New Kid on the block

[GaConfederate]

I just want to say hi to everyone out here. I have been viewing this site and reading several message's now for several weeks. I want to say it seems to be a great group of people out here and that's what we all need these's days. I am total green to expediting or say to speak trucking at all. I am at a career burnout and wanting to pursue the trucking busy but am somewhat scared. I have been study the Ga manual on CDL but have convence myself that I should go ahead and go to CDL school due to every thing I read is 2 years over the road or fresh out of CDL school. I currently have a F-250 Superduty P/up and want to haul RV/Boats/Golf Carts etc. but have found out through the Ga System that you have to have CDL. I have a truck stop near by and have talked to a couple of Expeditor drivers and they somewhat gave me bad new's and good news. Well enough said so am out of here, but will take any suguess where pos/neg.

Warren aka GaConfederate

 

[Wild Bill]

Warren,

Welcome to Expeditersonline! We are a small but vocal group. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

With expediting it is either feast or famine. No inbetween. Its like anything else in life you only get out of it what you are willing to put into it. My first suggestion for you would be after you get your CDL i would sign on with a fleet owner for 6 months and see if you like it. Its easier to walk away from a truck as a driver than if you make the plunge right away and buy your own truck.

Good luck, hope to see more of you.

 

[Weave]

On the subject of buying a truck, let me tell everyone what a joke that is now. They say it's a buyer's market?? Yeah, the trucks are cheap, the banks just won't let you buy them!
Most banks are asking for 20% down payment. Even from me, with 3 years as O/O, perfect credit, etc. Few have that kind of cash on hand. I only needed 10% for my last truck and that was with no exp. as O/O.
I had to give up on Ft Wayne Kenworth. They could not offer any decent financing without a down payment that would send me into bankruptcy, and were unwilling to lower the price of the year old truck I wanted down to its current market value so the bank could finance it.
I am now trying to get into a 2001 Freightliner Columbia class 8. I have applied for a new loan through Mercedes (where my last loan was at). Am hoping they will go for 10% down. The longest term they will give on even a year old truck is 48 mos. So now it looks as though truck ownership will be reserved for large companies and the independently wealthy to buy as toys.
-Weave-