Semi New Trucker Needs Career Advice

Topic 34738 | Page 1

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C E.'s Comment
member avatar

Hello, I got my cdl 2 years ago - had an awful experience with a local agriculture job - and since then I’ve been a yard jockey. I love the jockey work and have stayed away from otr mainly due to lack of home time but my money situation has really gotten bad in the last few months so I’m looking at going into a regional or otr job for the next two years till I finish my degree.

Any advice on finding a job/company that isn’t gonna lie or stick me in dangerous and illegal situations?

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.

Regional:

Regional Route

Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Old School's Comment
member avatar

Why do you feel you have to stick with trucking? What's made your "money situation" go so wrong? You have a job, therefore you have an income. You took that job because it worked for you. What has changed?

If I were trying to finish a degree, I would choose some other job than trucking. This career is a big drain on your time and extra energy. Why not take some other type job where you can finish your day by 1600 each day? Then you can devote your time and effort to finish something worthwhile to help you provide for your future.

You've already got some biased ideas against trucking companies. It really sounds like you'd be happier doing something else. There's no shame in that, and no condemnation from us. Trucking isn't easy. In fact it's very demanding. You appear to have other pursuits. Trucking is best pursued by those who can commit fully to it.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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