Advice On Going Solo With NO Otr.

Got my cdl class a 4 years ago and never drove. Now an o/o has offered to hire me put me in the truck with a load and jump right into it with no hands on training and offered me 36 CPM tax free with 1099. I really believe I can wing it due to the massive amount of research I have done. Any advice?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that of you are being paid on a 1099, it really isn't tax free money. You will be a self-employed contract employee for the O/O and will have to pay taxes on the money you earn yourself. I know truckers can write off a lot, but there is no way to avoid social security taxes, which you will be paying out of your .36 CPM. I make .34 CPM as a new driver so to be a contract employee at that rate wouldn't be worth it to me.

While I understand the allure of not having to go out with a trainer, I would be concerned about what driving knowledge and skills you will have lost over the last 4 years. Since you never started driving after you got your CDL you don't have even old experience to fall back on. I think this is a recipe for disaster but somehow get the feeling this isn't what you want to hear. Just my 2¢.

Got my cdl class a 4 years ago and never drove. Now an o/o has offered to hire me put me in the truck with a load and jump right into it with no hands on training and offered me 36 CPM tax free with 1099. I really believe I can wing it due to the massive amount of research I have done. Any advice?

research doesn't do much for you. You can research tell you turn blue in the face, but in all honesty NOTHING compares to having correct training. You would be putting your life and the life of others in danger. Its not easy driving an 80k pound rig. I highly recommend you seek some sort of refresher training. Get up to date on current laws and regulations, as well as getting on with someone to teach you more on the road.

as for the tax free, you'll be in a sticky situation there. You still have to pay SS and I believe disability out of your pay, which still comes out of your pay.

You haven't driven a rig in 4 years, let alone by yourself since you got your CDL A? If I'm understanding you correctly, then I'm actually surprised the o/o would put you in that situation. Does this individual know you haven't operated a rig in 4 years, and have no experience?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that of you are being paid on a 1099, it really isn't tax free money. You will be a self-employed contract employee for the O/O and will have to pay taxes on the money you earn yourself. I know truckers can write off a lot, but there is no way to avoid social security taxes, which you will be paying out of your .36 CPM. I make .34 CPM as a new driver so to be a contract employee at that rate wouldn't be worth it to me.

Jolie is absolutely correct. As an employee, your employer will pay half of your Social Security & Medicare tax - 7.65%, and you have the other half deducted from your check - 7.65%. As an independent contractor being paid on a 1099, you are responsible for the entire thing - 15.3%. Not to mention that you will also be responsible for providing your own medical insurance. And I don't know, but you may need some sort of additional policy to cover your liability as a driver.

Does not sound like a good deal to me.

Got my cdl class a 4 years ago and never drove. Now an o/o has offered to hire me put me in the truck with a load and jump right into it with no hands on training and offered me 36 CPM tax free with 1099. I really believe I can wing it due to the massive amount of research I have done. Any advice?

research doesn't do much for you. You can research tell you turn blue in the face, but in all honesty NOTHING compares to having correct training. You would be putting your life and the life of others in danger. Its not easy driving an 80k pound rig. I highly recommend you seek some sort of refresher training. Get up to date on current laws and regulations, as well as getting on with someone to teach you more on the road.

as for the tax free, you'll be in a sticky situation there. You still have to pay SS and I believe disability out of your pay, which still comes out of your pay.

You're right about the correct training. I'd like to get it before I go solo. But at the end of the day this how I will begin my career as a professional driver. Had a few felonies 20 years ago and big companies won't give me a chance. Gotta do what I have to to get a year otr. Guess I was looking for more of advice on what to do after I'm under that load. Thanks

What??? You haven't read the posts here about all of the things newbie drivers have encountered in their first weeks?? TRAINED newbies? Are you suicidal? Think about who you might kill trying to master an 80,000 pound BUILDING (as Brett likes to call them . . . ) that's just wrong no matter how you slice it . . . forget about taxes, how's your medical coverage?

Jopa

What??? You haven't read the posts here about all of the things newbie drivers have encountered in their first weeks?? TRAINED newbies? Are you suicidal? Think about who you might kill trying to master an 80,000 pound BUILDING (as Brett likes to call them . . . ) that's just wrong no matter how you slice it . . . forget about taxes, how's your medical coverage?

Jopa

Well thanks a lot Jopa. No I'm not suicidal and even though I don't have the exp most start with I am comfortable driving and backing. I just thought maybe just maybe I would have someone step up and actually help me out. A mentor or someone I can call if I need to. Coming to a truck stop near you. Cya

What??? You haven't read the posts here about all of the things newbie drivers have encountered in their first weeks?? TRAINED newbies? Are you suicidal? Think about who you might kill trying to master an 80,000 pound BUILDING (as Brett likes to call them . . . ) that's just wrong no matter how you slice it . . . forget about taxes, how's your medical coverage?

Jopa

Well thanks a lot Jopa. No I'm not suicidal and even though I don't have the exp most start with I am comfortable driving and backing. I just thought maybe just maybe I would have someone step up and actually help me out. A mentor or someone I can call if I need to. Coming to a truck stop near you. Cya

These people are trying to help you and any other people on the road. You don't have enough knowledge and experience to safely operate an 80,000 pound vehicle. Its not about being confident behind the wheel. Anyone can be confident and that's a good start. You need to at least take a refresher course and get some experience otr. For example it's like someone that's never operated a car feeling confident and getting on the road with no experience. Its dangerous. Would you willingly ride in the car with said person? It is not only dangerous for you but others. Just think about this before you get yourself or others hurt.

There are people out there that can do this. I am an example of NEVER having been with a trainer with the exception of the 5 trips I made to ND while I had my permit. And believe me, he was not much of a trainer.... All I got was shift between 16-1800 rpm. I never double clutched, even on the driving test and still float the gears every time. After I got my license, my first 2 loads were not only on my own, they were oversized. First was 10' wide into a residential neighborhood and the second was 12' wide up a goat trail.

It is not the fact that someone can or can't do it, it is more a fact that most people CAN'T do it without additional training. I did not go through a school so the trips on my permit were better than any school could have been.

Here is how I think that things should run for training....

1. School and get the basics and your permit. 2. Get hired and have to drive with a REAL trainer in the jump seat not as a team driver. 3. Test out for your license.

If they really concentrate, they could get in 14 hours of driving with the student driving 11 and the trainer driving 3. Well maybe not 14 but close. Well an extra 100 miles a day at least. This can be worked into because I can tell you the first time I drove 11 hours I was done for. This would also force the trainer to have to sit in the passenger seat while the newb is operating the vehicle.