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Post by slubros on May 9, 2004 17:49:20 GMT -5
I need some advice. I graduated from a truck driving school last Aug, went into training right away with a company, and quit after three weeks. Just a bad experience all around; I had two trainers, both were O/O, and basically used me to make money for them. I had some minor health problems that got worse and I walked away with no desire to every drive again. Fast forward to now. I've got my health under control and haven't had a real job since then (sell on Ebay to pay the bills and live at home). Haven't been in a truck for seven months and I just got a "pre-approval" from Werner They must be desperate! ;D My brain tells me that I "have" to give it one more shot because I won't get another chance but my heart tells me no and to keep hunting for a "regular" job. I'd appreciate hearing some opinions..... thanks!
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Post by truckertom on May 10, 2004 21:46:45 GMT -5
You may have to do a few days as a refresher at the school you attended. And you might arrange to be put with a company trainer that is a company driver, but these will still use you for miles. But as long as you are doing the miles stick with it. It is when your trainer starts using you for a second log book....that's when you need to talk to your company about it.
I was out of it for about two years once. (music career) I jumped right back in. I was a long time ago though, things have changed. It used to be that you could walk down to the local trucking company and just join up.
Those days are gone.
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Post by maineiac on May 11, 2004 13:28:36 GMT -5
have you considered what led you to driving in the first place? where do you want to be in 3 years?
are your health concerns going to be exacerbated by driving?
are the reasons you left last time likley to recur?
just points to ponder....good luck and listen to your heart the answer is already there
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Post by slubros on May 11, 2004 23:40:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the opinions so far.
truckertom, I'm going to insist on a company driver. I've even asked about just doing regional since that was brought up by the recruiter. I was told they don't run trainees as teams. And I'm still waiting on an email reply.
maineiac, good points that I have been thinking hard about.
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Post by poconorudy on May 18, 2004 17:34:14 GMT -5
slubros would you mind giving me your e-mail address. I'm kind of in the same boat and I want to see how everything is working out. I herd werner makes you take a refreser course that can cost up to 4000 dollars my e- mail is rudyzinn2002@yahoo.com thanks
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Post by missliz on May 19, 2004 23:48:10 GMT -5
My brain tells me that I "have" to give it one more shot because I won't get another chance but my heart tells me no and to keep hunting for a "regular" job. I'd appreciate hearing some opinions..... thanks! It's really all about the reasons *why* you're wanting to go back in to trucking. If your heart is really telling you "NO!", then you'll probably go in with a less than positive attitude, and you'll be miserable again. I notice a big difference between my drivers that are in it for the paycheck and my drivers who are in it because they love it. It's not worth it to you or the ones who do/will interact with you on a daily basis if the job makes you miserable. "To thine own self be true!"
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Post by buffalosnow on May 20, 2004 9:26:45 GMT -5
Slubros, Werner told me the same thing over a year ago,"no we dont run trainer/trainees as teams" i found that to be dead wrong,i had two trainers with werner and it was a very miserable experience but you have to "pay your dues " After training werner was a really good company to be with, I didnt have any serious problems with them. but anyone who has had bad trainers will have a negative outlook on the trucking industry and whatever company there with. I had a terrible outlook on trucking and on werner because of those trainers but when i went in to get my truck and deliver my first load my opinon changed. I dunno thats just how i look at my experience with werner.
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Post by slubros on May 20, 2004 16:11:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the additional responses.
missliz, I here what you're saying. The positives that led me to try it in the first place are being my own boss and getting paid to travel. I guess the training is what got me down and I plan on just taking it day-to-day and hopefully, get in my own truck and see what it's really like. Sounds like you're a trainer who gets it.
buffalosnow, I'd like to hear more about your Werner training experience and how it's going for you now. I realize from past experience that recruiters "stretch the truth". My email address is slubros@comcast.net
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Post by Pcuthbert on Sept 15, 2004 14:47:29 GMT -5
The positives that led me to try it in the first place are being my own boss and getting paid to travel.
I hate to disillusion you slubros.
First, you will not be your own boss. You will have one or more dispatchers telling you where you have to be by when. You will have traffic doing everything it can to make you late. You will have DOT telling you that there is no way you can make that destination in the time you have left in your book.
Second, Yes, you will get paid to go places, but you will not really have time to see anything other than the lane in front of you and the important 50 feet to each side.
If you are looking for those things exclusively, you may not really be suited to OTR driving.
If you are looking for miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles (interupted by moments of sheer terror) then carry on. You too can be a "truck driver".
Pat
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Post by truckertom on Sept 15, 2004 21:22:35 GMT -5
"If you are looking for miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles (interupted by moments of sheer terror) then carry on."
Oh, I like that! LOL! But you do get to know the truckstops and the people there, radio stations from other towns and there is the road itself. But it ain't for everybody. I know that there is a huge fallout rate from alot of these student drivers who's trucking reality is based on a fictional movie.
It is usually a shock when they get out on the road themselves and find that the real thing is different than what they have been sold on.
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