dr_lizardo

That sounds sorta like Wal-Mart (private fleet, hard to get into). They have 3rd party carriers bring shit from the suppliers to their distribution centers, but they utilize their own private fleet for DC to store deliveries. Among company drivers (people who do not own their own trucks) they're likely at the top of potential pay. And from what I hear, an almost "normal" schedule of 5 days out, 2 days off per week. Almost unheard of among over-the-road type drivers. I can't say it with certainty, but I've heard they make in the neighborhood of $70,000 anually. It's something I may look into eventually because the Wal-Mart DC that's in Raymond, NH does in fact have employees from the Rhode Island area. It's one of those jobs that isn't easy to get however. They go over you with a fine toothed comb and are in a position to pick only the cream of the crop.

As for my day today, I'm not really so upset that I only went 380 miles so much as annoyed to have wasted all that time in traffic. It's just tedious. I probably should have anticipated this and decided ahead of time to work nights perhaps. I just hate throwing off my schedule. I really hope that now since I am south of Washington DC the roads over the next couple days will be wide open.

I saw your post in the Psychology group re: your theory, then read this journal entry, and realized that we really should be pals, I think. You have a cool brain.

All it needs is a blade.

I purchased two of them from Parks Sabers. An Arc-Wave model (which I'm keeping) and a Rogue model (which I just FedEx'ed off to Eli). She says we have to have a duel now, of course... though my trucking company doesn't go to Canada at all so I'm not exactly driving by. Ah well.

Heh. I just noticed they added a small Yoda model at that store... that's cute.

Holy RAIN! Well, honestly I am not complaining. It's keeping things cool for my couple days home.

Do you mean "escort" as in the type of car, Ford Escort? Or do you mean the vehicles required to keep an eye on oversize loads? One would think (or hope) that anyone serving the latter function would be more observant than an "ordinary" driver at least.

I'll be facing a typical New England parking issue tonight. There's a distinct lack of available truck stops in the north-east... and so many places dis-allow truck parking. Just a few years ago I could pretty easily park at any Wal-Mart if necessary. This was doubly handy because I actually need to do some shopping there (not just park somewhere with access to bathrooms). But lately it seems like every Wal-Mart I encounter has a sign that says "No Semi Parking". Tomorrow (Monday) morning I'm making a delivery at a NH Wal-Mart. I'm on the fence about actually trying to park there overnight or not.

I passed the road test on the first try but I think it has everything to do with proper preparation. I took mine in Connecticut back in '98 which supposedly has a reputation for being more difficult than many other states. But I was well trained and ready.

My circumstances were actually VERY fortunate in general. Back then, I was a courier for FedEx. A position opened up that required a class A license and they always promote from within. I was selected among the candidates and went to a 3-week CDL school that catered ONLY to FedEx employees. The school utilized a closed-down B-52 base in Blytheville, Arkansas. We stayed in the former BOQ, ate at company expense, and earned our normal hourly wage for all training hours. I mean... THAT is hard to beat. Not only was the school free for me, but I was paid my normal salary to attend. The first week was all classroom. The second week was spent (mostly backing up) out on the runways. This included various obstacle courses marked by highway cones including maneuvers that are expected to be on all states tests such as parallel parking. The third week was actual on-road practice. There were two students and one instructor per truck (which were sleeper model old cabovers).

Once I completed that class, my managers took me off my delivery route early several times specifically so that I could practice the EXACT road-test the state would give, and I practiced it over and over.

I also had my choice of equipment to use. The test varies slightly depending on what vehicle you bring. I decided to use a "pup" trailer and a single-axle tractor because that setup is highly maneuverable. The downside to that is that you get much LESS room to work with. They take the length of your vehicle plus X (?) to determine how much space you get.

I've almost never used such a small trailer since... but that doesn't matter. These days I pull a 53' van trailer with a conventional sleeper Freightliner Columbia.

I would assume that any school you attend... regardless if it's an independent school such as NETTS or one of the company-owned types would provide you with the truck you'd use for the test. As to how much practice time they give you specifically for that, I haven't the foggiest idea.

In regards to the physical, it's nothing much to worry about. They'll check blood pressure (too high disqualifies you), they'll ask if you're diabetic (type A cannot get CDL, type B can but requires blood testing in a lab to ensure your levels are within reason). You'll read an eye chart (WITH corrective lenses if you use them). You'll be asked to identify the difference between red and green. I am actually slightly colorblind and I can still do that part of the test. Of course there will also be the obvious drug screening.

As a side note, don't fool yourself into thinking this is a ticket to easy street. Trucking is hard work, long hours, very very frustrating situations. Constant scrutiny from your managers, the idiots who drive cars, and the state police. You'll sometimes spend hours doing nothing waiting for loading or unloading and then get a seemingly impossible overnight trip after you've been awake and waiting around all day.

Then there will be times when it's next to impossible to find somewhere to park for the night. You'll quickly grow tired of eating off the same few truck-stop menus every day. And you will quickly learn how bad most car drivers are... all the while you being expected to be the professional.

On the upside... some people more or less live out of their trucks and can avoid "normal" living expenses such as rent and utilities. Heck, I don't even own a car myself. Aside from keeping yourself fed, there are very few expenses unless you own your own truck and are paying for fuel, tires, and repairs. As a company driver, I consistently make $50-55k a year. It's pretty easy for me to put a third of that into 401k, Roth IRA, or just a savings account for whatever. That's certainly a lot better than living paycheck to paycheck.

[Edited on May 29, 2006 2:26PM]

Actually I don't remember how I stumbled here now. But once in a while I check the bottom of the front SG page and just read some random recently updated journals. Or just random journal hopping. *shrug*

I didn't drive the full year in 2005, but in 2004 I turned just over 140,000 miles.

I do over-the-road because it is what I enjoy. I think perhaps if I had a wife and kids I'd be more inclined to pick something else. I typically like to stay out 2 weeks at a time. Occasionally 3. I usually get some pretty good weekend trips when I stay out... the ones that send me south and west. I love the north-east but I hate DRIVING here. I've gone back and forth across PA so many times it makes me dizzy.

The company I am with pretty much seeks experienced drivers only (as far as I know). It's a small fleet with slightly more than 100 drivers. I like them because I get along well with the dispatchers and management. It's a family type atmosphere. If you really want, you can talk to the company owner, or either of his two sons and one daughter all of whom also work there. They take good care of their equipment. Most of their trucks are automatic transmissions. (I love them, but new drivers need to learn to drive a manual and master the art of double clutching and then subsequently "floating" the gears). Having mastered that, its great to not have to shift.

I have hypertension which seems to run in my family. But I'm on a medication for it which brings my numbers down to normal. That isn't a problem.