Trucking Advocate and Activist Allen Smith of TruthAboutTrucking.com : Articles Current News and Information for CDL Truck Drivers and Truck Driving Students…"Raising the Standards of the Trucking Industry"
Next time you stop after a hard day’s run at your favorite diner, you may want to think again before ordering that chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy! The trucking industry just keeps on changing, and now . . . it is going to tell the professional drivers what they should weigh, and if they just happen to tip the scales a little too heavy, then it’s “no truck driving job for you.” Isn’t Government great?
Truck driving jobs will now be considered for those interested, by more certain types of criteria. One of them being the Body Mass Index or BMI. We told you it was coming and it has arrived. Prime, Inc. shows the new BMI rule for new hire on their site for their qualifications. If your BMI is over 39, then you can forget about driving for Prime. This is just the beginning. Just for fun, check to see how your BMI would hold up? Isn’t this great?
Furthermore, I want to reiterate that more “changes” will be coming to the trucking industry. How far away it is, I will not determine, but it’s coming . . . when we open the Mexico border and allow thousands of their trucks to run across America, watch as a wide-spread deduction of truck driver wages will eventually take hold. Trucking companies will sooner or later be able to save millions of dollars in wages, by dropping the American driver at .38 CPM and more, and grab hold of these in-coming drivers from across the border who would think they were in Heaven earning .22 cents per mile!
You know, in my opinion . . . when I think about it . . . our neighbors to the South seem to have a better BMI rating than the overall American average?
Over the road trucking is a tough vocation. It’s even tougher now with the economy struggling as it is. Many CDL schools are still reporting an 85% – 90% placement rate for recent CDL graduates. On the other hand, I hear from many students who, after several months or longer, after completing their CDL training, have still been unable to secure employment.
A large majority of these, I assume, has to deal with the fact that the student/grad had negative information on their MVR and the school failed to advise them of the poor chance of being hired. The CDL school took their money anyway. However, many of these CDL students tell me that they have nothing bad on their records, everything is “perfect” and still, they are unable to land a job as a truck driver. This simply has to do with the way the economy is right now.
I recently received an email from a driver who has brought in between $200 – $300 per week for the last several weeks . . . he simply stated that his company has “no freight.” Other drivers tell me they are running hard and can barely keep up! OTR trucking is a strange character. I can’t say when the economy will turn around or trucking will get back on track, but I can explain what you, as a recent CDL training graduate can do, that will most likely end your driving career before it even gets started.
We all know that times are tough right now. Even though CDL schools are reporting such a high job placement rate, I have my doubts with many of them. For those recent CDL students who do land a truck driving job, there is one thing you most certainly want to accomplish . . . get that all-important one year of OTR driving in under your belt with that company!
Many CDL graduates are writing me explaining that they were hired by a trucking company and after 30 days, 3 months or whatever, they ended up quitting due to lack of miles or various other reasons as many of us know. If you’re “fortunate” enough to land a trucking job in today’s economy, if at all possible, you need to try your best to “stick it out” with that first company that has given you the job opportunity. For years, veteran drivers have gotten away with this “job hopping” but not so much now, and certainly not for newcomers just starting out.
Leaving the truck driving job after only one, two or three months, is like digging your own professional truck driving grave. First, the trucking company just possibly shelled out thousands of dollars for your training. Secondly, they will look at you as someone who really is not serious about being an OTR driver and finally, they will most likely turn around and file a negative complaint on your DAC report. This DAC file could turn out to be your “nail in the coffin.”
Other than having stricter policies, better driver treatment, driver respect and so forth, practically all trucking companies do the exact same thing: you pick up freight at point A and you deliver that freight to point B. If you only lasted six weeks on your very first time out, why would other trucking companies believe that you will last with them? You’ll be doing the exact same thing you were doing the six weeks before. The reasons you left are not important to them . . . remember, many of these over the road trucking outfits operate in the same manner.
Could you get lucky and find another company willing to hire you and give you a chance? Maybe . . . but it’s a long shot. It’s understandable that a new driver would quit after only his or her first several weeks, if they are only making a few hundred dollars per week for running in long distance trucking. But the economy is what it is . . . it’s tough for many trucking companies and freight is slow for a big portion of them.
The recruiters and many of the not-so-honest CDL schools are going to tell you what you want to hear. Understand that the trucking industry, for many, are struggling right along with the other various industries in the present economic situation. Your chances of starting out as a new driver and pulling in $1000 per week right off the bat, is not reasonable. It could happen, but not usual with a new CDL graduate and beginning your career with one of these “starter companies.”
After finishing CDL training and you find yourself as one of those new drivers who do land a job with a company . . . be prepared to run the road for at least one year. Some will say for six months . . . but that “one year” is really the magic number. Keep in mind, that many of the really good trucking companies out there, require two and sometimes three or more years of verifiable driving experience . . . that is why they are the “really good” trucking companies.
Be prepared for the one year of sacrifice . . . plan ahead for your finances . . . maybe your spouse will have to continue to work for that first year . . perhaps you will have to dip into your savings . . . whatever the case, just be prepared for the commitment and sacrifice of running OTR for one year.
If after only a few weeks or even a few months, you are just not making it and you have to quit . . . just understand that this is one of the ways a new CDL graduate can almost certainly insure ending their truck driving career before it even begins.
There are those truck driving training schools that will use one technique that will insure a new drivers’ failure at a driving career every time:
Another email from a CDL graduate with the same story:
“Just because my teacher at XXXX Training School told me not to put my DUI on my application because the DUI was over 5 years old, they fired me because I did not put it down. I was out on the road with my trainer for a week and they red flagged me and then fired me. I can’t seem to get any trucking company to even look at me now.”
When I receive emails like this one, and I get a lot of them, it simply makes my blood boil. As author of the first and original, Truth About Trucking, I want to reiterate the TRUTH about what some truck driving schools will do that will end your truck driving career before it even has a chance to begin. It’s not like I haven’t already made this SCAM known, but it’s time to let it be known again.
It is true that trucking companies will normally do a back-ground check for the past 5-7 years. The above email was sent to me by a new driver that had experienced a DUI back in 1996. So, here’s the truth AGAIN:
The trucking company means absolutely NOTHING when it comes to the completed hiring process. The ultimate decision will nearly always come from the insurance carrier. The employment application will always ask the question in similar form such as, “Have you ever been….?” or “Have you ever had a…?”or“Have you ever been convicted of…?”and so forth. The key word here is: “EVER“.
If the question is, “Have you ever been convicted of a DUI?” - then it means “ever.” Even if the DUI was 75 years ago, ever means ever. By not putting it down on the application constitutes “falsifying a Commercial Motor Vehicle Application” which is a very serious offense. State and Federal Laws are very clear about this matter:
“Any person who falsifies any information in an application or test for a commercial driver’s license shall not be licensed to operate a commercial motor vehicle, or the person’s commercial driver’s license shall be canceled, for a period of one year after the director discovers such falsification.”
These truck driving schoolinstructors, recruiters and driver trainers know this. By telling you not to write it down on the application because they only go back several years, is nothing but a lie and a scam. The school still keeps your money and you could very well be in a situation where you may never find work as a truck driver. At the minimum, you will be out of luck for at least one year. Then, after one year has passed, you will be required to go through CDL training all over again, and yes, you will have to pay for it once more.
Because you may have driven for one or two weeks before the insurance carrier caught it, the trucking company will then turn around and place a “falsifying” report on your DAC. All future employers will see this report and thus, the reason for not accepting you within a driving position. Also, the HireRight DAC Trucking Solutions, who oversees the DAC report, could care less about the truth. You have the right to place your side of the story on your DAC and try to have it removed through the use of an attorney, but this can be very time consuming and costly.
REMEMBER: When a recruiter or truck driving school official or driver trainer tells you not to worry about writing down a violation that occurred over 5-7 years ago … they are either lying or they are just ignorant. It is a SCAM!
Doing so, will end your driving career and landing another truck driving job could take a very long time.
ALWAYS list EVERYTHING down on the Commercial Motor Vehicle Application no matter what the offense and no matter how long ago it was.
Trucker. One simple word, yet it creates a multitude of images in our minds: The outlaw, the loner, the renegade … one individual who won’t take anything from anybody. Truckers have a rough lifestyle. A life that very few people can even comprehend. A lifestyle, that not many could even handle. Faced with stressful situations on a daily basis, what can truckers do to maintain a healthy and happy state of mind. Is it possible to just be “happy” with the life as a trucker? The image of the trucker is often misconstrued. Truth is, they are the most professional drivers on the road.
Allen, along with co-host, Barry Szczucki, explores the truckers state of mind on the next broadcast of Truth About Trucking “LIVE” – Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 3 PM EST
Who says that there are no trucking companies hiring drivers? There are still thousands of companies looking for truck drivers all over the United States. Company drivers, Owner Operators, Students, Recent Graduates, Local, Regional, OTR … trucking companies still have freight, and they need drivers to move it!
There is no doubt that we are in a recession. Never forget, however, that the media only tells you what THEY want you to believe. Trucking is the backbone of our country. Alot of trucking companies have fallen, but there are still alot of companies out there . . . and they are hiring. Looking for a truck driving job? Find one here . . .
Truck driving jobs offer a large array of possiblities for employment. Even with the downward turn we are noticing from the economic situation, truck driving jobs are still available. With several large trucking companies cutting down on their offers to provide cdl training for new drivers, the economy will bounce back and truck driving will continue to be a viable employment opportunity.
When considering a career in truck driving, the first question should be “what type of driving” are you interested in? At the start of your career, you will most likely have to drive over the road. Most transportation companies require around one year of recent, verifiable driving experience. In order to obtain this “one year” of experience, OTR truck driving is usually the beginning route. After that first year, all the truck driving opportunities will open up for you.
Generally, most everyone just entering into truck driving careers, will begin with, and remain with, the van division. There is one avenue of trucking that is often overlooked: the tanker truck. Pulling tankers are one of the best jobs in trucking for many reasons:
Lower turnover rate among drivers
Variety of operations – local, short haul, regional and long haul
More home time – Many tanker truck jobs will have you home every night
Competitive pay – Tanker jobs usually pay higher wages
Tanker division offers both Hazmat and Non-HazMat jobs
Higher Standards for Safety – HazMat Tanker companies generally maintain a higher level for safety than the average “general freight” divisions. They will invest much more time and effort in training and provide safer equipment, as well as adhering to the high Governmental standards set in place for the tank truck industry.
Non-HazMat tanker companies – There are many tank truck jobs that do not require the HazMat endorsement – liquid, dry bulk, foods, cement and many others.
Shippers and Receivers who understand the importance of the driver
No touch freight – Product is loaded and unloaded through various means: pumps, blowers and of course, gravity
No tarps, chains, binders or the need to hire lumpers
Ease of Pick up and Delivery – No docks, generally, shorter trailers, easy access, less waiting time which means more hours of service time for driving.
Regulatory compliant companies – Carriers are more focused on running legal.
RESPECT – Tank truck drivers are respected by peers, companies, shippers, law enforcement and the public. Expected to be the best drivers.
More personal – Greater communication with company management and dispatchers
Most tanker truck companies require between one to three years of driving experience. Always remember, that if that truck driving job is not working out for you at present, maintain professionalism, get the required amount of driving experience under your belt, and move on to the better truck driving jobs. You might just want to consider pulling tankers.
Many who have subscribed to the Truth About Trucking newsletter are waiting for the release of my latest book, “The Best Truck Driving Jobs- A State By State Guide“. With the economy hurting as it is, I believe this is a most needed book for everyone: students, new CDL drivers and CDL veteran drivers. The book is going to launch next week, but a few are going to receive it early. These are the winners who were on the last 2 Blog Talk Radio Shows. We will be sending out their free copies today and they may review the book and post here.
Briefly, the book,”The Best Truck Driving Jobs- A State By State Guide“, is a work of extensive research into many nationwide trucking companies, both large and moderately sized. These are stable companies which I believe to have some of the best employer ethics. These trucking companies are listed by state which will help drivers according to their homeload location needed. Some of the criteria which I based the information on included:
1 How long has the company been in business
2 Driver Comments and Reviews
3 Freight Lanes
4 Truck Driver Salary/Earnings
5 Interviews
I believe this will be one of the best resources that a driver can have. So many times an enthusiastic driver will get on the internet to locate a new truck driving job, and by the time their research of companies is complete, they’re more confused than ever trying to decide.
The book is completed, and it will be ready to launch by Tuesday, 11/25/08 of next week. We will be sending e-mails out to our subscribers with special links and prelaunch offers. If you are not on the subscriber list you can sign up either on this blog or on our Truth About Trucking website.
Ihave compiled this info for truck drivers who are looking to make a good living in trucking with companies that have proventhemselves in treating their drivers fairly.
This is a REAL, Selected, well researched Group of Companies, complete with their description and contact numbers…not just a “random” off the wall list of nonsense.
At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many people with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because they become frustrated by their challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for them to manage those challenges and move forward.
Practicing positive thinking allows people with ADD to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows them to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. Those in trucking can fall into a “negative” trap also, due to all of the hardships and struggles a driver faces on a daily basis. Problems with the shippers and receivers, dispatchers, traffic, DOT, law enforcement and the general public can, over time, lead to a negative outlook on life…and even depression
The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:
1. Take Good Care of Yourself
It’s much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.
2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For Stresses and challenges don’t seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.
3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member’s bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly talking about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don’t waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.
4. Refrain from UsingAbsolutes Have you ever told someone “You’re ALWAYS late!” or complained to a friend “You NEVER call me!”? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like ‘always’ and ‘never’ makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.
5. Detach FromNegative Thoughts Your thoughts can’t hold any power over you if you don’t judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don’t follow it.
6. Squash the “ANTs” In his book, “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Dr. Daniel Amen talks about “ANTs” – Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like “Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me,” or “My dispatcher wants to see me? It must be bad!” When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!
7. Increase Your Social Activity By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!
When it comes to trucking, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire whole of true productivity. There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but not everyone can do this. We are human and imperfect. To get these little things like stress under our skin won’t solve our problems. Sometimes it’s best to just stop, step back and relax for a moment. We only have one life to live . . . why live it stressed, worried and with a negative outlook?
If your current truck driving job is not working for you financially, then find another one. Being constantly surrounded by “negatives” will only cause you to miss out on the positive things of life. Don’t let trucking rule your life . . . stop now and then . . . and smell the roses.
It’s amazing what an over the road truck driver can encounter on a daily basis. All of the sights and sounds they experience become so vast that they soon forget and accept them as simply a part of their daily lives. Experiences that few will ever know and even fewer can only dream about. I often stop and remember such things like slipping through the back roads of the Blue Ridge Mountains…….literally sliding my way down a snow covered Snowqualmie Pass……or slowing the rig down a few notches so I could enjoy the scenery of actual wild horses running across the plains of Wyoming…….and of course, that time I had no choice but to stop in the middle of the road and let that massive, huge moose cross in front of me in Caribou, Maine. All the sights, sounds and wonderment that now only live in my memories…..
Though I no longer operate over the road, I am still “running” here in the State of Florida, averaging 420 miles per day. Not too long ago I was making a delivery in Gainesville, Florida at a small BP service station. As I pulled in, I noticed a haggard looking man huddled underneath the overhang of the building. Working nights, I often have to deal with some “rough” characters approaching me for money or food, so I kept my sight on him. It wasn’t long until I knew he was homeless as he walked up to me and the conversation began:
“How you like driving that thing?” he asked.
“It’s OK,” I replied, “Been doing it a long time.”
He remained with me as I began my work and everything seemed to be going fine. Just a lonely guy, I thought, needing a little company. He walked back over to where he had been and sat back down beside a duffle bag containing all of his possessions. Suddenly, he placed his hand on the bag and started shaking it back and forth saying, “Get up! Get up!” I focused my attention back on him. Then, he began moving his head from side to side, his eyes darting here and there. I heard him mumble, “They’re dead……..they’re all dead.”
A massive thunderstorm was moving into the area and I was working feverishly to complete my work before it hit. All of a sudden, an enormous clap of thunder and flash of lightening struck sending me running for cover. I immediately heard him yell, “INCOMING!” He was down on the ground with his hands over his head and it was then that I realized something…….I was in the presence of a hero.
I knew I had to do something to bring him back to reality so I yelled, “HEY!…..HEY!…..you hungry?” He rose to his feet, his shaking subsided and a grin crossed his face, “I’m always hungry, dude” he laughed. I ran out to the truck and brought back a Gatorade and a ham and cheese sandwich. “Here,” I said, “This is my last drop so I’m heading home, I don’t need them.” As the rain poured down and the thunder rolled, I stayed by my new friend as he enjoyed the free meal. The political side of me kicked in and I wondered why is this man, why is this hero….left alone, forgotten by our Government, and made to live out on the streets?
During the next thirty minutes, we talked about many things . . . from the Florida weather to alligators to truck driving . . . and with every teeth-jawing blast of thunder he would yell out, “KABOOM! ,” followed by a fit of laughter. As the storm passed and moved further to the Northwest, I said my goodbyes and told him to take care of himself. He shook my hand and thanked me for the drink and sandwich. Never once did he ask for money or help of any kind. He was his own man . . . he was a hero.
As I began pulling out of the driveway, another loud burst of thunder occurred, followed by an enormous streak of lightening. I glanced over to see him staring up in the sky, his eyes flashing as bright as the lightening . . . his arms moving up and down . . . and I knew, once again, at that very moment he was no longer with me in Gainesville, Florida. I gave him a wave goodbye, but he failed to respond. He was no longer there . . . the hero had gone back to Vietnam.
With the return of Ethanol gasoline into the market, so comes the return of problems we faced back in the ‘70’s, 80’s and 90’s. It is only a matter of time that the problems will grow and perhaps make their way into the news. Of course, the media can squash any news they want, so maybe we will hear nothing more about it.
At least for now, some of the misfortune of using gasohol is creeping ever so slightly into the news realm. Ethanol problems are being noticed here and there and I wonder how long will this “new” form of energy last this time.
People are now experiencing problems with getting their cars to start after using ethanol blended gasoline. Read more about what problems you may experience down the road with gasohol.
Next time you stop after a hard day’s run at your favorite diner, you may want to think again before ordering that chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy! The trucking industry just keeps on changing, and now . . . it is going to tell the professional drivers what they should weigh, and if they just happen to tip the scales a little too heavy, then it’s “no truck driving job for you.” Isn’t Government great?
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Over the road trucking is a tough vocation. It’s even tougher now with the economy struggling as it is. Many CDL schools are still reporting an 85% – 90% placement rate for recent CDL graduates. On the other hand, I hear from many students who, after several months or longer, after completing their CDL training, have still been unable to secure employment.
At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many people with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because they become frustrated by their challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for them to manage those challenges and move forward.
