What Did You Do Before Becoming A Truck Driver?

Topic 7924 | Page 4

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Diver's Comment
member avatar

US Air Force right out of high school as an AF Cop. Seven years active duty and 15 reserve. Law enforcement officer the past 27 years here in Florida and just retired. Just finished my first week of eight in school for my CDL. Rookie cops don't make as much as rookie drivers either Errol! Not down my way anyways...

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.
John G.'s Comment
member avatar

I've been a farrier since 09 and have done some other part time stuff just to keep a consistent income. I love doing that but your body pays the price. I sure will miss being around all those horse (well most of them) I need to start making some real money though. In the farrier bizz it's feast or famine

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Jopa's Comment
member avatar
I been a round a bit, just hoping this leg thing don't kill my shot at the open road, career change.

Hey Stevo, I've got a plate and six lag screws holding the end of my left arm together up in the shoulder ... works like a champ ... you might want to use something more substantial than an aluminum beer can on that shin bone, but you should be OK ... it is true, though, that I can feel a change of weather in my shoulder - something about the low pressure fronts as they come in ... old time rheumatism ...

Jopa

smile.gifrofl-3.gif

Brian 's Comment
member avatar

I managed for Home Depot for 8 years, quit in 1998. Started my own handyman business which led to 16 years of home repo's for multiple banks....economy turned around, foreclosure's slowed down and at 55 not too many options for employment......so now I drive a big truck all over the place!

T.W.'s Comment
member avatar

I was a teacher.

Running Bear K.'s Comment
member avatar

Jesus you guys are young 1993 Brett? Damn I just realize how old I was. I was in special forces out of school came back from Nam, jumped in a truck with a friend who taught me how to drive the year was 1875, felt like it 1975, no schooling learned how to grind gears very well. Here one for you, I learned how to drive on a 18 speed double stick. Anyone know what that is? If so tell me, if you want to know ask me. Always been around these rigs, now I own some and repair large construction equipment and cranes up to 400 tons, well I do not my guys do, I just run the place. Most repairs are handled by insurance companies so getting paid is no problem.

Rick Dees's Comment
member avatar

I am still a 25 year police officer and getting ready to retire. Before this job I attended three different colleges with different degrees, could not make up my freaking mind what i wanted to do when I grew up. After it was all said and done i decided on criminal justice but only got 3 years of college and no degree..well crap. Before the police job I was a radio disc jockey at several different radio stations and really enjoyed it. the downside was low minimum wage pay...never once got a raise while working in radio but it was one if not the funnest jobs I ever had. I originally planned on going back to radio after the police career but the job outlook for it has since died. Radio has experienced major layoffs and consolidations..its not a all what it used to be. I delivered pizzas in college and made good money doing it. back in those days you could actually afford to pay your own tuition, as well as for your beater on wheels and gas and a dive to live in. My police career is coming to an end. I could stay longer but the politics have just about gotten the best of me and I have burned myself out.especially with what is going on in our world today, all the animosity towards us is unbelievable. have been a street cop most of my years. I love driving and went on a few over the road semi trips with a relative and loved it. am going to a community college driving school this summer. Have several top picks including Averitt, Roehl, Knight,Ozark and maybe even swift because they have a wal mart dc near here as does Averitt. I am trying to decide if i need to take my dot physical before i retire from my job just to make sure i pass it, i have no real health problems other than moderately high bp which i take med for.

Over The Road:

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.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Robert B. (The Dragon) ye's Comment
member avatar

I am still a 25 year police officer and getting ready to retire. Before this job I attended three different colleges with different degrees, could not make up my freaking mind what i wanted to do when I grew up. After it was all said and done i decided on criminal justice but only got 3 years of college and no degree..well crap. Before the police job I was a radio disc jockey at several different radio stations and really enjoyed it. the downside was low minimum wage pay...never once got a raise while working in radio but it was one if not the funnest jobs I ever had. I originally planned on going back to radio after the police career but the job outlook for it has since died. Radio has experienced major layoffs and consolidations..its not a all what it used to be. I delivered pizzas in college and made good money doing it. back in those days you could actually afford to pay your own tuition, as well as for your beater on wheels and gas and a dive to live in. My police career is coming to an end. I could stay longer but the politics have just about gotten the best of me and I have burned myself out.especially with what is going on in our world today, all the animosity towards us is unbelievable. have been a street cop most of my years. I love driving and went on a few over the road semi trips with a relative and loved it. am going to a community college driving school this summer. Have several top picks including Averitt, Roehl, Knight,Ozark and maybe even swift because they have a wal mart dc near here as does Averitt. I am trying to decide if i need to take my dot physical before i retire from my job just to make sure i pass it, i have no real health problems other than moderately high bp which i take med for.

I couldn't help but notice your name and the fact that you do DJ work. Is the name in reference to Rick Deez and the Deez Sleaze ?

Over The Road:

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.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Heavy C's Comment
member avatar

Out of high school I went to school for collision repair and refinishing. Couldn't find a job going that so moved to NC and worked for a racing school. I got to do some awesome things while I was there. I got to work in the flag stand and a few different NASCAR tracks. I even got to drive an actual stock car around Lowe's motor speedway. Anyway though that wasn't for me. So I did some small stints in whatever job I could find so I could pay bills. Then I moved back to Maine and started working in parts for a Car dealership. I was there for five years before I got my CDL. Now that I have it I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

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.
AJ D.'s Comment
member avatar

Recording engineer in Nashville for 25 years. The computer sent my trade the way of the buggy whip!! lol rofl-3.gif

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