Yes, drivers make good money. Some companies don't pay nearly as much as others. You can find pretty much whatever you are looking for. If you want to handle freight, find someone who allows drivers to "lump" their loads. This can pay very well, my job pays me from $120 to $200 to unload, depending on how many boxes are on the truck and other variations. Some companies will offer "no touch freight, where you pay someone else to unload, or "drop and hook", where you take a full trailer somewhere and pick up an empty one to go get your next load. A driving school is going to charge quite a bit of money to train you, I would look for a company that offers training themselves. If you have a CDL, you can always get a job driving a truck. The pay will vary according to the company and how much experience you have as well as what kind of job you are doing, e.g. cross country runs typically don't pay as much as "short haul". You can get jobs where you are home with your family every night or every day, or you can be gone for 5 days and have weekends off, you can be gone for months at a time if that is what you are looking for. You will never have a job that you love that much or hate that much, or a job where you are so free and so restricted at the same time. It is hard to leave your family to go out on the road, and it gets old to fight traffic every day. It is not fun to have to deliver in New York City in the middle of the afternoon. At the same time, you can see a lot of this country and get paid to do it. I have seen some beautiful places that I would not have gotten to see otherwise. I've seen everything from the Everglades to the Pine Barrens to the Mojave Desert, and each kind of place has its own kind of beauty. Probably the worst drawback is that you have no regular schedule. Sometimes you will have to drive all day and other times you will have to drive all night. Ask a hundred people this question and you will get a hundred answers. Get all the information you can before you hire on to a certain company. Ask drivers what they like and don't like about the company they are working for, and decide for yourself what you want and what company would fit your needs the best. Good luck and best wishes.
2006-08-12 13:50:02
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answer #1
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answered by leadfoot126 4
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You should check it out.
I read an article yesterday saying that some truck drivers can make $100,000 a year if they are willing to be on the road for weeks at a time
CONS
Dangers on the road of crashing or falling asleep at the wheel
Lonely - many truck drivers use prostitution and live dirty lives
Boring
If you have a wife and kids they may not like you being gone so long
PROS
You pretty much get to make a schedule how long you want to be away from home
If you love driving and traveling and the open road then you'll love it
Potential to make alot more than you would think a truck driver would make.
Easy to get started just take classes get certified and licensed.
LOTS of hiring opportunities - not hard to find jobs.
Don't know anything about the weight
2006-08-12 14:44:15
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Some companies will pay for someone to get training. Other companies, will hire people directly out of truck driving school.
But before you decide to get hired on by one of the firms, here are some things to find out. Bear in mind, you might have to pay your dues with one of the worst truck driving companies in order to get a really good job, since the better truck driving firms will usually want a person with experience.
I do security work where I inspect incoming and outgoing trucks and have met workers from all over.
Some things to consider
Some runs (deliveries) will be local and you will be home every night.
Others will expect you to take a run at the last minute.
usually most places (other than Fed ex and small box deliveries) will have a forklift driver load and unload your rig. But you will be expected to back the truck into a dock which may have just a few feet of clearance to move a 36 48 or 52 foot trailer (or some other length).
You will need some physical strength to open and close the doors and to secure the doors on the outside of the rigs.
Are you willing to be away from home for long periods of time. Some companies may expect you to be gone from home for several days. You drop a load in one state, pick up a load and go to another delivery.
- There are usually delays while you are waiting for dock times. If a company expects a delivery at 6 pm, you want to be there early and they won't have the shipment ready until 6pm (these deliveries are based on the parts coming off the assembly line and the delivery is timed for this, and the place receiving it will be in a hurry for the parts).
A big factor to consider is, a lot of times, you will arrive at the location the night before for a 6 am pickup or delivery and the place cannot let you drop off because it is closed (they have to have a shipping receiving clerk and a unionized fork truck person scheduled when you arrive).
Also, if you have to stay overnight someplace, where will you park your rig? You may not be able to park at that company's location (we are not allowed to let a driver stay on premises)
When you are home, where can you park your semi. Your municipality may not be set up for this. I know our town is not and feels it is the semi driver's responsibility to figure out a rental space.
As far as pay, some get paid by the mile, others get paid by the load. While others only get paid for transporting a load.
A big factor to find out: do they pay for empty runs. You may have a load only one way -- will they pay you for gas and wages when you are empty? Do they pay you when you are not on the road and having to wait for a load (sometimes you may have to wait a couple of days someplace).
Good question, but I'd check out these factors before signing on with any truck driving firm. I have no idea on pay, though. Sorry!
2006-08-12 13:31:40
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answer #3
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answered by Searcher 7
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You could be a freight driver and possibly unload your own truck or you could drive large machinery or supplies and you just sit and wait.
It's easy if you don't have a family and you don't mind traveling all over and sleeping in the truck. Sleepers usually are very expensive.
If you're in a union you can make about $20 an hour but be salary.
One bad thing is that it can be hard on your body. Awake for long hours and sitting for long hours. If you're in a company truck that isn't really taken care of, if can really hurt your back.
2006-08-12 13:21:00
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answer #4
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answered by stowchick01 3
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My husband use to drive a truck; it is good money as long as you are moving but if you sit for any length of time you don't get paid. But I think the bad part of it is you miss out on family stuff and have a normal life. The good is you get to see places you may not normally see.
2006-08-12 13:18:41
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answer #5
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answered by Chelle 1
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you may desire to continuously stay at your first trucking interest for a 12 months, with that being pronounced, that's a lot extra suited to pay for the college out of your pocket rather than a settlement. you need to have an thought what the trucking existence style is like yet you somewhat do not know till you reside it. some human beings might determine they only will not be able to do it and those adult men would be caught with a surprisingly hefty invoice. besides, the employer paid companies do not ought to do something to maintain you - it rather is somewhat of their superb pastime in case you default by using fact they have yet another guy waiting on your rig. Paid for a private college after which pass with a employer that has classes reimbursement, have the employer pay you for staying with them. close by is the superb by using fact maximum human beings desire to be residing house a minimum of as quickly as a week. The international many times will pay extra by using fact you may desire to have the right credentials like a passport and generally hazmat. stress risk-free, Tanya Bons
2016-10-02 00:17:54
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answer #6
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answered by ? 4
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Research truck driving companies on the internet. Some will provide you with schooling. They are a great resource for getting your questions answered.
2006-08-12 13:17:56
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answer #7
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answered by sky 1
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I sure hope you don't speak like you write.
2006-08-12 13:20:52
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answer #8
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answered by Edward F 4
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