Potential new driver who needs a little help

[chddrr_27]

Greetings to everyone, my name is Chad, I live around the London, ON area and I am in need of some help with an application I am doing. The application is for recieving funds from Skills Development Canada to be retrained in a career of my choice. I have been working in a weld shop (Dana Canada) for past 4 years but have been laid-off since September. I do not want to go back to this environment and have decided that going to school and getting my AZ licence woiuld be the best career path for myself. As part of the application, my career counsellour has asked me to contact at least 3 truck drivers and get some general information about the occupation.

I have about 10 questions to ask(some of them sound a little silly, but this is for a good cause).

1. How did you get into this type of work?
2. What would you do in a typical day?
3. What do you like best about your job?
4. What are the negative aspects about your job?
5. What is the future outlook for this career?(will there be jobs in the future)
6. What kind of working conditions would one expect in a typical day driving?
7. What is the typical salary range for a truck driver?
8. are there any oppourtunities for advancement in this career?
9. Where would you suggest getting the proper training to get your AZ?
10. What other advice would you give to someone who is considering trucking as a career?

Once again please include name,


THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

CHAD

[ralph]

I have about 10 questions to ask(some of them sound a little silly, but this is for a good cause). Also with these questions could you please leave your name, phone nuimber, and the company you work for.

1. How did you get into this type of work?
Oppourtunity knocked and I opened the door...I was working as a mechanic and the fleet needed more drivers.

2. What would you do in a typical day?
I work locally, so I'm anywhere from Windsor to Ottawa and as far north as North Bay/Sudbury.
I drive for a food wholesaler.

3. What do you like best about your job?
Not having a boss looking over my shoulder, not being locked inside a building.
4. What are the negative aspects about your job?
Our new GPS that tells my boss everytime I open my cab door.

5. What is the future outlook for this career?(will there be jobs in the future)
There will always be a need for GOOD qualified drivers. Eventually carriers and fleets will realize this as they are beginning to tire of the constant churning from the "meat in the seat" driver.

6. What kind of working conditions would one expect in a typical day driving?
If you run the highway prepare for lots of frustration starting with shippers, continuing with Customs and Customs Brokers, continuing with traffic and poor driver facilities and ending with receivers/consignees. Multiply this a couple of times a week.

7. What is the typical salary range for a truck driver?
On the low side $35,000 and on the high side $100,000.

8. are there any oppourtunities for advancement in this career?
Yes, usually with a pay cut...dispatchers don't usually make what a GOOD driver does nor do safety people.

9. Where would you suggest getting the proper training to get your AZ?
Markel in Guelph is probably the best and most highly recognized as they are one of the leading if not the leading truck insurer in Canada. Tri-County in Cambridge is also reputable.

10. What other advice would you give to someone who is considering trucking as a career?
In all probability your first year will be full of frustration and disapointment. If you get through your first year with a clean record (no tickets/accidents) there are few places you can't go and the pay really tends to get better.


Once again please include name, number, and company with your reply.
Ralph, sorry NO personal info on the internet (PM me if I can assist you further)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
You are welcome.

CHAD

[Accremonious]

Hi Chad,
(there are no silly questions , only inappropriate answers)
I will leave it to the other drivers who will do a more than adequate job of answering your queries, I am sure. Instead, I think you need to make an overview and inventory of both the requirements and your potential to match or exceed these regulatory abilities and necssary skills plus lifestyle choices. Also tell your councellor no one gives names, addresses, phone numbers over the internet in their right mind! She/He/It is obviously in the Federal Civil Service and Union.... not living the real world(I would say more but it would be misconstrued and marginalizing)

1. Can you pass the Commercial Drivers Medical? You might as well take it first off, and it is not paid for by OHIP! Make sure to get the proper Ministry of Transport form, the one which also satifies the US Code of Federal Regulations, too. If your vision , color vision, heart, lungs, blood sugar(urine), sleep disorders, mental health, etc. qualify then proceed on.

2.Education. You must be fluent and functional in English. Can you read understand and follow a myriad of rules, regulations and instructions? A locker room lawyer has trouble in our industry!

3. Can you provide a clean Criminal Search Abstract or one with any required pardons attached for crossborder eligibility and are bondable?
If not it restricts you to Canada only.

4. Can you see yourself away from home for days or weeks at a time, driving week ends, days off during the week, etc.?

5. Can you tolerate the slurs and innuendos from family and friends when you are not available for the parties, birthdays, weekends at the cottage,etc.? YOU CANNOT PARTY HEARTY ALL WEEK END AND DRIVE ALL WEEK. When you come home with your logbook maxed out and sleep day and night for 2 and 3 days you will learn what this driving for a living cramps my life style really means.

6. Can you provide a recreational drug free urine sample? Not just at the
hiring stage but at a moments notice roadside, or within 4 hours of an accident (not your fault) where a vehicle was towed from the scene or a person was taken to hospital in an ambulance? That is the US Law but it is applied to crossborder drivers even while in an accident in Canada! It violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but if you want to work for a company driving into the USA it is routinely applied!

7. If you are still on board, then I suggest that you drive down to the truckstops on 401, T/A at Sweaburg Rd., Woodstock, the Fifth Wheel on Dorchester Rd., the Husky and the Flying J on Highbury in London. Dress like a trucker, and listen, watch, not just in the restaurants but the fuel bar, store, garage, etc. Is this the kind of life you would like? Becareful how you word your questions, since often these drivers are tired and trying to recouperate for the next leg of their route.

8. Next if you are still gung ho, go get the study material from the Ministry of Transportation Offices including the the books you now have to buy like Airbrakes Systems and also the application forms.

9. Like others are saying, sign on with the top notch driving school ONLY! When you go for a first job interview and road test, it is a door opener.
Markel is run and funded by one of the last insurance companies willing to under write transport trucks! They have a vested interest in producing only the best qualified drivers possible. When you get your license but have no experience, it is very difficult to get hired due to the new driver syndrome. Has not had an accident yet, m'let him do it on some one elses CVOR and Insurance!

10. CVOR: Commercial Vehicle Operation Registration, the operating authority from the Ministry of Transportation and Comm. This document is the god the rules the industry. Each company is audited once a year or more often and points are assessed against it. Too many points and it is suspended, revoked, or put into a higher survaillence bracket. It covers the company's performance from maintainence records, drivers logs, drivers pretrip reports, inspections at weigh scales or roadsides, records of fines, accidents, records of internal investigations, corrective actions taken, everything but when you last wiped your you know what!

Finally, I hope this has not scared you off, but has opened your mind to the seriousness of this career path. We need you, if you are a qualified and willing to be a compliant practioner! We are hoping to hear how you make out from time to time, and please do PM any one of us that you think can help you make the right choices! Good Luck. (I relicensed at age 54 and drove over one million into 45 States and 5 Provinces!)

[buzzy]

This has been going around for at least 5 years, I know of.

I won't even bother making any other comment.

[chddrr_27]

I appoligize to all who have responded about your personal info. I do understand why people would be hesitant about giving personal info. I also thank those who have answered some of my questions.

In response to one response, I have had my medical, (urine test), criminal check, drivers abstract, sent in my FAST application, and I am writing my begginners this friday. I am hoping to start my schooling on March 24th in London. I am just trying to complete this application by Friday.

Once again, Thank You All
Chad

[hellcat_99]

Chad, did you sign up with VIP in London?

All the best & good luck. Please remember when you are promised a job right out of school, it isn't that easy unless you go where they have a driver training program.

Keep us up to date on your progress.

Holly :cool:

[chddrr_27]

Holly, I am going with OTDS in London, I have already gotten my letter of acceptance, I just have to hear back from Skills Development after they recieve my application regarding funding for the course.

[Accremonious]

Hey Chad, that is great, good stuff, OK
Now remember that this is a process that takes time to develope your skills and knowledge, it is not an overnight, fast read, no brainer!!!
Some of us with significant I.Q.s often are not the best truck drivers for several reasons. What you must learn are numerous themes on various subjects, plus body/mind physical endurance conditioning. Several pointers may help you.
1. Safety, safe driving is a habit. Always develope good habits (deeply ingrained habits) so that when you are dog tired you will naturally do the right thing from habit!!!
2. A truck driver compared to a 4 wheeler is looking and thinking much farther ahead down the road, for example 1/8 to 1/4 mile as compared to 100yards (meters)!! YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER BECAUSE YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE IS THAT MUCH FARTHER.
3. Just because something has never happened before is no guarantee that it won't in the next 5 minutes.
4. Once you are licensed, it takes even more time to get your mind and body trained to endure the noise, vibration, and constant attention to detail. ALWAYS MAKE REGULAR REST BREAKS AND USE THEM TO DO THE PERSONAL CARE AND INSPECTIONS THAT WILL SAVE YOU LATER! When you have made 1, 1 1/2, or 2 solid hours of travel at speed your body and mind needs to have a change of pace to recouperate. Plan ahead what you are going to do at the next rest area, it maybe check that tire(s) which you have some doubts about, is that signal light you fixed still working now, etc. adnosium....that will help you reduce the fatigue factor. Those Hours of Service Rules are based on years of experience and testing. Even exceptional athletes find that this noise/vibration box on wheels does wear them down. Planning ahead and listening to that little voice in your subconscious will save your ass and the truck and the load some day, and maybe many days!!
Keep in touch, we are all pulling for you to make it, and succeed!

[buzzy]

Chad, I 'll apologize for sounding off to you but and its a big BUT:

#1) I don't know you from Adam. Why would I give you my personal info? Would you give out your credit card # to me if I asked?

#2) I'm a driver. By giving you that info, all it takes is a simple call to determine I'm not home and then my families safety is at risk.

#3) I think whoever asked you to delve so deep into our personal lives needs to be sent back to school for a course on privacy and information act. They need a smack upside the head.

#4) If I had seen the original post first, I would have locked the forum down. Security is a big issue here. We all look out for each other's safety.

Now on that note:

Good luck with your new chosen career.

The best thing to do when you get frustrated, walk away for 2 minutes and compose yourself. Trust me, you will get frustrated, many, many times.

[Accremonious]

Chad, there is another caution you need to develope right from the git go.
Buzzy is absolutely right about personal and private information. Once you are licensed you are going to get loads that are of significant value, worth hijacking and killing for. Remember loose lips sink battle ships and lose lives. You need to be ever vigilant about what you say and how you say it. If you notice that the same vehicle is just ahead or behind you for miles, why?
Never admit especially over the CB what you are hauling, where you got it or where it is going. Keep in touch with your dispatch like clock work, as they need to know not just where you are but that you and the load are OK. If someone is too nosy in a rest area, or restaurant, it is a time honoured tradition in our industry TO TELL A DISINFORMATION! That load of cigarettes just became scrap paper for recycle, or the load of liquor is reject recalled dog food going back for disposal, etc. Get as creative as it needs to be! Your barn doors are sealed but the logo on the seal is a give away, so wrap it up and put another but plain seal over top!
Back your back doors up to another truck from your own company when sleeping over night. Learn the art of talking with out telling anything and listen to what is being said, you will be amazed at how much you learn that you should never have access to! The driver that brags about this and that is probably lying and trying to get info in return!
If you are into Over The Road, you NEVER EVER let it be known what and where your back haul is. There are pirates that will phone up and offer to haul it for less because they are desparate to get another run and make it back to the next known load!
Always split your money up into different pockets and likewise any credit cards, plus never flash it. You can be mugged for it inside the truckstop building where you thought you were safe! This world out on the "big road" is a crazy place, so think about what you do before hand and plan it out!
Listen to what has happened to others and take your own precautions!

[chddrr_27]

I fully understand that giving personl information online is a safety risk ot only to the load you are shipping, but also the safety of drivers and thier familys. I fully appoligize for asking because I would not give my personal info either to someone on-line that I did not know.
Once again, I am sorry
Chad

[hellcat_99]

Chad, it's ok.
You have just learn't a lesson on this industry. You have some good old driver's here that are willing to help share there knowledge. As k any question's you need to, & share what you are learning.
The most important thing to remember, is to listen & ask question's.

Holly :D

[saddletramp]

Excuse me birthday girl but,



Good "old" drivers????? :wtf: :wtf:




geez.................... :wacko: :wow:

[hellcat_99]

Not my Birthday yet :harhar: :harhar: :harhar: :harhar: Still 49 and holding. :D :D :D

[buzzy]

You have some good old driver's here that are willing to help share there knowledge.


You might be holding @ 49 but that's only good for another 3 weeks.

Then my dear...... geritol goes on the grocery list.


We aren't old!


We attained a superior level of experience! :p

[Accremonious]

What next? "Good ole Boys"? Alright already!

[hellcat_99]

Ok ok I meant you all have much more experience then I do. How's that? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Holly :rofl: :rofl:

[chddrr_27]

Hello everybody it's Chad again. I am still interested if anybody could answer the questions of my original post. I spoke to my career counsellour yesterday, and she is OK with not having anybody's personal infromation. She said just your first name is fine. I have told her about this trucking forum, and she agrees that the this is a great way to get VERY USEFUL information about the trucking industry. So if anybody is willing to answer my few questions that would be great. It is for a good cause and your insight would well appreciated.
Thanks again


Chad :D :D :D :D :D

[chddrr_27]

Thank you very musch Dave, this is excellent
Chad

[oscar the grouch]

Anyone heard from Chad ?? How he made out etc ?? Ken

[hellcat_99]

Nothing as of yet. Thankx for reminding me.

Holly