Sorry to hear your issues, but alot of us have been there, done that, and came out the other side better off. Sounds like you did too, congrats.
Being new I would stay away from anything with dollar in the name. Take a look at those store setups. Mostly, not all are not built to get tractor trailers into. Very challenging backing and alot of time in the dark. Many a driver has started that way and killed their career in very short order.
Alot of the experienced drivers won’t do those, why do you think recruiters are hot on them. Werner only cares about covering their loads. They will give new drivers a shot in a heartbeat, and fire them in a heartbeat if they hit stuff or damage equipment.
There have been a few success stories, but many more failure stories over the years.
The choice is yours, I just hope you make a wise one for your career, not a few dollars more.
I did the Dollar General account with Schneider for 3 years to start my career out of Janesville Wisconsin. Started in September and took me 3 or 4 months to become very efficient. Made close to $110k my first full year. However that was running illegal with doing all my unloading off duty to get more loads and money.
I was there for a couple good years when we had TONS of area. I loved the Dakota's. Then it went to crap when the DC opened in Blair, Nebraska and we lost the Dakotas and northern Minnesota.
I guess it's possible to make $80k your first year, however the negatives outweigh the positives.
You'll have a lot of tight stores to back into. Having to deal with the crazy 4 wheelers zipping around you. In the summer the trailer will be very hot. rolltainers full of pet food and water weighing 800-900 pounds. trailers packed like crap by the warehouse. Have to deal with ****ed off managers and employees that don't want to see you since you're bring them work to do. crowded back rooms, having to move crap to the sales floor to make room for your delivery.
Even with having to deal with all that crap I'd consider going back for $110k. Not the $90k I made my last year there. lol.
Greetings all. Short background... Im a 49 year old guy who has wanted to drive for 20 years but wanted to be present to raise my kids, so i never went for it. Kids are grown, wife left and i am now with a woman who has encouraged me to pursue it. So for the first time in my life, I am going for what i want to do. Its a good feeling. I signed up for evening classes at Custom Diesel Drivers Training in Omaha, NE. Thanks to TT i flew through the process of getting my permit, and with my Army experience and shag driving for my current employer, the Road portion is going very well too. Being 5 weeks in and exploring my options, I wish i would have gone done a paid training program with a mega, but live and learn. I am now fairly certain I will end up with the closest Mega to me, and that is Werner. Their Tuition reimbursement program is good, its close, and I know i need to get to know the industry. My question is about the Dollar General account and if anyone has done it. The Werner recruiter that came to our class said its just a wonderful and lucrative option, but I know his job is to put butts in the drivers seat. Ive also seen horror stories about the account on some other sites. Some of it seems like guys who wanted the money but not the work. (Its %100 driver unload) I currently work in a warehouse loading and unloading off and on all day. I am not allergic to hard work. Wondering if anyone who has worked this line can shed a little more light on it. I am sure there is a middle ground somewhere in there. Any insight will be helpful. Thanks for reading.
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Greetings all. Short background... Im a 49 year old guy who has wanted to drive for 20 years but wanted to be present to raise my kids, so i never went for it. Kids are grown, wife left and i am now with a woman who has encouraged me to pursue it. So for the first time in my life, I am going for what i want to do. Its a good feeling. I signed up for evening classes at Custom Diesel Drivers Training in Omaha, NE. Thanks to TT i flew through the process of getting my permit, and with my Army experience and shag driving for my current employer, the Road portion is going very well too. Being 5 weeks in and exploring my options, I wish i would have gone done a paid training program with a mega, but live and learn. I am now fairly certain I will end up with the closest Mega to me, and that is Werner. Their Tuition reimbursement program is good, its close, and I know i need to get to know the industry. My question is about the Dollar General account and if anyone has done it. The Werner recruiter that came to our class said its just a wonderful and lucrative option, but I know his job is to put butts in the drivers seat. Ive also seen horror stories about the account on some other sites. Some of it seems like guys who wanted the money but not the work. (Its %100 driver unload) I currently work in a warehouse loading and unloading off and on all day. I am not allergic to hard work. Wondering if anyone who has worked this line can shed a little more light on it. I am sure there is a middle ground somewhere in there. Any insight will be helpful. Thanks for reading.