thinking of best method (Gardner: home, construction, schools) - City-Data Forum

Graham_Cracker · 03-06-2012, 12:54 PM

So I was going to go up there and just live in a tent and go hardcore to find work. But the more I look at stuff i'm thinking it may be best to wait a year and get a year of OTR for truck driving. Anyone know what would best choice for someone with no oil experience and such? Thanks for all the helpguys

Jonathanphilosophy · 03-06-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham_Cracker

So I was going to go up there and just live in a tent and go hardcore to find work. But the more I look at stuff i'm thinking it may be best to wait a year and get a year of OTR for truck driving. Anyone know what would best choice for someone with no oil experience and such? Thanks for all the helpguys

I would not recommend trucking. Trucking has no future and if you get into oilfield work or construction you have a skill to take with you. Truckers are a dime a dozen and in ten to fifteen years truckers will be all foreigners. Trucking is going the way of the busboy, Gardner and dish washer.
You have to remember you need to have a good year at least driving. We had a guy with 10 years driving perfectly, fell asleep, jackknifed and was fired. If you fall asleep and run off the road in your own car going home from your construction/oil/office job you won't get fired over it.
Plus the driving up there is construction, dirt roads, bad weather etc. You won't learn that driving up and down an interstate.
If you really want to do it, I would only do it if they will get you your CDL for free and train you, then go for it.

Graham_Cracker · 03-06-2012, 01:37 PM

Yeah the company i'm going to I'd I do will pay for it all for 12 months of commitment so

laina1980 · 03-06-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathanphilosophy

I would not recommend trucking. Trucking has no future and if you get into oilfield work or construction you have a skill to take with you. Truckers are a dime a dozen and in ten to fifteen years truckers will be all foreigners. Trucking is going the way of the busboy, Gardner and dish washer.
You have to remember you need to have a good year at least driving. We had a guy with 10 years driving perfectly, fell asleep, jackknifed and was fired. If you fall asleep and run off the road in your own car going home from your construction/oil/office job you won't get fired over it.
Plus the driving up there is construction, dirt roads, bad weather etc. You won't learn that driving up and down an interstate.
If you really want to do it, I would only do it if they will get you your CDL for free and train you, then go for it.

I am sorry but I highly disagree. Trucking is just as much a skill as other trades, it is something you must learn to do and follow a procesure to do it. To me, that's a skill!!

Graham_cracker, I think you know the best for yourself. If you want to be on safe side then take the free training offer, just remember though if for whatever reason something goes wrong with them, the payback is pretty hefty. You can be a loyal, hard-working person but sometimes it is the company who is in the bad and to me that is a high price to pay for commiting a year to them. But if you see they have good reputation then go for it!!! My husband almost went this route but I talked him out of it, the schools have great salespeople and sounds so tempting, but there is still that little voice saying not to do it. The other route is more my style if I was the one doing it(it is my husband,lol) but everyone is different and the best decision is always what your gut tells you is best...Good luck!!!

Jonathanphilosophy · 03-06-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laina1980

I am sorry but I highly disagree. Trucking is just as much a skill as other trades, it is something you must learn to do and follow a procesure to do it. To me, that's a skill!!

Graham_cracker, I think you know the best for yourself. If you want to be on safe side then take the free training offer, just remember though if for whatever reason something goes wrong with them, the payback is pretty hefty. You can be a loyal, hard-working person but sometimes it is the company who is in the bad and to me that is a high price to pay for commiting a year to them. But if you see they have good reputation then go for it!!! My husband almost went this route but I talked him out of it, the schools have great salespeople and sounds so tempting, but there is still that little voice saying not to do it. The other route is more my style if I was the one doing it(it is my husband,lol) but everyone is different and the best decision is always what your gut tells you is best...Good luck!!!

Fine, don't listen to the ex-trucker. When they fire you for the teensiest screw up (since they have a financial incentive to do so) after 10 months of work and hand you a bill for that free trucking school don't say I didn't warn you.
To be fair I didn't listen when people told me not to do it either.

Graham_Cracker · 03-07-2012, 02:21 PM

Jon you really dont help new drivers feel like there is a market in driving if your a driver yourself. My brother has been driving for 3 years now fine. My uncle did it for 15 years fine. I'm not sure if the reason your an ex driver is cause you got fired and now are jaded but please if you dont have anything constructive to say keep it to yourself. I'm trying to see my options as i have two little boys im trying to support and make sure they have a good life. Ty

laina1980 · 03-07-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathanphilosophy

Fine, don't listen to the ex-trucker. When they fire you for the teensiest screw up (since they have a financial incentive to do so) after 10 months of work and hand you a bill for that free trucking school don't say I didn't warn you.
To be fair I didn't listen when people told me not to do it either.

When I did research on truck driving for my husband, I read stories like this on a truckers forum. But most often the long time truckers would come in and say there is always more to a story of the ones who get let go from doing a driving error. Often they said, they were the drivers who had problems wherever they went.

Jonathanphilosophy · 03-07-2012, 07:33 PM

Go get a CDL and see for yourself.

laina1980 · 03-07-2012, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathanphilosophy

Go get a CDL and see for yourself.

You seriously need to get rid of that CDL I think it is ruining your life.
Let it go and find something that truly makes you happy.

itsMeFred · 03-07-2012, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham_Cracker

Yeah the company i'm going to I'd I do will pay for it all for 12 months of commitment so

Frankly, I'd be very careful about signing a contract in order to get your CDL.
The only hard part about a CDL is getting ahold of a truck for some driving time for practice, as well as to take the test with. You might want to explore other options first. My father in law, for example, got his CDL about 12 years ago by doing nothing more than driving the neighbor's truck/cattle pot a few times...