Getting back into trucking

[ghostof99]

Originally Posted by MikeC1971

I've been out of a truck for 6 years and was lucky enough to get hired with a smaller company that is willing to refresh me while getting paid regular driver pay. Sounds like I lucked out.

Congratulations Mike, and maybe it was luck, but it may have been a little bit more than that. You probably lifted your butt off the couch.

I suspect a lot of the pissin' and moanin' one reads on forums is from unemployed drivers who spend too much time on the computer, and talking to recruiters... and not enough time actually looking for a job.

[Asphalt Warrior]

I am having the same problem as a lot of fellow drivers. I currently have about 17 years of truck driving experience. I started off driving OTR in the 1990s and have been driving construction trucks since 1999. I am thinking about getting back into OTR driving but since I have no recent OTR experience, I am having a problem finding a company that will hire me. I have experience in many kinds of trucks along with experience with straight 10s, super 10s, 13, and 18 speed transmissions. I have all endorsements. The only two things I don't have are my TWIC and enhanced driver's license/passport for entry into Canada. Does anyone know of a company that would take me on without recent OTR experience but with extensive truck driving experience???

[Roxanne Rambles]

I do not know of anyone my friend, at least no major companies unless you go through a refresher course --- and even then, it can be "ify" if you get a job.

My husband has been driving a tanker for many years and can drive ANYTHING. He can't be hired on anywhere because he doesn't have "recent" experience.....at least not in a tractor trailer. LOL.

It cracks me up how these companies think.

[8ball1961]

Oh Jeezz... Man if none of yall cant find work I know im screwed then. Just went and got my learners (CDLs) back after not have n any licence since 2005.
I had a DUI in my personal vehicle. I am searching the web putting in apps now.
I went to an acredited Comercial Driving School in Ga. in 1999 got my Class A's and went to work with a logging company. Got 4 years of driving a log truck/Chip Van.
But reading what I have in here it seems like I just wasted my time, and have nothing but a worthless peice of plastic.

[skip1955]

Hi Everyone , coming to you live from southern TX , ( lol ) Well I hoping to get back to work my self , after 10 yrs ! Retired R.R. ( early ) Had a cdl ( A ) but let it go , Friend says go get your A lie back and I'll give you a day cab job . Pass all written tests and call him up to get some behind the wheel time and use truck for driving test . He !!! retires !!! ... So my youngest boy is a driver and thinking about --- Leasing --- and we go as a team ..waiting ... waiting.. Who do you think is the best semi leasing company?? ... GOD Bless !!!

[aftershock]

Originally Posted by skip1955

.......... Who do you think is the best semi leasing company?? ... GOD Bless !!!

Does the name "C.R. England" sound familiar? How 'bout Horizon Leasing?
C.R.E. leases Big trucks to starry-eyed newBees through Horizon Leasing for a hell-of-a-deal, --- for the company. A disproportionately large number of those who lease there fail to finish the lease period. Reports of negative paychecks is common, as are stories of families losing everything to bankruptcy and/or foreclosure.

From inexperienced wannaBe to bein' their "own boss" in about three months of training by trainers who rent the trainees to keep their wheels a-rollin' to make all the payments for the lease, the deductions for "funds"of various nature, like Repair fund, Tire fund, fourteen cents a mile to have the company bean-counters handle y'all's paperwork. Little things like that add up when subtracted from the top.

Their offices in Salt Lick City employ armed guards and the office access requires passing through a metal detector, --- office staff are located behind thick glass, which is probably a transparent, high impact deflecting material used to absorb projectile energy. I doubt it's there to provide protection from their own armed guards.

Y'all would be dispatched by company dispatchers, so, --- you lease from the company that also dispatches you and does your paperwork, (if you want them to).
I hear it said that's for "convenience", .... I wonder for whom.
If a dispatcher conveniently takes a dis-like to a certain I/C, it might affect their bottom line in negative ways.

Just because C.R.E. has been charged and convicted in high courts, mostly concerning unscrupulous, unethical business practices and discrimination doesn't mean they're a bad company though.
Just because thousands report basically the same bad experiences, ... that haven't changed much over the years, read decades, doesn't prove anything. On the plus side of their goal of a 225% turnover rate, with incentives from Uncle Sam, helps make the unemployment numbers look better. That's what the citizens wanna hear. Many of those employed will be unemployed again before one year. But with the revolvin' door policy, there's plenty more comin' in every day to fill the vacated Big truck truck driver's seats.

At the end of the lease, y'all just walk away.
Or, the option of purchasing a Big truck for well above Blue Book.
Add the monies spent to lease to the over-price price, and it'll AfterShock y'all.

But, ....... there are those who claim to be doin' good leasin' at C.R.E. Stands to reason there'd be some who are content with the arrangements. You might be one of 'em.
Check out their contract carefully, --- but remember that contract will absolutely not be allowed out of the room by you. Read it there and sign.
Shouldn't take too long if y'all just skim over the important stuff.

My advice is to avoid that company,
But what do I know?
Ya know.

I hope you get some leads, but generally speaking, lease deals aren't the best way to go Big truck truckin'.

[sevenkin]

I came off the road 1 1/2 years and I thought about Driving again, But they make it some hard with too much information. If you ever had a workmans comp. claim no matter how old you have to come up with the paper work that releases you to go back to work, like I know where I put that. For now I am just working on website for trucking products gpstruckercbradio.com I hope I won't have to go back on the road anytime soon.