Newbie questions

[Smokr]

Got several questions I think would be good for us newbies to have answered in a single thread...beside the usual "What is a good company" how about these to answer that question.

1. What is a reasonable/acceptable starting mileage?
If a company is going to make me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at, what should I immediately suspect as high-balling lies?

2. What is the per-diem and what is reasonable to expect or to negotiate for?

3. How many miles should I expect once I go solo?
Again, if a company is making me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at as too few, and what should I expect is over-estimating?

4. What should I expect to have for daily expenses?
Down time costs like parking, internet, showers, etc.

5. How long should I expect to be with a trainer OTR?
If a company tells me six weeks, is that about right? If they tell me two weeks, should I slip on the waders?

6. What is a reasonable training wage while with the trainer OTR?
If they tell me I'll be making $500 a week, what should I think of that? What is a real-world figure?

7. What are decent insurance options?
How much comes out of your pay a month for reasonable insurance? What should I negotiate or expect to pay? Any chances of 'no cost' insurance?

8. If I don't get along with my trainer OTR, can/should I ask for a different one?
Or does this make me look like a wussy? How should I do such a request? Who do I make such a request to? What if he has such a pungent aroma that my eyes water so much I can't see the road and his answer to "when we gonna stop so I can shower?" is to ask, "shower?" Or what if he's smoking week or snorting lines or downing brews on the road?

9. What about log-fixing? Should I expect it or report it?
How much and what is acceptable, and what are the consequences of doing it?

10. Should I get a cellphone or a laptop?
Yes and yes! Or at least a cellphone with a keyboard capable of internet so you can contact your office/router and have email access to do so as well, and to keep in touch with family friends.
A laptop is almost mandatory these days as well. Helps to send emails to your dispatcher as well as stay in phone contact, especially to remind him/her of upcoming days you'd like to be home and such. A laptop will also help during down time! Or...'up' time during down time...

I'm sure I'll add more, and you guys will throw a few to add as well, but that will do to start it.
Hopefully this will make a good sticky thread to answer many newbies questions instead of you guys having the same questions thrown at you over and over every week.
I really hope these will help newbies going in for those company interviews have things to ask to help them find a decent job/company.

 

[Larry]

My answers are in black.

Got several questions I think would be good for us newbies to have answered in a single thread...beside the usual "What is a good company" how about these to answer that question.

1. What is a reasonable/acceptable starting mileage?
If a company is going to make me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at, what should I immediately suspect as high-balling lies? Average 2000 on the low end and up to oh hell 3500 on the high end maybe more

2. What is the per-diem and what is reasonable to expect or to negotiate for?

3. How many miles should I expect once I go solo?
Again, if a company is making me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at as too few, and what should I expect is over-estimating? 2000-3500

4. What should I expect to have for daily expenses?
Down time costs like parking, internet, showers, etc. You can get an internet card through your phone company and cost you so much a month like $60-$120 a month. Parking is free and showers is free if you get so much fuel but if you don't get fuel then it's like $10 unless you have a shower pass that you didn't use then it's free but you have to use that shower pass within so much time.

5. How long should I expect to be with a trainer OTR?
If a company tells me six weeks, is that about right? If they tell me two weeks, should I slip on the waders? Average is 4-6 weeks.

6. What is a reasonable training wage while with the trainer OTR?
If they tell me I'll be making $500 a week, what should I think of that? What is a real-world figure? $500 sounds about right.

7. What are decent insurance options?
How much comes out of your pay a month for reasonable insurance? What should I negotiate or expect to pay? Any chances of 'no cost' insurance? That will depend a lot on the company but I guess a general figure would be anywhere from $20-$200 a month which also depends if your married not.

I'm sure I'll add more, and you guys will throw a few to add as well, but that will do to start it.
Hopefully this will make a good sticky thread to answer many newbies questions instead of you guys having the same questions thrown at you over and over every week.
I really hope these will help newbies going in for those company interviews have things to ask to help them find a decent job/company.

 

[Mike]

1. What is a reasonable/acceptable starting mileage?
If a company is going to make me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at, what should I immediately suspect as high-balling lies?

Beginning pay has different factors involved. As a new driver, put more emphasis on what you make with 1 year experience with the company you choose. Factor in the support. A company might pay a little less per mile, but if you are new to the industry, they may have more support available for a new driver. Look to start in the neighborhood of .28-.32 cents per mile.

2. What is the per-diem and what is reasonable to expect or to negotiate for?

per-diem is confusing. There is no set way to do this, and many companies handle it differently. You can now deduct $58/day for expenses though, so factor that in when companies do offer per-diem. Not all companies do per-diem.

3. How many miles should I expect once I go solo?
Again, if a company is making me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at as too few, and what should I expect is over-estimating?

No solid answer for this, and no company can truly offer you any real mileage estimate. Every driver is different, and freight demands constantly change. If you are a hard worker, and catch on quickly, figure on averaging 2200 miles per week over the course of an entire year. You might do better than that, you might do worse. Many factors involved here though.

4. What should I expect to have for daily expenses?
Down time costs like parking, internet, showers, etc.

Most times, you can park for free. If you cannot, hopefully your company will reimburse you for it. Showers run about $10 now, but this is free if you fuel at a truck stop. (all major truck stops have a frequent fueler card, and showers are generally good for a week and any location across the Country).

Internet costs vary. You can get an air card from your cellular provider for a monthly cost. The different truck stop chains also offer rates ranging from daily to yearly. Typically at a truck stop, the rates are $1.99 for an hour, $4.99 for 24 hours, $20.00 or so for a month, not sure what the yearly rate is. I use the internet alot while on the road, and if my cellular air card doesn't have a good connection, I will pay the 24 hour rate for where I am. In some cases, you can use your frequent fueler card to pay for internet service.

5. How long should I expect to be with a trainer OTR?
If a company tells me six weeks, is that about right? If they tell me two weeks, should I slip on the waders?

My guess would be about 6 weeks. Some companies go by mileage.

6. What is a reasonable training wage while with the trainer OTR?
If they tell me I'll be making $500 a week, what should I think of that? What is a real-world figure?

Sounds like a pretty close figure. some may be a little more, some may be a little less. Concern yourself with the money you will make after training though.

7. What are decent insurance options?
How much comes out of your pay a month for reasonable insurance? What should I negotiate or expect to pay? Any chances of 'no cost' insurance?

This one is all over the map, LOL. I don't get insurance through my trucking company, so not sure what the averages are.

 

[FlatBroke]

Hey Smkr, welcome to the forum!

You can also use this list created by OOIDA...

Company Driver, Interviewing the Interviewer - Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association

You can print it off, and add to it or take away what best fits you..Good Luck!

 

[patriciajnsn]

My answers are in black.

Answers are in black ?whats that mean?cmon larry lets hear your input this person may like what u have to say
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[the big bad trucker j]

This is a good one I will get to this one when I stop
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Smokr]

Hey Smkr, welcome to the forum!

You can also use this list created by OOIDA...

Company Driver, Interviewing the Interviewer - Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association

You can print it off, and add to it or take away what best fits you..Good Luck!

Yeah, this one should be stickied too!

 

[sdosser]

input on a dui

I am intrested in getting my cdl. But before i get to far i need to find out if i can get hired. I have two duis that are older than 7 years. Will any one hire me? Thanks for your input.

 

[Smokr]

I am intrested in getting my cdl. But before i get to far i need to find out if i can get hired. I have two duis that are older than 7 years. Will any one hire me? Thanks for your input.

Depends on the company. Most I've seen look back five years, some look back ten.
But with two, hard to tell, but ask a few recruiters and see what they say.
Remember, I'm a noobie, the experienced guys here will know more.

 

[the big bad trucker j]

With 2 dui no one out here will hire you
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[patriciajnsn]

I am intrested in getting my cdl. But before i get to far i need to find out if i can get hired. I have two duis that are older than 7 years. Will any one hire me? Thanks for your input.

Youre smart finding out firsthand before u invest money and time getting your cdl. There may be companies out there thatll give you a chance.First off yuo need to get off your compauter and start making calls.But with 2 duis itll be more difficult.But just dont give up keep on trying.Also companies usually have a qualification page.

 

[Smokr]

Forgot to mention, Saturday went to Radio Shack and got a web capable cell phone with data plan for $60 a month and got an aircard with unlimited internet useage for $100 a month. Phone and air card were free with contract.
Seems a good deal. The phone is very nice and is working well so far. I will plug in the aircard to my computer maybe tomorrow and see how fast the internet is.

 

[Smokr]

HA seems i can afterall! And the aircard is 5gb limited but phone is unlimited. Which stinks because 'adult entertainment' on a mobile phone lacks a bit of something lol
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[shrek]

Got several questions I think would be good for us newbies to have answered in a single thread...beside the usual "What is a good company" how about these to answer that question.

1. What is a reasonable/acceptable starting mileage?
If a company is going to make me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at, what should I immediately suspect as high-balling lies?

What I have come to learn it would be about anywhere from 1500 to 2500 miles a week paid anywhere from .28 to .32 cents per mile.

2. What is the per-diem and what is reasonable to expect or to negotiate for?

I still have a hard time with this, per-diem is the Irs way of saying what it costs to live in certian areas of the country per day, they have a book that tells the amount for every area, I used to get paid this but not anymore, so it will be my accountants job now!

3. How many miles should I expect once I go solo?
Again, if a company is making me an offer, what should I consider decent, what should I laugh at as too few, and what should I expect is over-estimating?

again most weeks are anywhere from 1500 to 2500 a week, Thats a rough number but you never know whats going to happen week by week.

4. What should I expect to have for daily expenses?
Down time costs like parking, internet, showers, etc.

Get you frequent fueler cards for every mojor truck stop and showers are free.
I take $100 with me every week for my expences, some weeks I have some left over some I dont, I just bought a 12volt cooler for the truck so Now i can have cold food in the truck. that helps with expences.

5. How long should I expect to be with a trainer OTR?
If a company tells me six weeks, is that about right? If they tell me two weeks, should I slip on the waders?

6 weeks is the norm.

6. What is a reasonable training wage while with the trainer OTR?
If they tell me I'll be making $500 a week, what should I think of that? What is a real-world figure?

It used to be around $250 a week, not sure what it is now.

7. What are decent insurance options?
How much comes out of your pay a month for reasonable insurance? What should I negotiate or expect to pay? Any chances of 'no cost' insurance?

Insureance is different with every company, With my last company I think I was paying $50 a week with good insurance and aflac.

8. If I don't get along with my trainer OTR, can/should I ask for a different one?
Or does this make me look like a wussy? How should I do such a request? Who do I make such a request to? What if he has such a pungent aroma that my eyes water so much I can't see the road and his answer to "when we gonna stop so I can shower?" is to ask, "shower?" Or what if he's smoking week or snorting lines or downing brews on the road?

Yes you can, but that dont mean you will be switched. I had a friend that went through school, got with a trainer and switched 4 times. Then quit went to a different company and still switched trainers twice.

9. What about log-fixing? Should I expect it or report it?
How much and what is acceptable, and what are the consequences of doing it?

Dont do it, report it, and you can get a hefty fine plus might have to take a reset.
your log is a legal document, If you are in an accident they go by that.
Also if its a bound log book do not rip out a sheet, DOT will ask what happened to it.

10. Should I get a cellphone or a laptop?
Yes and yes! Or at least a cellphone with a keyboard capable of internet so you can contact your office/router and have email access to do so as well, and to keep in touch with family friends.
A laptop is almost mandatory these days as well. Helps to send emails to your dispatcher as well as stay in phone contact, especially to remind him/her of upcoming days you'd like to be home and such. A laptop will also help during down time! Or...'up' time during down time...

I'm sure I'll add more, and you guys will throw a few to add as well, but that will do to start it.
Hopefully this will make a good sticky thread to answer many newbies questions instead of you guys having the same questions thrown at you over and over every week.
I really hope these will help newbies going in for those company interviews have things to ask to help them find a decent job/company.

I have two cellphones and a laptop, one cell is mine, one was given to me by my boss. I call my dispatch and call to the places I go(for directions).
I have never used my laptop to talk to dispatch, all that is over the phone.
I use my laptop for internet(when I get wifi) and for watching movies.

I hope this helps some!

 

[theiglookid]

Wi-Fi is not free in truck stops?

 

[bigyellowpete]

In rare case it is, but most of the big ones have a provider that charges for access.

 

[theiglookid]

can you pick up the wi-fi signal from your truck or do you have to go inside?

 

[theiglookid]

also how much do they charge for wi-fi on average?

 

[Cerberus]

The wifi comes from the bldg, so the closer you are the better it is. Downside is it is not really that strong and with alot of drivers on it, it can be very slow, very very slow. Its better to have service thru your phone company with an aircard or having one of their netbooks for service. Verizons netbook service is pretty fast.

 

[Racer X 69]

Forgot to mention, Saturday went to Radio Shack and got a web capable cell phone with data plan for $60 a month and got an aircard with unlimited internet useage for $100 a month. Phone and air card were free with contract.
Seems a good deal. The phone is very nice and is working well so far. I will plug in the aircard to my computer maybe tomorrow and see how fast the internet is.

Why would you purchase internet access with an aircard when you have a data plan on your phone? With the data plan on your phone you can tether it to your laptop and surf the web that way.

No need for both.