The turnover rate at the major trucking companies has been holding steady at +/- 100% and with new students making it through pathetic 2-week training schools and hitting the highway with little-to-no real real life experience, we have a lot of people out here doing the obvious when it comes to taking breaks. And this new 30-minute break (not new to veterans, as we've always been taking 30-minutes, just not logging it!) is causing many people to flock to truck stops that they know and trust.
Flying J, Pilot, Travel Centers Of America, Petro, and Love's are the usual hangouts for most truckers. And they're packed. But there are many truck stops and parking lots that allow truckers to stay overnight and for several days if need be, you just have to know where they are. Since they're not major chains, the new drivers don't know to go there, but these places are all over the country.
It's interesting to see how an old fuel stop with no recognized brand name will be bought by one of the major truck stops and then fill with drivers working for one of the major trucking companies as if they sprung out of the ground brand new. Every veteran driver knows of a stop off the beaten path with plenty of parking (or a few spots that are never used), good food, and easy access to major highways.
Perhaps the new guys don't know about the other options because they lack good training. Perhaps the trainers didn't want to give up their secrets. I know my own experience with numerous trainers turned out to be a huge disappointment. I didn't really learn until I got out here on my own.
Our system is set up to control drivers and keep them under the thumb of a company, not to encourage, train, and help them succeed on their own. Even the insurance companies require several years of experience before they will let a driver buy a truck and go out on their own.
In order to achieve this level of experience, there's basically one route to take: go to a trucking school and then drive for a carrier who is self-insured for your first two or three years. This is the only way to get the experience you need in order to obtain your own insurance.
It's one way to beat the system. The large, self-insured carriers like to have a steady flow of cheap new-hires flowing through their doors. It keeps their turnover rate high so drivers can't plan on working at the carrier until retirement, and it ensures that a driver isn't trained well enough to become empowered to go out on their own.
There is a constant stream of misinformation about how large carriers will prevail and the owner-operators will all suffer and die out. You hear it on the trucking radio shows, read it in the corporate sponsored trucking magazines, and see it on the fuel islands and docks. Despite this negative false rhetoric, owner-operators make up 80% of the trucking industry. Company drivers, only 20%.
And it's these 20% of drivers who clog the truck stops during break times and overnight stops. If you're one of the mass groups of drivers who've eked their way through a 2-week trucking school to be called a "professional" truck driver, only to be stuck relying on your GPS which will guide you under low bridges and through non-trucking approved routes, and you can only park at the major truck stops because you weren't taught any better, then you owe it to yourself to become educated and stop listening anyone who will tell you that learning about trucking is a waste of time.
Sadly, I don't see this changing anytime soon. Because it doesn't benefit the powers that be who are disseminating the information. I don't agree with it, but everything's about money and if it doesn't make someone money, it just isn't worth doing. Even if it means that lives are lost in the process. What trucking needs is real training, and for the operators of these large trucks to be considered professionals who have a skill. But you see, if this happens it will cost the people who rely on trucks billions of dollars. The major carriers have figured all of this out. And that's why they don't provide adequate training.
Until they do, truck stops will be full of trucks, accidents will continue to occur, and the HOS will be designed and crafted by the corporations and the government, instead of the drivers.
It takes years of trial and error, common sense, and the ability to maneuver a 40-ton vehicle around this nation's dilapidated infrastructure and among the growing population of our nation, to successfully operate a semi truck.
And training from a 2-week school trucking school just isn't enough to achieve it.
Showing posts with label Trucking School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trucking School. Show all posts
Owner Operator 101
You want to know how I keep busy, find loads, operate equipment frugally, and stay out of trouble? I may be able to help you with that. Step by meticulous step.
Before and after every one of these steps you should keep in mind the only organization that helps us drivers maintain a corruption free industry is OOIDA - the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. I am not paid by them and I don't intend to be, but they fight for our rights and they are the only ones who do. Before you want to start driving, join OOIDA. It's $45.00 per year if you join online or over the phone (800.444.5791), and $25.00 a year if you find them at a truck show to join there. By joining, you will also receive their monthly magazine Land Line, which has a lot of great information about the industry, and provides drivers with new government and regulatory information. Believe me, it's money well spent!
Now let's get to the steps.
Step 1. Get your CDL.
The days of chauffeur's licenses are over. You must go to some sort of school to get your CDL. There are many different types of schools out there, so how do you pick one? First, you need to do some research. Many large carriers - Swift, Schneider, CR England and others - have their own schools and will place you in a truck type according to your training. Or, you can go to a school of your choosing, and then choose the company you want to work for after you're done.
In either scenario, you'll need to answer a few questions to help you decide what kind of carrier you want to go with - van, tanker, flatbed, long-haul, regional, etc. - these will help to narrow that down a bit, and help you decide which carriers and schools you should be focusing on.
How long do you want to be away from home? Are you free as a bird and can stay away for months at a time, or are you needing to be home weekly or daily?
Free Birds can go long-haul. Being home weekly, such as on the weekends or every three days can go regional or even local. Being home daily means you're going to be local only.
Do you like working outside, or would you rather never have to be in the elements?
If you don't mind the elements, then just about all types of trailers are for you; tankers, all platform trailers (flatbed, step-deck, double-drop, etc), van trailers, log trucks, and container trailers.
Do you mind heavy lifting, or would you rather not lift anything at all?
Don't mind lifting a few things? This gets interesting because you may find that all types of trucking involves occasional lifting. Van trailers can actually have the most physical labor depending on what it is you're hauling and for whom. Platform operators will have to lift tarps, chains, and straps; they will have to climb on the loads and be able to pull on the bungees and tighten down straps. Tanker drivers have to clean the tankers by climbing on top of the tank, opening the hatch and flushing the inside of the tank out, although most tanker trucks involve very little physical labor. Van trailers may involve unloading tires, pallets, boxes, insulation, and any variation of freight.
Do you feel more comfortable being able to see your freight, or do you feel safe with a load that you may never be able to see?
If you feel safer being able to see your freight, then log trucks and platforms are more your style. If you don't mind the freight staying hidden from you during transit, then tankers and vans will work for you.
Do you like being micro-managed, or would you rather take the reigns?
If you want to be guided through the process by a driver manager, working for a trucking company is for you, but if you want to be in more control, then finding a small carrier that will let you run your own ship is the way to go. The trick here is insurance. The barrier that stands between you and buying your own truck is the insurance companies. You see, you can only get insurance if you have experience and you can only get experience if you work for a carrier who has insurance. Most large carriers are self-insured so they can hire you right out school. Some smaller carriers also are self-insured. You will have to check around, but don't settle for the large carrier just because they have the best sales pitch. There is one way to get around this. If you happen to have a million dollars to be self-insured. Is that you? No? Yes? I'm guessing it's probably a "no".
Do you want the newest equipment, or will some good old stand-bys work for you?
For the newest equipment the large carrier is the way to go. Smaller carriers will have newer equipment, but it is usually reserved for the drivers with the most seniority.
Do you have enough cash to pay for the school, or do you need someone to help you?
If you have the cash, then you are able to stay out of bondage to the carrier which means you can leave anytime you want. This is obviously a benefit. If you can't pony up the money, then take the working loan and go to the school the carrier provides.
Do you mind working off your school expense over time (usually a minimum of a year), or do you want to be able to say goodbye whenever you choose?
This also relates to the previous question. If you don't mind waiting for your debt to be repaid, then you can go the trucking company's school route. Otherwise, if you pay, you are in charge of your job.
Once you've gone through these questions and answers, you can start to narrow your search as to which route you will take. I can't list all of the carriers who have their own schools, but there aren't many. You can pick up recruiting magazines at any truck stop which will have advertisements for most of them. It's a good place to start your research. There are also many community colleges who offer programs which you pay for. They often will offer financing options, but sometimes there are grants to go to these schools depending on which programs the federal government or local governments are offering.
This should be enough to get you thinking, but make sure you come back because I have more information coming.
To be continued..............
Before and after every one of these steps you should keep in mind the only organization that helps us drivers maintain a corruption free industry is OOIDA - the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. I am not paid by them and I don't intend to be, but they fight for our rights and they are the only ones who do. Before you want to start driving, join OOIDA. It's $45.00 per year if you join online or over the phone (800.444.5791), and $25.00 a year if you find them at a truck show to join there. By joining, you will also receive their monthly magazine Land Line, which has a lot of great information about the industry, and provides drivers with new government and regulatory information. Believe me, it's money well spent!
Now let's get to the steps.
Step 1. Get your CDL.
The days of chauffeur's licenses are over. You must go to some sort of school to get your CDL. There are many different types of schools out there, so how do you pick one? First, you need to do some research. Many large carriers - Swift, Schneider, CR England and others - have their own schools and will place you in a truck type according to your training. Or, you can go to a school of your choosing, and then choose the company you want to work for after you're done.
In either scenario, you'll need to answer a few questions to help you decide what kind of carrier you want to go with - van, tanker, flatbed, long-haul, regional, etc. - these will help to narrow that down a bit, and help you decide which carriers and schools you should be focusing on.
How long do you want to be away from home? Are you free as a bird and can stay away for months at a time, or are you needing to be home weekly or daily?
Free Birds can go long-haul. Being home weekly, such as on the weekends or every three days can go regional or even local. Being home daily means you're going to be local only.
Do you like working outside, or would you rather never have to be in the elements?
If you don't mind the elements, then just about all types of trailers are for you; tankers, all platform trailers (flatbed, step-deck, double-drop, etc), van trailers, log trucks, and container trailers.
Do you mind heavy lifting, or would you rather not lift anything at all?
Don't mind lifting a few things? This gets interesting because you may find that all types of trucking involves occasional lifting. Van trailers can actually have the most physical labor depending on what it is you're hauling and for whom. Platform operators will have to lift tarps, chains, and straps; they will have to climb on the loads and be able to pull on the bungees and tighten down straps. Tanker drivers have to clean the tankers by climbing on top of the tank, opening the hatch and flushing the inside of the tank out, although most tanker trucks involve very little physical labor. Van trailers may involve unloading tires, pallets, boxes, insulation, and any variation of freight.
Do you feel more comfortable being able to see your freight, or do you feel safe with a load that you may never be able to see?
If you feel safer being able to see your freight, then log trucks and platforms are more your style. If you don't mind the freight staying hidden from you during transit, then tankers and vans will work for you.
Do you like being micro-managed, or would you rather take the reigns?
If you want to be guided through the process by a driver manager, working for a trucking company is for you, but if you want to be in more control, then finding a small carrier that will let you run your own ship is the way to go. The trick here is insurance. The barrier that stands between you and buying your own truck is the insurance companies. You see, you can only get insurance if you have experience and you can only get experience if you work for a carrier who has insurance. Most large carriers are self-insured so they can hire you right out school. Some smaller carriers also are self-insured. You will have to check around, but don't settle for the large carrier just because they have the best sales pitch. There is one way to get around this. If you happen to have a million dollars to be self-insured. Is that you? No? Yes? I'm guessing it's probably a "no".
Do you want the newest equipment, or will some good old stand-bys work for you?
For the newest equipment the large carrier is the way to go. Smaller carriers will have newer equipment, but it is usually reserved for the drivers with the most seniority.
Do you have enough cash to pay for the school, or do you need someone to help you?
If you have the cash, then you are able to stay out of bondage to the carrier which means you can leave anytime you want. This is obviously a benefit. If you can't pony up the money, then take the working loan and go to the school the carrier provides.
Do you mind working off your school expense over time (usually a minimum of a year), or do you want to be able to say goodbye whenever you choose?
This also relates to the previous question. If you don't mind waiting for your debt to be repaid, then you can go the trucking company's school route. Otherwise, if you pay, you are in charge of your job.
Once you've gone through these questions and answers, you can start to narrow your search as to which route you will take. I can't list all of the carriers who have their own schools, but there aren't many. You can pick up recruiting magazines at any truck stop which will have advertisements for most of them. It's a good place to start your research. There are also many community colleges who offer programs which you pay for. They often will offer financing options, but sometimes there are grants to go to these schools depending on which programs the federal government or local governments are offering.
This should be enough to get you thinking, but make sure you come back because I have more information coming.
To be continued..............
TRUCKING SCHOOL
In trucking school you are expected to learn about how to safely maneuver your vehicle in traffic on the highway during rush hour and in inclement weather. You cannot possibly learn this though. 2 weeks is not enough time. The plan is to satisfy the insurance companies.
Basically, the way it works is that if you don't have a million dollars to be self insured, which is everybody, then you have to shell out $5000.00 for the school and then go to work for a company that has insurance for students. Once you have worked for them for 2 years then insurance companies will take a look at you. The catch is that if you leave trucking for 3 years, you lose all of your driving experience as far as the insurance companies are concerned and you have to start all over again with the school and driving for a company for 2 years.
This is a round about way that the trucking companies and the government have to insure that truckers are good people and that they maintain their professional demeanor. If you are a jerk and can't do your job properly you can be launched out and forced to start all over again regardless of your experience level unless you have a million dollars to get insurance.
The way it works worded differently is like this:
Insurance companies require 2 years experience in order to insure you. You can't get 2 years experience without insurance so you are forced to go to trucking school and then work for one of these companies that hire students and have horrendous turnover rates and accident frequencies such as rear end collisions and roll overs. The trainers that will train you sometimes only have as little as 6 months experience themselves and their emphasis is on making money, not training you.
This is a system which needs serious refining. The trucking schools should educate the drivers extensively for at least a year on every situation imaginable. At the end of that year, you should be eligible to be insured and able to buy a truck and hit the road on your own if you wish. The trucking schools should incorporate fatigue exercises for when a company keeps you out on the road for too long or when you are kept on a dock for too long and then expected to drive all night long or be late. You must make the right decision here and you should well trained as to what it is.
Trucking schools............a lot to be desired..........................
Basically, the way it works is that if you don't have a million dollars to be self insured, which is everybody, then you have to shell out $5000.00 for the school and then go to work for a company that has insurance for students. Once you have worked for them for 2 years then insurance companies will take a look at you. The catch is that if you leave trucking for 3 years, you lose all of your driving experience as far as the insurance companies are concerned and you have to start all over again with the school and driving for a company for 2 years.
This is a round about way that the trucking companies and the government have to insure that truckers are good people and that they maintain their professional demeanor. If you are a jerk and can't do your job properly you can be launched out and forced to start all over again regardless of your experience level unless you have a million dollars to get insurance.
The way it works worded differently is like this:
Insurance companies require 2 years experience in order to insure you. You can't get 2 years experience without insurance so you are forced to go to trucking school and then work for one of these companies that hire students and have horrendous turnover rates and accident frequencies such as rear end collisions and roll overs. The trainers that will train you sometimes only have as little as 6 months experience themselves and their emphasis is on making money, not training you.
This is a system which needs serious refining. The trucking schools should educate the drivers extensively for at least a year on every situation imaginable. At the end of that year, you should be eligible to be insured and able to buy a truck and hit the road on your own if you wish. The trucking schools should incorporate fatigue exercises for when a company keeps you out on the road for too long or when you are kept on a dock for too long and then expected to drive all night long or be late. You must make the right decision here and you should well trained as to what it is.
Trucking schools............a lot to be desired..........................
FIRST DAY OF TRUCKING SCHOOL
I attended trucking school in West Memphis, Arkansas for a trucking company which was the fifth largest trucking company in the country at the time. Just 2 short years later the company was bought out. That is another post.
Trucking school took place at the Greyhound Dog Racing park and all of the students who didn't live locally stayed at the local hotels which were very near the truckstops and the race park. I was in the Marine Reserves at the time and was a straight arrow. I ran everyday and did aerobics. My roommate was a pimp in the west memphis area. His name was actually "Pimp" and his girls came to the room once to give him some money. He was a little uncomfortable with me around, because as far as he was concerned I might as well have been a policeman.
One of the characters that I liked the most had just been released from prison for forgery and told me about how to use stamps over and over again by washing the ink off of them with shampoo. I have not used this information to this day so I don't even know if this is true, but having these people around made trucking school all the more fun.
The school was 2 weeks long and it was literally a crash course. We drove the trucks around the area and through a course on the Greyhound Racetrack grounds. The school comprised of backing through a serpentine and backing around blind corners. We did this all day everyday and for lunch some of the guys would go to the track and bet on the dogs. It was more like a party than a school. The trainers called me a natural and I was always comfortable behind the wheel.
When we went to take the test to get our CDL's one of the students couldn't speak English, so another student coached him through the test by basically answering his questions for him. All but a couple of people made it through the school the first time. Trucking school hasn't changed much from the days when I went and since it seems to be getting more and more difficult to be qualified, things are going to be harder.
Trucking school took place at the Greyhound Dog Racing park and all of the students who didn't live locally stayed at the local hotels which were very near the truckstops and the race park. I was in the Marine Reserves at the time and was a straight arrow. I ran everyday and did aerobics. My roommate was a pimp in the west memphis area. His name was actually "Pimp" and his girls came to the room once to give him some money. He was a little uncomfortable with me around, because as far as he was concerned I might as well have been a policeman.
One of the characters that I liked the most had just been released from prison for forgery and told me about how to use stamps over and over again by washing the ink off of them with shampoo. I have not used this information to this day so I don't even know if this is true, but having these people around made trucking school all the more fun.
The school was 2 weeks long and it was literally a crash course. We drove the trucks around the area and through a course on the Greyhound Racetrack grounds. The school comprised of backing through a serpentine and backing around blind corners. We did this all day everyday and for lunch some of the guys would go to the track and bet on the dogs. It was more like a party than a school. The trainers called me a natural and I was always comfortable behind the wheel.
When we went to take the test to get our CDL's one of the students couldn't speak English, so another student coached him through the test by basically answering his questions for him. All but a couple of people made it through the school the first time. Trucking school hasn't changed much from the days when I went and since it seems to be getting more and more difficult to be qualified, things are going to be harder.
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