jon f mn and other OTR drivers advice needed

I just completed driving program thru Community College and obtained my CDL A. Looking for a job now. Prefer regional dry van. Started filling out online applications and am overwhelmed with the conversations I am having with recruiters. I have been accepted to a training program and another recruiter said that he was sure I would be accepted when background checks came back. I have to get back to several others for more information.
What questions should I be asking? I am learning new terminology and don't want to be blindsided on payday or any other day. E-mail is open Thanks in advance!

Ask if the trucks are governed and at what speed. Ask if they pay a premium for diving on the East coast. Ask what premium they pay if they don't get you home for two weekends in a row. Ask what premium they pay you if you wait more than 24 hours for a load. Promises are one thing, while actual reimbursement for when they keep you from making money is entirely different.

Asked how your paid. Meaning actual miles driven or Practical miles. Practical miles will always be less. Also what is the average miles driven each week. I know some company drivers with electronic logs and governed trucks that rarely get over 2000 miles a week. They get held up loading and unloading an it eats their 14 hours of service time. So what sounds like good money turns out to be a low paying job away from home.

So you want paid actual miles driven. Then a company where you drop and hook over live unloading. Really compare benefits. Some companies really do pay much on the health insurance. One friend is paying $250 a week out of pocket for his family health care. His company only pays half of what HIS alone would cost. He has to pay everything after that.

Our sons BIL is out on his own driving. And it sounds like he is getting his education.

If you want home time I have always had better luck working for a company that has their home shop near where I live. You really want to know what you can expect to make the first year. The pay should go up as you learn your way around the routes. I have seen adds for drivers saying you will make $30,000.00 the first year,I would stay home for that. Now having said that, I know where you can work and after the first year you can make 60,000.00 a year. I don t work there,I go home every night.

What is the pay to start. Students don't make much so you will want a clear indication of how fast you go up.

Ask about benifits and their cost. Lots of variation there.

Since you are new ask what their accident policy is, not likely you will make it without a fenderbender so find out if that means instant firing.

Any sign on bonus? I've seen as much as 12k sign on bonus so find out and compare. Don't forget to find out how they pay that out.

Do ask about average miles because that varies by company and freight hauled. Most company trucks are governed so that won't be much different. And electronic logs are about standard now and shouldn't really affect milage. I'm on it and if freight is good get 3-3500 miles in 7 days. My record is over 4200 miles in 70 hours.

Ask about detention and layover pay, this will be especially important for refer freight as they spend a lot of time at docks.

Ask if they let you off duty while waiting to load and unload. Dart alows us to go off duty once we have checked in and are in a door or are just waiting. That way the waiting doesn't eat up your 70 hours. Not all companies alow that.

Ask about being paid to load/unload. I'm not alowed to, but with some companies they let you and pay you the lumper fees. That can amount to as much as $300.00 or more to unload a truck. When I did refer I made almost as much unloading as driving.

Most large companies have new equipment, but ask about that to be sure. Also ask about slip seating. Some big companies, swift is one, take you out of your truck each time you go home so you need to clean out your stuff each time. Dart does not do that, you are issued a truck and it's yours til you leave or get a new one.

Ask about home time, both how often and how long you can stay. This varies a lot. And find out what their policy is if they miss your home time.

Ask about idling policies and if they run apu's. Some companies are strict about idling.

Ask about routing, are you restricted to company mandated routes or is there flexibility.

That's all I can think of for now, I'll add if I think of anything else. Also you can call me if you like. My # is 320 492 9077.

Good advice!
Kinda gonna squash the urge for me to be an OTR truck driver when I grow up - Have farmers asking about hauling grain tho.
Let me know when you are in central Illinois again.

Jim

I sure will!

Some companies may hire you as a driver with your training: most will give you trainee status. Put you with a trainer see how long that lasts and what it pays) : and Will have you possibly sign an agreement that unless you work for them a specific length of time you will be expected to pay them for your "schooling" . I have been out here 40 plus years. I don't promote driving as an occupation to anyone in today's anti-truck atmosphere. Good luck.

I kinda did the same thing your doing, many years ago. my advice, find a steady run, where u do the same thing everyday. after a year or two, if the urge to go over the road is still there, you will be much better equipped to handle it.

May the Lord bless all the truckers.
I mean that.
I drove OTR for about 2 years back in the mid 80s. I have been fired twice in my life. Both times from OTR trucking jobs back then. Guess I wasn't cut out for it.
I took my licks, learned my lesson and moved on.
I still keep up my class A license. Dunno why as i have no intention of ever going back to driving.
Good luck to you.

If OTR is what you want to do, fine. But keep your eyes open for jobs that are NOT truck driving jobs yet require a CDL. Many of these can lead to a real career. It's tough to make a living at a job where there's always somebody willing to work for less.

Just for kicks, I searched the Des Moines Craigslist for all jobs that match "CDL", then filtered out those in Transportation. Some of the hits:
Directional Drilling Position
Fiber Splicer
Yard Man
Construction Crew
Fence Installation
Tree/Boom Truck Operator
Underground Construction
Drill Operator

Now these jobs might require experience, or be just plain lousy jobs. But there could be some real gems, as companies are having a hard time finding applicants with CDLs.
CL search for Des Moines CDL jobs other than transportation

Jon I guess I am getting old and senile!!! WHAT ARE IDLING POLICY AND APU ACU???? CAN YOU TELL ME JUST A BIT ON THEM???

I think jon F mn has a dash cam. Good idea ! It could save your hide if in an accident ! easily deleted if it's your fault. LOL.

Most states have limits for how long you can idle a truck, this was for air polution. Some companies also have limits, these are to save fuel. About 8 or 10 years ago when this all started companies made what they call Alternative Power Units which are just single or twin cylinder diesel engines that mount to the truck which power air conditiiners, heaters and charge the batteries so you can shut off the truck engine. Some plumb into the water aystem on the truck to keep the engine warm too. Not too many use apu's anymore because they are so expensive to buy and costly to maintain and most of the truck engines are now what they call "certified clean idle" which makes it ok to idle in most states. Some trucking companies make it so the trucks shut down automatically which makes it hot or cold for sleeping. Some pay less if you idle.

Have you ever seen a fiber splicers truck ? They park the truck,pull the cable right up from the manhole and sit in air conditioning all day. I am trained in it but I don't have glasses good enough to see the little fibers and makes splices. lol

> Have you ever seen a fiber splicers truck ? They park the truck,pull the cable right up from the manhole and sit in air conditioning all day.

Makes it convenient, too, if you decide you need a little siesta after lunch. I've noticed the splicer crews stay at nice hotels every night; no fleabag hotels or sleeper units for those guys!

On the downside, I understand it's a real problem if you get a piece of fiber stuck in your finger, because the refractive index of glass is the same as for blood.

When it was my turn in school to make the fusion splice on the machine you were supposed to start with a 1/4 " gap . A guy says to me your ends are laying over each other. I could not even see the fiber . I think that was the first time I needed reading glasses. Small yet tedious work.

Not only all the things previously posted. Also what do you want to haul. I would not go back to a box trailer unless it has a hoist. Groceries is a treated like a third class person, drive all night then park it over there we'll call you when we are ready. You had a 4 AM appointment and get a dock about 8 AM. Then another 2-4 hours to unload. I'll take my step or RGN trailers. I might be there 2 hours to load but am Busy with the load and most of them are glad to see you get there to load and to unload. Also the time is not so tight. If it gets there at noon fine if it gets there at 3 it is fine. So less pressure to get there for appointments.
I've owned all the trailers listed Reefers,stepdeck,RGN. The Step is the easiest to load as it will haul everthing a flat will and most that it can't due to height. As for the lay over and detention pay forget that I've sen so little of it as the companies will claim they never got it. Then pocket it or claim the customer wouldn't pay it.
All of those big companies will lie to you to get you in the truck. It is a crap shoot. I like my own set up. I succeed or fail on my own merit.

Just a piece of advice from a 20-year driving "veteran" so to speak.
First and foremost, know this: the policies quoted to you by a recruiter WILL be different than the ones that are "reality" when you go to work. If it isn't in writing and signed, DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!
Second, know that when you "hold their feet to the fire" by refusing to do something illegal, you could be branded as one who does not "play ball" when necessary.

Illegal things that you can be asked to do amount to falsifying logs, running over hours, and overlooking equipment defects. There are more, but those are the big ones.

There are good companies, bad companies, and those in between. I could tell you days' worth of stories about adventures I have had. Most other drivers can also tell you theirs. Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. Also note that if you have doubts about driving rules, LOOK THEM UP! Never ask another driver. You will get any number of incorrect answers, but rarely a correct answer.