Hi everbody, Im 18 years old and I've wanted to drive truck since I was little. Trucking runs in blood since my grandpa, father and brother all drive or drove. I want to start driving when graduated High school next month and I have had one job opportunity. The opportunity is hauling raw vegetable from june thru october and then hauling fertilizer and grain util December. My question is do you guys think thats a good way to start out? My only worry is being a rookie and hauling 100,000 pound loads as a rookie and running 20 hrs a day. Please tell my what you think thanks Travis.

 

You need to talk with OTR companies you want to go with eventually. It may be a way to start, but will your experience be acceptable for OTR after you turn 21.
Unless you're being paid megabucks, the 20 hours/per day doesn't sound good. Work smart, not cheap. There're way to many opportunities for a person your age not to explore. BOL

 

For someone your age its not a bad start but don't let anyone force you to work illegally. The last thing you need are logbook violations or worse, an accident to ruin your career before you even get started. If your going to be working for a farmer he may want you to drive over your hours or run with old equipment that may not be well maintained. Just make sure you know what your getting yourself into and if you have doubts about the job, be patient and wait until you can get training from a reputable company.

 

The guy that offered me the job has 379 Petes and new w900 kenworths. Hes pays percentage of load but you have a quoto of 4 loads a day to be hauled to the canning factory. I also wonder if I should just wait until I am 21 and try getting a job with Millis or Werner or somebody who trains you and excepts people who are 21.

 

If you have doubts or questions, try talking to some of the drivers at this place. Its highly unlikely any major OTR carrier like Werner would count any of it as experience but atleast you wouldn't be a complete rookie....and you might end up having better driving skills than your trainer. :lol:

 

Local Jobs are the best ones, I'd try to avoid OTR, stay local or regional but talk to other drivers of that company and stay legal. If it is good and you get some experience in, a name for yourself, you can get in with the cream of the crop in the area.
Those big OTR training companies are just plain exploiters.

 

I talked to friend of mine last night and he said they might be looking for somebody to drive for them in the spring hauling grain. Do you guys think companies would count this as expierence?

 

most likely the only places that would count that as experience would be other grain hauling places.