truckers,trucking and the open road.....

mickeyrat

Okie dokie. Any truckers out there got yer ears on?


I'm going to school in a month or so to learn how to drive the big rigs.

Any help or tips you guys can provide , I would surely appreciate.

Seems that to start , I would be a team driver for P.A.M. . how does that work? Have a general idea but.....

chadwick

speedy doesnt go anywhere

chadwick

mickeyrat wrote:

Okie dokie. Any truckers out there got yer ears on?


I'm going to school in a month or so to learn how to drive the big rigs.

Any help or tips you guys can provide , I would surely appreciate.

Seems that to start , I would be a team driver for P.A.M. . how does that work? Have a general idea but.....

it's a great frickin blast
one of the greatest thing i ever done.
team driving is a different world than solo driving.
i done lots of both.

backing up will be great times for you. :twisted:
good luck.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

mickeyrat wrote:

Okie dokie. Any truckers out there got yer ears on?


I'm going to school in a month or so to learn how to drive the big rigs.

Any help or tips you guys can provide , I would surely appreciate.

Seems that to start , I would be a team driver for P.A.M. . how does that work? Have a general idea but.....

Team Driver??

I wouldnt do it my friend.....

That truck is rolling 24 hrs a day...
You are trying to sleep while the other guy is driving...(think about it)

Is PAM paying for you to get your license?? And then you have to sign a contract with them???
What states are you driving through??? What type of freight to they haul? Do you deliver Haz-mat?
How many miles a week do they plan on making you run?
Are you home every weekend? Every 2 weeks??? Once a month????
Winter is only a few short months away...Ever drive a semi in the snow?? Through mountains?? Trust me...Its not an easy thing to do...Especially for someone who is going to have 6 weeks experience before the snow starts falling....

Can you get your truck drivers license and then look for local work?? Or regional work?

Another question...How much is PAM paying you per mile??? How much are you going to make while in training?

What I am saying is....
If there is a chance for local trucking work...where you are home every night, and sleeping in your own bed...Why not try for that??

Over the road Trucking is a WHOLE different ballgame....I did it for YEARS....And to be honest...

Its a miserable lonely lifestyle......

SPEEDY MCCREADY

I just read on the PAM website that a new hire....Can make up to $40K a year his 1st year...

Think about it...
You will be in that truck 20 hrs a day??...5-7 days a week??? Trying to sleep while that truck is rolling down the road.....

For $40K???

Go get your CDL and get some local work...Start off somewhere around $20 an hour....Get 10-15 hours overtime a week(trust me you will get plenty of overtime)..............

Now you are making $50k or more a year....And you are sleeping in your own bed every night.....

mickeyrat

thanks Speedy. Just dont see it as possible to get the CDL and drive local. that will have to come after the year contract. just cant swing it. PAM is picking up 2/3 of tuition.
According to the drivers site I saw , they haul very little Haz-mat, but thats an endorsement I want to get along with a few others.

Lived a lifetime of miserable. think I can hang with another year of it. If this is what I have to do to earn some decent money then so be it. 42 yrs old currently making 10 an hour is sad. really sad. glad to be working , dont get me wrong. but I see no future at all where I'm at.

PAM is a team position. can also get on with USA trucking as a solo.

81

wow....good luck.

i have an uncle that does regional from NW Ohio into IL. I'm not sure where he goes once he hits the state.

Remember, they key to being a good driver is staying in the right lane out of my way. and a good handle. gotta have a good handle. i suggest rubber duck

chadwick

driving a truck
it's a love hate relationship

i imagine it's like heroin
you need it no matter what
it makes you so happy
you hate it and yourself for doing it
yet you can't quit

it's like that.

you are going to become beyond tired
more than you have ever been.

mfc2006

not much to add on this topic. just wanted to say good luck, mickeyrat.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

mickeyrat wrote:

thanks Speedy. Just dont see it as possible to get the CDL and drive local. that will have to come after the year contract. just cant swing it. PAM is picking up 2/3 of tuition.
According to the drivers site I saw , they haul very little Haz-mat, but thats an endorsement I want to get along with a few others.

Lived a lifetime of miserable. think I can hang with another year of it. If this is what I have to do to earn some decent money then so be it. 42 yrs old currently making 10 an hour is sad. really sad. glad to be working , dont get me wrong. but I see no future at all where I'm at.

PAM is a team position. can also get on with USA trucking as a solo.

USA trucking....

After you finish the 4 week training....

You work the next 4-6 weeks with a salary of $300 a week....Meaning you are on the road in that truck making $300 a week...After taxes you are taking home $225?? A week?? Thats ridiculous.

Are you able to just get yourself into a truck driving school that is not sponsored by a company? Maybe see if you can qualify some some type of state aid to pay for the tuition? Or maybe the state can pay for part of the tuition?

chadwick

i know for a fact swift trucking will send you to there school
and give you a trainer and truck to run (live) around in for awhile.

im not promoting swift trucking.
it works for ppl who cant afford the school.
swift trucking sucks nuts but they are everywhere and hard to deal with.

i went to the driving academy in lamoni, iowa.
1 month course... class A CDL
they are out of business now or you could go there.
they loaned me a few thousand dollars to attend their school.
it rocked.

81

3K+ and 4 weeks of training to get a CDL. WOW! just give me a truck and get out of my way.

but, you can live pretty good on 40-50K in most parts of ohio and have enough money for a few toys.

good luck if you decide to go this route.

chadwick

81 wrote:

3K+ and 4 weeks of training to get a CDL. WOW! just give me a truck and get out of my way.

but, you can live pretty good on 40-50K in most parts of ohio and have enough money for a few toys.

good luck if you decide to go this route.

if a driver cant save 500 or more per month he/she is a door knob.
this was me... i cant manage my life let allow money...

bbbbeeeppppp fail......

i know of drivers who retire millionaires or close to it.
you are in your truck for 30 yrs...
you do not buy a home.
and or invest your money into housing, rent houses... pull trailers around..
70 grand a year easy enough for a steady team deal...
save 30 grand per year for 20 or 30 yrs...
your body will be shot
i wont do that...
at one time i thought i would... not to fun after awhile

driving is brutal
i salute speedy.
i salute myself.
get a CDL and i'll salute you pricks too.
although holding a CDL in your wallet doesnt mean shit
doesnt mean youre a driver

if you're gonna run
lace up your boots and quit fuckin around
it's dangerous and you can kill people in a split second
ice mountain blizzard fog driving... i wonder if your trainer is naked sound asleep in his bunk back behind your squirrely ass?


speedy laughs... i can hear him through the internet
breaker 1/9
this town sucks
where the fuck am i goin?

81

chadwick wrote:

speedy laughs... i can hear him through the internet
breaker 1/9
this town sucks
where the fuck am i goin?

he's gotta be paid by the minute....or at least get a great per mile rate. chicago traffic sucks.

chadwick

81 wrote:

chadwick wrote:

speedy laughs... i can hear him through the internet
breaker 1/9
this town sucks
where the fuck am i goin?

he's gotta be paid by the minute....or at least get a great per mile rate. chicago traffic sucks.

haha @ speedy being paid by the minute

81

this thread makes me want to go buy a truck, sell the house, and tell the woman to quit her job. her, newman and I will hit the road. vroom vroom.

chadwick

81 wrote:

this thread makes me want to go buy a truck, sell the house, and tell the woman to quit her job. her, newman and I will hit the road. vroom vroom.

many couples run around like that forever
she drives he drives
or she doesnt drive at all

sometimes she might sneak a straight stretch in out in the desert or something while george sleeps for an hour

it's free out there
81, it is very different than your home that does move around.
ppl are different, 80 trillion ppl, you'll meet them all
talkactive group most times
filthy parts of the city are where trucks are messin around
homeless always on ya
i give em everything
money, food, porno mags...
they always need smokes
theyre always sellin some kinda bullshit

mickeyrat

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

thanks Speedy. Just dont see it as possible to get the CDL and drive local. that will have to come after the year contract. just cant swing it. PAM is picking up 2/3 of tuition.
According to the drivers site I saw , they haul very little Haz-mat, but thats an endorsement I want to get along with a few others.

Lived a lifetime of miserable. think I can hang with another year of it. If this is what I have to do to earn some decent money then so be it. 42 yrs old currently making 10 an hour is sad. really sad. glad to be working , dont get me wrong. but I see no future at all where I'm at.

PAM is a team position. can also get on with USA trucking as a solo.

USA trucking....

After you finish the 4 week training....

You work the next 4-6 weeks with a salary of $300 a week....Meaning you are on the road in that truck making $300 a week...After taxes you are taking home $225?? A week?? Thats ridiculous.

Are you able to just get yourself into a truck driving school that is not sponsored by a company? Maybe see if you can qualify some some type of state aid to pay for the tuition? Or maybe the state can pay for part of the tuition?

Roadmaster. May require some sort of downpayment. But maybe not. As of today 3 years no violations. Still have some time to explore other options. Thanks for the straight talk. I am going forward with something. I will be a truck driver. the question is who for and when. The sooner , the better.

81

i think we need to start the PJ trucking company.

good luck micky.

mickeyrat

This may seem a dumb question, but with a Class A license am I able to drive anything? As in those trucks that only require a class B license ?

chadwick

mickeyrat wrote:

This may seem a dumb question, but with a Class A license am I able to drive anything? As in those trucks that only require a class B license ?

endorcements
get some of those
doubles and triples... X
tanker... x
hazmat if you like... x i've had it a few times... nowadays its a huge paperwork finger printing ordeal pain in the ass post 9/11

i have doubles and triples, tanker, no hazmat right now.
doubles is a hoot.
never drove triples.

you cant back up driving double/triple trailers.
it can really fuck you up too.

class A is all over class B

mickeyrat

chadwick wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

This may seem a dumb question, but with a Class A license am I able to drive anything? As in those trucks that only require a class B license ?

endorcements
get some of those
doubles and triples... X
tanker... x
hazmat if you like... x i've had it a few times... nowadays its a huge paperwork finger printing ordeal pain in the ass post 9/11

i have doubles and triples, tanker, no hazmat right now.
doubles is a hoot.
never drove triples.

you cant back up driving double/triple trailers.
it can really fuck you up too.

class A is all over class B[b/]

I guess my question is with a Class A I'm not limited to ONLY driving tractor trailers am I? I can drive single axle vehicles too?

chadwick

mickeyrat wrote:

I guess my question is with a Class A I'm not limited to ONLY driving tractor trailers am I? I can drive single axle vehicles too?

correct

mickeyrat

chadwick wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

I guess my question is with a Class A I'm not limited to ONLY driving tractor trailers am I? I can drive single axle vehicles too?

correct

thanks. Suppose I should start studying again for the temps. Did very well last time. almost two years ago.

chadwick

mickeyrat wrote:

chadwick wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

I guess my question is with a Class A I'm not limited to ONLY driving tractor trailers am I? I can drive single axle vehicles too?

correct

thanks. Suppose I should start studying again for the temps. Did very well last time. almost two years ago.

studying for the temps?

mickeyrat

I will be. Picking up the book today. I don't remember where my other one is. remember being able to take some practice knowledge tests online too. Have to ask the exwife where to find those if she can remember herself.

81

mickeyrat wrote:

I will be. Picking up the book today. I don't remember where my other one is. remember being able to take some practice knowledge tests online too. Have to ask the exwife where to find those if she can remember herself.

google > ex wife

good luck mickey, hope to pass you along I80/90 one of these days.

mickeyrat

81 wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

I will be. Picking up the book today. I don't remember where my other one is. remember being able to take some practice knowledge tests online too. Have to ask the exwife where to find those if she can remember herself.

google > ex wife

good luck mickey, hope to pass you along I80/90 one of these days.

SHE did the googling today!!!! hehehehe


Thinking of getting a vinyl magnet of stickman to put on the truck!!!! maybe a metal cutout to hang from the grill!!!

chadwick

mickeyrat wrote:

I will be. Picking up the book today. I don't remember where my other one is. remember being able to take some practice knowledge tests online too. Have to ask the exwife where to find those if she can remember herself.

what does studying for TEMPS mean, mickeyrat?

mickeyrat

chadwick wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

I will be. Picking up the book today. I don't remember where my other one is. remember being able to take some practice knowledge tests online too. Have to ask the exwife where to find those if she can remember herself.

what does studying for TEMPS mean, mickeyrat?

temporary CDL ? you know, have to take the knowledge test at the DMV/BMV in order to get the temporary license? 6 month license that allows for behind the wheel training?

mickeyrat

It appears the roads of these United States will still be safe from the likes of me behind the wheel of a semi. Heard back from my former employers today. They offered me my old position and salary.