Hello from Utah!

Hi people,

I've been on this forum for a couple of days now. For the most part, people on here have been incredibly helpful. A good support system is always extremely valuable to have. It's great to be able to get on here and get such a wealth of information.

I'm 25 years old, went through EMT school a couple years ago but haven't been able to land a job with it. Currently work at a pawn shop. I love my job more than anything and would love to open my own store someday. However, at the moment, I have some debt I'd like to pay off, and only make about $520 every two weeks, so I'm getting into trucking.

I've always loved driving, and loved traveling. Left home when I was 16 and left my home state at 18 and have been bouncing around since. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the road and experiencing what trucking has to offer. Trying to not have any expectations and just take the good with the bed. I've applied at Swift and may go through their training program, as opposed to taking a loan for $7000 to go through a driving school. I'd like to pay my dues, see what my first year brings me and learn as much as possible. I think eventually I'd like to get a regional route.

Aside from EMT schooling, I'm also very much into martial arts, boxing, and I'm a musician and a gamer. Feel free to say hi!

 

Thanks! So far I've inquired with Stevens and Swift. Prime does sound excellent and I'll certainly look into them as well. Aren't they based in Wisconsin?
I think my life experiences will make living OTR a bit easier. I've lived in my car and a van before.. A Cavalier to be exact and I'm 6'1". It sucked, but I made the most of it. The insides of the trucks actually look very cool. I appreciate you thinking I'd make a good trucker. I've been terrified at the thought of quitting my current job to do the schooling.

Have you been a driver for a while? What's your experience been like?

 

Oh wow. Yeah, my girlfriend advised me to get my hazmat as soon as possible. Definitely sounds like a good investment. I did some hazmat training when I was going through EMT school so hopefully that'll come in handy.

I think in the long run I would prefer regional, but the consensus seems to be that you need to put in your time OTR, which I'm willing to do... Would it be wise to let companies know I'm willing to do team while I put my time in?

On my applications, I had one charge when I was 19 which was dismissed out of court but I still include it just in case and a conviction for fighting in my juvenile years and I disclose that as well. For my address, I've moved around way too much but always used the same mailing address over the past few years so I just use that one.

Also for employment history I'm honest about my times there and such, I've always left on good terms and all of my jobs can provide good references. However, I don't bother including 2nd part time jobs that I had while I had my primary job. Is this a mistake? I'm a bit nervous now.. What all do they do to check employers and such?

Right now I'm only making $520 or so bi-weekly, so I'm sure I'll be happy with what I end up making in the beginning. A lot of drivers say the pay is crap but I think the parameters for what kind of pay is crap/good is very subjective 50k does sound very, very nice though!!

But yes I'll definitely pursue tanker and hazmat as soon as I can!