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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ ot. truck driving school and career
Posted by: thelogo Feb 16 2015, 05:17 PM
Is a class a or c d l
A good career to get into
How dangerous is it
What does truck drivers school cost
What should i expect to make
I drive a Ford ranger as a delivery drivery
I know it's far from a big rig but I do have a lot
Of driving experience
Advice and opinions please 
Posted by: thelogo Feb 16 2015, 05:27 PM
Attached image(s)
Posted by: SirAndy Feb 16 2015, 05:31 PM
My ex-girlfriend used to be a truck driver. She owned her own big rig and drove on contract for several companies.
Thankless job, horrible hours, crappy pay ...
Posted by: Mueller Feb 16 2015, 05:32 PM
Easiest is to find a place that has both Class B and Class A if they offer training.
I worked at one place years ago that trained me on Class B (bobtail delivery truck) so I was able to get that license and then work on my Class A.
I ended up leaving that company before I got my Class A (went back to school to get my A&P License)
Having the Class B was a good thing since at the time getting a job in the aircraft field was tough so I got a job as a cement truck driver, I just had to take a test to carry liquids and pass that at the DMV)
No idea about the schools, if anything like some of the other "job" training schools, they are great for taking your money and stringing you along for more money offering this and that...hopefully for a truck driver they are more honest.
I don't miss driving as a professional that much anymore, I like being home everyday and not being out in the elements as I had to deal with being the cement truck driver or delivery driver.
Good luck.
Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Feb 16 2015, 05:41 PM
My nephew went to truck driving school locally. It may be a county or state affiliated deal here. He then joined the teamos and has passed a course in moving heavy equipment. Not a bad job, considering he came from the drywall trade. Better job choices, more jobs, less apt to lose out when light construction hits the skids.My dad was a tructee for the various union trade school programs in So Cal for a long time, and, as a contractor, he saw great value in those programs. Take a look at them ...
The Cap'n
Posted by: steuspeed Feb 16 2015, 05:46 PM
Keep in mind that driverless trucks will be among the first implementations of driverless technology. Likely it will be airport to distribution centers for UPS and FedEx to start. Long haul trucking will be next, so the truck does not need to stop.
Posted by: Mark Henry Feb 16 2015, 06:05 PM
I have friends and two nephews that drive or have driven trucks. Trucks are hard on the back, and if you are lazy you will get fat. I have one buddy who is skinny and it has racked his back. The other friend who is skinny is hard core martial arts and he practices every stop to keep in shape.
My nephews, one was driving to work in bad weather and another car spun in front of him and took out his legs. He's now the owner of a handicapped taxi in Moncton, NB.
My other nephew is huge, very poor shape indeed.
As for driving the truck it's much like a big car these days, not much to it, mostly common sense. My nephew (legs) was an instructor so he's let me drive a few times.
Backing up takes skill, but it's just part of the learning curve.
Posted by: r_towle Feb 16 2015, 06:47 PM
Keep in mind that driverless trucks will be among the first implementations of driverless technology. Likely it will be airport to distribution centers for UPS and FedEx to start. Long haul trucking will be next, so the truck does not need to stop.
Trains do that.
Posted by: ConeDodger Feb 16 2015, 07:04 PM
My ex-girlfriend used to be a truck driver. She owned her own big rig and drove on contract for several companies.
Thankless job, horrible hours, crappy pay ...
Hemmorhoids. He forgot to mention them...
Posted by: damesandhotrods Feb 16 2015, 07:33 PM
http://www.findatruckingjob.com/trucking-info/trucking-articles/real-cost-operating-truck
Trade Schools are surprisingly expensive. Do you really want student loans hanging over you? If you’re hired by a trucking company and they cover your schooling expect to end up as an owner operator…
Posted by: Krieger Feb 16 2015, 08:18 PM
I remember Debbie Dootsen on TV a lot as a kid in L.A. doing adds for Dootsen Truck Driving School. I'd check there she was pretty cute. Maybe she has a hot daughter?
Posted by: Elliot Cannon Feb 16 2015, 11:48 PM
Going' down the road with a heavy load. Keep yo eyes on da road.... "Diesel smoke"! 
Posted by: thelogo Feb 18 2015, 07:13 PM
I remember Debbie Dootsen on TV a lot as a kid in L.A. doing adds for Dootsen Truck Driving School. I'd check there she was pretty cute. Maybe she has a hot daughter?
That s a coincidence
Because I live approx 4 miles from dootsen truck in school
That's why I'm considering truck driving
And thanks for all the honest feedback guysguys
Posted by: URY914 Feb 18 2015, 08:27 PM
At the absolute lowest point of my unemployment a few years ago I went to a local OTR truck driving school and asked some questions.
The classes take 6 weeks and you will be hired by a major OTR fleet. You have to sign a one year contract and they will pay for the school. From the photos in the office and the contracts I saw, I was guessing the school is owned by the trucking companies. During the one year contract period, the company OWNS you. You will not be home unless the route takes you down your street. The trucks have GPS and transmitters which record everything you do. Run time, idle time, speed, route, sleep time. If you don't fulfill the contract you have to pay them back for the cost of the school. After one year you can quit and go else where. You are a slave.
The guy walked me out the door of the building and told me "off the record" I wasn't the right candidate for this. He was being honest with me. I give him a lot of credit for that.
There are trucking forums out there. It ain't a pretty lifestyle.
Posted by: balljoint Feb 18 2015, 08:27 PM
There's an awful lot of music written for you.
You'll also need a friend who looks like Burt Reynolds.
Posted by: thelogo Feb 18 2015, 09:01 PM
At the absolute lowest point of my unemployment a few years ago I went to a local OTR truck driving school and asked some questions.
The classes take 6 weeks and you will be hired by a major OTR fleet. You have to sign a one year contract and they will pay for the school. From the photos in the office and the contracts I saw, I was guessing the school is owned by the trucking companies. During the one year contract period, the company OWNS you. You will not be home unless the route takes you down your street. The trucks have GPS and transmitters which record everything you do. Run time, idle time, speed, route, sleep time. If you don't fulfill the contract you have to pay them back for the cost of the school. After one year you can quit and go else where. You are a slave.
The guy walked me out the door of the building and told me "off the record" I wasn't the right candidate for this. He was being honest with me. I give him a lot of credit for that.
There are trucking forums out there. It ain't a pretty lifestyle
Really
Thanks for giving it to me straight
Cause I'm not trying to do cross country
Should I just pay for my own school ing
And once I have my license I'm in good shape ?
I initially was going to go for a commercial pilot
License but was gonna cost 70 to 100 k
In training
And don't worry said the flight school , when you graduate
Your guaranteed a instructers job for
15 an hour .
Posted by: Elliot Cannon Feb 18 2015, 10:20 PM
$70 to$100k for flight training is a bit much. You can get what you need for way less. Do a little more research. The problem is gaining flight experience. Nowadays you need 2500 hours to be a co-pilot. Having said that, we are looking at a huge pilot shortage coming soon. All us old bastids are retiring. Trust me, flying is a better life than driving a truck (not that there is anything wrong with that) I have done both. 
Posted by: thelogo Feb 18 2015, 10:55 PM
$70 to$100k for flight training is a bit much. You can get what you need for way less. Do a little more research. The problem is gaining flight experience. Nowadays you need 2500 hours to be a co-pilot. Having said that, we are looking at a huge pilot shortage coming soon. All us old bastids are retiring. Trust me, flying is a better life than driving a truck (not that there is anything wrong with that) I have done both.
Do tell old bastard
I live 10 mins from el Monte aeroport but have only found
Private pilot school for 6 k
And
A t p in long beach , 70 k for commercial pilot course
Having trouble finding much else near or in so cal
Just point me in the right direction , I'll beat down the door
Im 33 , if I was 10 years younger and had a college degree
I'd join the aero force usaaf in a second and they could teach me but that ship has sailed so to speak .
"Don't give me a p-39 with a engine thats mounted behind"
Posted by: thelogo Feb 18 2015, 11:01 PM
Bloch
Mcudden
Rictofen
Anderson
Yeager
Ball
Bader
Hoover
Voss
Tuck
Brown
Gunter raul
And king of kings
Bubi Hartman
All legend s that I look up too and inspire me to be a pilot but
I find myself unable to get started
Feel free to add anyone I left off .
Immelman
Posted by: DBCooper Feb 18 2015, 11:14 PM
In my life I've never been depressed by a place and time as much as walking in to a truck stop outside Albuquerque at about 3AM. Lonely scattered truckers smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and staring at the counters, not speaking a word to anyone. Waitresses tired and impatient, refilling coffee cups while trying to not make eye contact with anyone. Stale stinky air, boiled coffee, greasy food, and absolutely nothing good about anything. I can't imagine spending my working career tired, needing a shower, and looking forward to finally getting out of my cab and into that place. Ughh. Not something to look forward to.
Posted by: campbellcj Feb 18 2015, 11:16 PM
I was surprised at how many truck drivers there are. Per a recent NPR article, it is the #1 most common job in many states of the US. That implies the demand is there, but supply is plentiful --> downward wage pressure and as few perks and comforts as they can legally get away with.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2015/02/05/382664837/map-the-most-common-job-in-every-state
Posted by: thelogo Feb 18 2015, 11:22 PM
In my life I've never been depressed by a place and time as much as walking in to a truck stop outside Albuquerque at about 3AM. Lonely scattered truckers smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and staring at the counters, not speaking a word to anyone. Waitresses tired and impatient, refilling coffee cups while trying to not make eye contact with anyone. Stale stinky air, boiled coffee, greasy food, and absolutely nothing good about anything. I can't imagine spending my working career tired, needing a shower, and looking forward to finally getting out of my cab and into that place. Ughh. Not something to look forward to.
Omg the way you described it it's like I'm there
Ill pass on that hell ,I like too.shower at least twice a day
Thanks db for keeping it real ,much too real
Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Feb 18 2015, 11:41 PM
My son has an acquaintance that became a driver...
Long hours, away form his wife and family...
Then he had a small accident in his first year out of school, ($5K for school) not even his fault I am told.
He became essentially unemployable, got only the trashiest of assignments, part time on contract, no benefits. No one would hire him until the accident got off his record.
Not the way to spend a career for anyone with enthusiasm and aspirations for success, in addition to all the great advice above. Its not what it is made out to be by Hollywood
I suppose its a good fit for some though.
Posted by: Elliot Cannon Feb 20 2015, 06:47 PM
$70 to$100k for flight training is a bit much. You can get what you need for way less. Do a little more research. The problem is gaining flight experience. Nowadays you need 2500 hours to be a co-pilot. Having said that, we are looking at a huge pilot shortage coming soon. All us old bastids are retiring. Trust me, flying is a better life than driving a truck (not that there is anything wrong with that) I have done both.
Do tell old bastard
I live 10 mins from el Monte aeroport but have only found
Private pilot school for 6 k
And
A t p in long beach , 70 k for commercial pilot course
Having trouble finding much else near or in so cal
Just point me in the right direction , I'll beat down the door
Im 33 , if I was 10 years younger and had a college degree
I'd join the aero force usaaf in a second and they could teach me but that ship has sailed so to speak .
"Don't give me a p-39 with a engine thats mounted behind"
Boeing with co-operation with the airlines is considering "ab initio" (I think that means 0 experience) flight training.
Regional airlines because of low pay rates are parking airplanes because they can't find pilots. If this is something you truly want, you will suffer through all the low pay and other hardships to get what you want. Ask me how I know. Or you can become a programmer or real estate salesman or... Certainly nothing wrong with that either, if that's what you want. Major airlines get pilots from the military or the smaller regional airlines. If they can't, then they have to train folks from off the street with "0" flying time. Kinda scary when you think about it. 
Posted by: Type 47 Feb 20 2015, 08:01 PM
Keep in mind that driverless trucks will be among the first implementations of driverless technology. Likely it will be airport to distribution centers for UPS and FedEx to start. Long haul trucking will be next, so the truck does not need to stop.
Ah the driverless vehicle...giving "computer crash" a whole new meaning...
Don't really see that happening for quite a while...looks good on the developing technology list though.
Another glitch the techie's might not think of...Teamster's
Posted by: budk Feb 21 2015, 07:07 AM
Lot's of doom and gloom stories of what real OTR (Over the road) truckers have to deal with. However, in the areas of the country where they are drilling for natural gas (and other natural resources) there is a plethora of jobs that require a CDL.
24/7/365 local driving jobs in the fracking industry and they can't seem to find enough qualified drivers to fill all the openings.
Posted by: veekry9 Feb 21 2015, 01:22 PM
The pay is great for hazardous loads.
However,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abDZ9svcnCA
The mother of traffic jams in the '90s,a driver in his '20s flipped a fuel tanker off the onramp to WB QEW at Burloak Dr.(he was OK)
Posted by: altitude411 Feb 21 2015, 01:36 PM
Stunt truck driving ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_25xSV_Gzg
Posted by: thelogo Feb 27 2015, 08:55 PM
Easiest is to find a place that has both Class B and Class A if they offer training.
I worked at one place years ago that trained me on Class B (bobtail delivery truck) so I was able to get that license and then work on my Class A.
I ended up leaving that company before I got my Class A (went back to school to get my A&P License)
Having the Class B was a good thing since at the time getting a job in the aircraft field was tough so I got a job as a cement truck driver, I just had to take a test to carry liquids and pass that at the DMV)
No idea about the schools, if anything like some of the other "job" training schools, they are great for taking your money and stringing you along for more money offering this and that...hopefully for a truck driver they are more honest.
I don't miss driving as a professional that much anymore, I like being home everyday and not being out in the elements as I had to deal with being the cement truck driver or delivery driver.
Good luck.
What was the pay like driving the cement. truck ?
Posted by: thelogo Feb 27 2015, 09:02 PM
$70 to$100k for flight training is a bit much. You can get what you need for way less. Do a little more research. The problem is gaining flight experience. Nowadays you need 2500 hours to be a co-pilot. Having said that, we are looking at a huge pilot shortage coming soon. All us old bastids are retiring. Trust me, flying is a better life than driving a truck (not that there is anything wrong with that) I have done both.
Do tell old bastard
I live 10 mins from el Monte aeroport but have only found
Private pilot school for 6 k
And
A t p in long beach , 70 k for commercial pilot course
Having trouble finding much else near or in so cal
Just point me in the right direction , I'll beat down the door
Im 33 , if I was 10 years younger and had a college degree
I'd join the aero force usaaf in a second and they could teach me but that ship has sailed so to speak .
"Don't give me a p-39 with a engine thats mounted behind"
Boeing with co-operation with the airlines is considering "ab initio" (I think that means 0 experience) flight training.
Regional airlines because of low pay rates are parking airplanes because they can't find pilots. If this is something you truly want, you will suffer through all the low pay and other hardships to get what you want. Ask me how I know. Or you can become a programmer or real estate salesman or... Certainly nothing wrong with that either, if that's what you want. Major airlines get pilots from the military or the smaller regional airlines. If they can't, then they have to train folks from off the street with "0" flying time. Kinda scary when you think about it. So your saying it is possible to go from 0 hrs to airline pilot or co pilot but the money sucks
And from what I understand to get to a regional or major airline , you must have a 4 yr college
Degree
Are there any high school grads flying for airline s ???
Posted by: thelogo Feb 27 2015, 09:09 PM
Lot's of doom and gloom stories of what real OTR (Over the road) truckers have to deal with. However, in the areas of the country where they are drilling for natural gas (and other natural resources) there is a plethora of jobs that require a CDL.
24/7/365 local driving jobs in the fracking industry and they can't seem to find enough qualified drivers to fill all the openings.
Right I saw a Lisa ling special where they were paying crazy money for driving jobs and any oil drilling
Jobs . N.Dakota I think , a girl was driving a fuel truck , 7. Days a week's making 120 k a year
But I prefer to stay in cali
Posted by: thelogo Feb 27 2015, 09:12 PM
Dootsen
Is telling me the average expense of obtaining my cdl class a with them is. On average 900$ bucks
Does this sound like a honest estimate , googled says between 3. An 7 thousand ( not at dootsen)
And they claim to help with job placement also
Posted by: Garland Feb 27 2015, 10:40 PM
Posted by: thelogo Mar 2 2015, 12:43 PM
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1438217056/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1425321744&sr=8-1&keywords=brett+aquila
Has anyone read this ??????
Brett aquila
The truth about truck driving
Posted by: jfort Mar 2 2015, 01:02 PM
I recently talked to a truck driver who was wanting to change companies. He had signed a non-compete as part of his contract. I my opinion (I am an attorney) it was enforceable, so he was trapped. Beware of that if you sign a contract.
Posted by: thelogo Mar 2 2015, 01:50 PM
yeh that's why I'm paying for my own truck driving school .
Some companies said we will pay for you school and put you up in a hotel , just sign here
But I knew it was to good to be true , strings attached you could say .
So I did it my way "
I'm not a attorney but was raised Jewish
So I know not to sign contracts .and that
It's always implied that your signing your life away when signing any contract
But thanks for the heads up
Posted by: Larmo63 Mar 2 2015, 02:08 PM
I opted to become an underwear supermodel.
You should look a little further at career choices.
Posted by: thelogo Mar 2 2015, 02:22 PM
I opted to become an underwear supermodel.
You should look a little further at career choices.
I can appreciate the fact that your too sexy for ,New York , Milan and Japan
But I just thought haveing a truck driving license would be good career insurance in case I strike out in the Hawaiian tropics oil boy vocation
And just fyi they are looking for two lucky guys
Posted by: Mueller Mar 2 2015, 02:39 PM
What was the pay like driving the cement. truck ?
I couldn't tell you...too long ago to remember....now that I think of it, I don't know what I make now, it must be okay $ since the wife doesn't complain too much
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