You too can drive the big rigs

LarryRB · Aug 5, 2005

When I had to get out of trucking and after being in bed a long, long,long time, by accident I was asked to run some town machinery. I ended up working for the town highway, when I could, at that time, and did machinery and some dump truck running, Most towns, at least here in New England , the highway dpts will teach and let you use town equipment for a class B CDL. I took a whole bunch of people using the front mount pumper fire truck. The registry of motor vehicles seem to over look or forget a whole bunch of tests requirements when one is needed as a part time employee, especially just before winter season. Perhaps you should look into going this route.

RedDog · Aug 5, 2005

Johnday,

A while back some of the LTL companys (less than a load) were training their own people. Examples of LTL companys are: Yellow Freight, Roadway, ABF, Holland, Overnight, Con-way, and FedX, just to name some.

I've been driving with the same company since 92, and have yet to spend one night in a cab! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I don't know if any of the above mentioned companys are still doing that, but may want to check. I do know they will want a Haz-mat endorsement on your license.

Good luck, RedDog

rswyan · Aug 7, 2005

johnday,

This isn't exactly just driving but you might check into getting a Fedex Home Delivery route. All their drivers are subcontractors and own their routes. My oldest son is currently in training (2 weeks) and will be purchasing an exisiting route from another sub. It's a Tuesday thru Saturday work week, driving small vehicles (Dodge Sprinter vans) He expects to clear about $60K a year or more after expenses (but before taxes) ... not bad as a starting salary for a 23 year-old with no college education. The investment (in buying the route) will pay for itself in less than 1/2 year. Exisiting route holders get first dibs (at no cost) on additional routes that are formed from existing service areas. My son's plan is to eventually acquire more routes and hire drivers to service them. Just a thought.

johnday · Aug 7, 2005

rs; That sounds interesting. And 60K a year sounds good too. I'll be getting a pension, and my medical will be covered,so i don't need to make what I am now. But 60K on top of the pension? Sounds VERY interesting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rswyan · Aug 7, 2005

( Sounds VERY interesting. )
Glad to be of help.

One of the other things I know they do here at the local terminal is use "floater" drivers - some of the guys that work in the terminal have completed the drivers training ..... the guy my son will purchasing the route from uses one of these "floaters" to cover his route three days a week because he wants the time off to renovate his home .... he doesn't make as much $$$ as he would if he drove the entire week .... but he has the time off to do what he wants. Sounds like a pretty decent setup.

Another thing is that November - December is their big time. Some guys will rent an extra truck and use floaters to cover the workload - apparently it gets pretty heavy.

rswyan · Aug 7, 2005

BTW, the potential earnings per year is entirely dependent on the particular service area/ route you are looking at .... I'm sure that it varies a good bit .... some are probably more and some are probably less. The route my son is looking at is a mix of suburban/rural and covers a fairly good size area.

One thing is for sure though (if what my son has told me is correct - and I don't have any reaon to doubt that it is) .... Fedex is very interested in making sure that all their subs are viable and making good money. I'm sure that it's in their best interest to do so.

johnday · Aug 7, 2005

rs; Sounding better by the minute. Wonder about their regional drivers? Those guys are probably hands/off loads too? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Boomerang1 · Aug 7, 2005

Look for a local driving job. You will keep your sanity that way. I gave up long haul 6 years ago. I would run 160,000-175,000 miles a year solo. We had so much work we never sat still. If companies have trucks that are sitting, they don't have very good dispatchers or they are too picky on the loads they take. The USA has the worst driver shortage in 28 years. Fresh out driving school you should make about $35,000 per year. You will stay on the road 2-3 weeks with a few days off. The company I worked for wanted us to run a minimum of 12,000 mile per month. If you did it in 3 weeks, you could take a week off. Look for a job that pays hub miles instead of household mover miles. I now work 6 days and take off 3 1/2 days. I work the night shift when there is less traffic and cooler in the summer. I pull a hazardous chemicals tanker for the copper mines staying in a 250 mile radius and deadhead back home. Pays very well and I am home every day.

rswyan · Aug 7, 2005

( Wonder about their regional drivers? Those guys are probably hands/off loads too? )
Dunno exactly what that means ......

Fedex has several divisions:

Fedex Express - your typical Fedex - what you probably think of when you think of Fedex. They do overnight, 2 day, and 3 day shipping and they pick up and deliver. These guys are Fedex employees.

Fedex Ground - Similar to UPS Ground. Not sure whether they are subs or employees .... think they might be subs. They also pickup and deliver.

Fedex Home Delivery - This is a division of Fedex Ground, they are subs and they only deliver (no pickups) and only to residential addresses.

Fedex Freight - They specialize in LTL freight carriage. I think they might Fedex employees.

Fedex Custom Critical - Specialize in one-off, time-specific, custom deliveries, could be anything from transplant organs to whatever. Pretty sure these guys are subs/independent contractors. The ops center for Custom Critical is about 7 minutes from where I live.

There are several other divisions too - one specializing in international deliveries and customs clearing, and one or two more which provide administrative services to the other divisions.

johnday · Aug 8, 2005

Boomerang; Please explain what hub miles and household mover miles are. I've never heard those terms. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif