventually works up to 65 cents). They have late model trucks.

It seems like a good deal to me. The feedback I get is contradictory. There are posts on message boards saying that KLLM screws drivers out of money or won't give you enough miles, and stay far away. Others say it's a wonderful starter company. I have a friend (who usually gets everything wrong) say that he has been around trucking all his life (he never drove) and he says he has heard nothing good about driving or KLLM (he seems to have uncles who know everything). He says "paid training will come at a cost" and "the miles will be tight and your dispatcher will not be nice."

So....I took it upon myself to hang out at truck stops and visit KLLM's trucker lounge. I talked to over a dozen truck drivers and couldn't find anybody who said they didn't like it. Everyone said to go for it and that 60 cents was great starting pay. 7-8 were from KLLM and they all said they liked it and to go for it. One lady said that it is what you make of it. I saw a KLLM truck gassing up at the truck stop, and I talked to the guy. He said that on a bad week he gets 800, on a good week 1500, but averages about 1300 a week (adequate for my needs).

When asked, none of the truck drivers said they ever felt in danger.

Here are my fears: Getting into a tight spot that I can't maneuver out of Getting too much speed going down a mountain and can't get speed under control Not getting paid enough to pay the bills Getting a ticket for something stupid that is not my fault Getting in one of those big pileups when everyone hits their breaks in the snow Being pressured by a dispatcher to color outside the lines of the law or safety rules

I'm not worried about all that loneliness crap and homesickness.

I read that you should make sure to not make the dispatchers hate you. On the other hand, one trucker said that if a dispatcher makes you feel uncomfortable, report them to the safety person. I questioned that because you don't want the dispatchers hating you and not giving you good runs, and his reply was that safety is like HR, and they will fix the problems and won't stand for discrimination against you. This is a mixed message for me.

Now....Your comments, suggestions, recommendations. Thank you kindly.

Something to keep in mind, is that driving really is dependant on your work ethic. Some of our members have become super successful at companies with terrible reviews and online reputations. That's the thing about online reputations, usually the disgruntled driver is mad at a situation that they themselves created by not being the "get it done" driver. By not being where they say they will be and when. By tearing up equipment. A lot of these drivers complaining really need to look in the mirror to find the problem.

The guy I was dating when I started my driving career, told me all sorts of bad tales about female drivers. All sorts of bad things about shady companies. Oh, he had never HEARD of Prime Inc , 😳😬 so it couldn't possibly be a good company.

The thing about choosing a company and people forget, is that just because you chose them, does not mean they will choose you. So put your research into multiple companies so you aren't left in a "now what?" Situation.

Someone else will be a long with all of the helpful links for research, and it is highly suggested that you read through them.

Yes the freight market is jacked up right now, so you need to understand that part of it coming in. You can also kill your career by becoming a company jumper. Among many many other ways. So keep in mind, your goal will be sticking with your company for at least the first full year, especially when we are in this type of economy where companies are becoming super selective about who they hire.

Hello Robert - welcome to our forum!

You're new to trucking and it's understandable how you want some feedback on the company you want to start with. You've already discovered you can't get a good consensus from online reviews or from anywhere else you inquire. Welcome to our frustrating life! That's why this website exists.

First, you need to apply to several companies. You don't know if KLLM will hire you or not. When I began my career I was sure TMC was the bees knees, but they felt very differently about me. I wasted a lot of time and energy trying to get on with them. They wouldn't have me.

Secondly, you've got to ignore this completely false opinion that makes everyone believe a successful start to trucking involves getting in with just the right company. It's a bogus theory that has jeopardized many potential newbies and cut short their careers.

You are going to struggle with trucking at the beginning. Everybody does. Then your frustration with being a rookie will convince you the problem is the company, or the dispatcher. It's a problem that convinces many to switch companies or just hang it up completely. It's sad because it's misguided information that runs rampant in online information sources.

Start by reading some of our resources. Stay in touch with us. There are some really helpful folks in here who can help you navigate through the confusion.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

"You don't know if KLLM will hire you or not." Actually, you are accurate there. The assumption is that they will, but once you get your cdl then they train you for 240 hours with a veteran driver, then they give you an upgrade test and decide if they are going to hire you.

Again, what's holding me back mostly is the idea of hurling down a mountain highway with an automatic transmission trying to control the speed, or getting into some tight situation that I cannot maneuver out of. On one hand, the job sounds fun, but on the other hand it sounds like big risk for little reward.

Thank you for the input. I will let you know if I make the plunge.

The trucks have a device on them known as an exhaust brake. It's called a Jacob's brake, commonly referred to as a Jake brake. It in short, takes the explosion in the cylinder and opens the exhaust valve, diverting the energy out, in effect creating engine braking. It's been around for decades and is on all the trucks.

In addition, the transmissions we use are automated manuals. They are not like the automatic you have in your car or pickup truck. They have clutches, the engagement of which is computer controlled.

There are a few companies that do hire you before you have a cdl. You're actually an employee while you attend their school and even get paid while in school. Especially in today's market, it's important to apply to as many as possible as there are many that have tightened their hiring policies and/or are not hiring.

There are millions of us driving and using trucks every day that have automated transmissions. We had similar fears and concerns when we started (at least Hopefully we had a natural fear of loosing control of 80,000 pounds going down hill) and we successfully drive. If the risk outweighs the benefits, many of us wouldn't.

My trainer told me “Only a fool descends a hill too fast. You only get one chance.”

Today I descended a 4 miles long 7% grade with a 45 mph speed limit for trucks over 26,000 GVW.

I decided that my safe speed was 42 mph. Since the highway was dry, I slowed down a little before starting the descent to 37 mph to set my cruise control. This cruise control will allow the speed to increase by +5 mph.

My speed reached 42 mph and the engine brake kicked on. The cruise maintained my speed at 42 mph for the entire 4 miles descent without needing to touch the service brakes.

There are braking techniques that you will be taught during training for controlled descents that will prevent the brakes from overheating and fading.

For me the key is to not let the truck get away from me at the start of a descent.

Every time I talk to a trucker, they seem to like the job, including those on this thread. 60 years old, 31 years teaching school, I guess I am just being stubborn when this opportunity looks like a gift. I don't need to get rich. If I can find a class B job that gets me 600-800 a week, I will probably take it (a bird in the hand kind of deal). My last teacher paycheck is July 31, so I have a little time to make this life decision.

A KLLM trucker I met at a truck stop said he had been driving for 9 months and makes 800 on a bad week, 1500 on a good week, and averages about 1300. If I average $1000 a week, I will be happy. I understand there will be layovers, problems, etc, that hold back the miles and earnings, but you guys wouldn't be doing it if it didn't pay the bills.

Thank you everybody for your input and suggestions. I have decided to pass on truck driving school, and I accepted a position with the US Post office, so I will be driving a "4-wheeler." Be safe out there, ladies and gentlemen!