Truck driver b.s.

Nice weather!

 

Nice and hot.

But the pic was showing the long ass line. I did get out of waiting though thanks to having a walking floor trailer.

 

Yup, waiting my turn.

 

The wait is outside the scale today.

 

My updates. I’ve checked 2 of 4 local schools. Programs are comparable, $6k and 160h. Still hunting for shorter and cheaper given the specifics of my needs. The hunt continues.

 

The cheapest way to do it is get on with an OTR company and let them send you to school.

They don't do it like they used to. I got my CDL directly through Swift. They sent me to one of their schools in Millington, TN (greater Memphis) for 3 weeks. Got CDL then did 8 weeks of OTR with a trainer. Had i made it 13 months at Swift it would have been free... but I made it 8 and got a bill for $3900.

Nowadays they do scholarships to CDL schools... i.e. you sign on to drive for x amount of time and they pay for a school. Either way its covered.

Yeah... you'd have to put your time in at a big OTR company... but you'd be PAID to learn the trade.


Just a thought.

 

won this puppy a few months ago.

 

I don't get to drive too often, but jump at it every chance I get.

 

Taking 4 consecutive weeks off my job is the real hurdle. It’s not out of the question if I can line it up for December when things are less loco but even then that’s a lot of time. A two week program would be better but not in the cards so far.

 

I think most schools are 3 week programs, because you have to have so many hours logged with a trainer driving. Maybe your best option is to get with a company that will train you and possibly pay you while you learn, that is becoming more popular today since they are having such a hard time filling driver spots. In my opinion there isn't a driver shortage, there is a pay and respect shortage and that's why drivers quit.

 

CDL training has skyrocketed. I payed $1200 2 weeks couple hours a day in 05. I think same trainer is charging $3500 now.

 

I have a client with a school in the LA area. I am happy to talk to them for you on what it would cost to go through them. I know they recently shut down their trucking side to focus on their school. Send me a PM if you want to talk more.
I am in factoring so not a truck driver, but work with drivers every day.

 

Releasing the brakes and catching gears.

 

About to start. I don't start till 8:00. I like this schedule, I'm not a morning person, lol.

 

I remember when I could sleep in.

 

Last night.

2 points here... due to the mill i got stuck herr til almost 8 last night

And my ending mileage.

 

That's always a bummer. My truck is going to go in for service again soon, it'll be the 4th time for the ac. I hate driving rental trucks. We get very used to the truck we drive everyday.

 

Talking about "ugh"

Yesterday, some silly coolant hose decided to burst while I out of the truck during delivery.

 

Pretty much related

 

Much better day today.
So, I work for a fairly small fuel company in NY. Mostly heating oil and diesel deliveries (not gas stations though). Dealing with NYC traffic and the crazies on daily basis, but sometimes it actually is a bit - let's say - interesting. Like this gem right here.

Ended up in a swanky neighborhood in Long Island, doing a small residential delivery with a TT. Oh well, since we didn't have any straight jobs out, it just had to be done