Any truck drivers out there?

[chager]

Dh has decided he wants to take up truck driving He has been looking into Truck Driving schools and driving jobs. Anyone have any good advice for him? He went to Roadmaster (I think) today. Thye are saying it will be $6,000 for a 3 week course. Is this good? It seems like alot but then again I really have no idea what all is involved. He also says he will be able to make 40-50,000 a year. Does any of this sound reasonable? Thanks for any input you have!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

My dad has been drivin trucks for almost 30 yrs...and I think he may be CLOSE to 40,000 a year, but thats with alot of overtime. Of course, he only drives local now too...so maybe if he does over the road gone for awhile trips he may do better. I also know those who drive the trucks that carry cars make about 18 an hour.
As far as the schooling...not sure!
Good luck

 

[mudnuri]

He also says he will be able to make 40-50,000 a year. Does any of this sound reasonable

Do you plan on ever seeing him again? 50K, and he's an over the road trucker. They get paid per mile- thats how they make their money- usually have 1-2 days home out of 12-14.

Local drivers, though they dont make as much, spend nights at home

DH drove truck for years (local, for his family business), my father was a trucker all his life, and a couple of my good friends DH's drive - all over the road....One is home early Sunday morning- about 2am and leaves Monday about 330am. Then is home again Wednesday about 2am and leaves Thursday about 2am.

The other- is home Tuesday- sometime around 9am, leave Wednesday by noon, and is back on Saturday about noon- leaves sunday by 10am.

Both of these guys have dedicated runs. My dad drove overtheroad without dedicated runs, and averaged 48 hours home over 14 days out. Without dedicated runs, you never know when your going, or coming. Generally its worse without one- as they can and will call you back in after your 10 hours off...

Being fresh out of school, he wont make much. He's a high risk- and has no experience..even if he worked tons of miles, he still wont.

How does he handle driving now? Traffic- other drivers etc.. what ever he does now- say- gets huffy in traffic (most men do!)..multiply that by about 15 when he gets behind the wheel of a truck. EVERYONE will pull out in front of him, cut him off- pass him when it's not safe etc...

Beyond the truck driving school....have him research highway DOT laws.....theres A LOT of companies out there that will "force" you to doctor your log's to show you not driving as much as you really are....not good

It's a good job- some people love it...others, well its not for them. I always told DH when he thought about driving over the road- I didnt ask to raise my kids as a single parent, and since your here, you wont be driving over the road! both of my friends, consider themselves single parents

Brandy

 

[chager]

Thanks for your replies! He is still considering it but checking out everything first. He wants to go into this with open eyes so he doesn't get taken! Thanks again!

 

[kimber79]

mudnuri brought up some good points, as my dad drove for 20+ years when I was growing up. However, many many rules have changed now making it much better on the drivers. My cousins hubby drives, and we have several friends that drive. I forget exactly what the drive/rest rules are ~ but I know they are very strick on this. You can only drive so many hours, and you have to have so many off hours. They don't "doctor" the log books like they used to........you the driver and your company can get in major trouble for that.

If this is something your husband really wants to do, and you don't mind him being gone if he is going to be an over the road trucker ~ than I say GO FOR IT!! Steel haulers usually make out real well! Do some more research, and wish him well!!!

 

[grlpwrd]

My dad has been a driver for over 30 years, too, and it's a tough life. The cross country driving for him and being away from family might be a deal breaker.

With that in mind there are better careers out there. Maybe he can check with your local voc tech college or training center. I know refigeration, plumbing, HVAC, and other fields are lucrative, too, with minimal years of training. Definitely check your options.

GL!

 

[wdwmom2]

My DH drives for a grocery chain and he is home every night. He can put in 40 - 60 hours a week. He loves his job. He has worked there for a little over 1 year. He can make between $850 and $1500 a week. The longer the hauls he has, the more he makes. I don't know anything about Roadmaster. Maybe you should ask for references. My husband has been driving for 20+ years. I don't think that he went to a driving school.

Beyond the truck driving school....have him research highway DOT laws.....theres A LOT of companies out there that will "force" you to doctor your log's to show you not driving as much as you really are....not good

The company that DH works for is VERY strict about this. There is a computer in every truck that they log in and off on. You enter info when you get to a store and when you leave. A GPS system is incoporated in this somehow. They know exactly where you have been. When you have 1 hour left to drive, the onboard computer notifies the driver. When out of legal driving time, the driver must pull over and call dispatch. They send out a driver to bring the truck home, legally. This has happened to my DH twice. At the end of your day, you touch the "Extract" button and then go in the dispatch building and your daily log is printed off on the computer. No manually keeping a log book.

HTH