Getting started on the basin as a recent CDL grad with limited funds

don't know about your state but I got my CDL in tx by getting my permit and then renting a CDL truck. cost me about $500 total.

at the least you can get your permit. check your states DMV website to find out how.

I can say with near certainty you will get a job faster being local and no school than you will being out of state w school. plus there are tons of non CDL jobs available. most companies will want to interview face to face locally. some will do remote interviews but that limits your options and increases your competition which defeats the benefit of having the CDL.

3-5k for school will get you a CDL or a job in the oilfield but not both. I bought a travel trailer.

 

not going to say this won't happen but you need to think about what you are bringing to the table and your competition. these are jobs many people are trying to get and if you want them its going to take sacrifice or struggle. right now you are describing a pretty unlikely scenario.

 

I'm not too familiar with the oil basins and the jobs available for rookies, so cant really give advice on that. I am a family man with kids and considered the North Dakota route when I first got my license,but the risk wasnt worth the reward for me. Best of luck to you! I can tell you though that Trainco is a good school and you wont be disappointed with them. Depending on your job situation there is a lot of funding through MiWorks to get it paid for. At least there used to be

 

I was trying to think of a good way to say the same thing. Very hard to do without an inside contact.

 

I went otr for the first year or so, just because i had to. It was a hard job with a family but i went into this job knowing i had to sacrifice for a while. I got a great semi-local job now that pays awesome, so it has paid off for me

 

I was just reading a couple of other threads about this basically same topic that some ppl were talking about looking into oilfield jobs, and they took a trip to where they were looking to go., talked to some ppl, checked out the housing issues. One decided it wasnt for him and another left with a couple of job offers. Sometimes it is worth the investment of a plane ticket and couple of days in a Motel 6 to make sure you dont make a major move and spend all your money to get to a place, find out its not what you expected, and have no way to get out. You are doing the right first step and getting advice from people that have been in same situations, but sometimes you have to see it face to face to make that final call.

 

ok. you might not like this but here is my suggestion and feedback...

you have a decently paying job with a good company and you are single w no dependents.

why do you have no savings? you don't need to tell me that but you need to answer it for yourself. 40k a year for yourself there is no excuse to be in the situating you are describing.

so why can't you get the CDL and save for a few months? stop living paycheck to paycheck. reduce expenditures.

have you inquired about training through FedEx?

40k plus a second job and you are looking at about what you will make irst year driving in the oilfield with more than likely a better quality of life and you have an established base.

Ps: I got my CDL without ever driven a truck previously.