Starting from 0 in Texas.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jaygoingwest, Sep 21, 2014.

  1. jaygoingwest

    jaygoingwest Bobtail Member

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    Sep 21, 2014
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    Hey there.
    My name is Jay and I would like to get started in this career in Texas. I drove from Dallas to Marfa in the summer and loved that drive. I saw a lot of work there and said to myself "I can do this!"
    I am new to the forum and going to research it more, but appreciate any pointers on where to start and what posts to read. I don't have a CDL yet. I have had a regular DL for about 15 years and a clean record.

    I would appreciate any guidance and words of wisdom.
    - Jay
     
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  3. Nuttinlikeanap

    Nuttinlikeanap Light Load Member

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    HI Jay

    What city are u in? I can help you with the school.
     
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  4. orangepicker

    orangepicker Road Train Member

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    florida
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    if your starting with zero money you may want to look at Steven's transport in Dallas
     
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  5. jaygoingwest

    jaygoingwest Bobtail Member

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    Sep 21, 2014
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    I am in Dallas. I am not necessarily starting with zero money, but I have seen offers where companies pay for your CDL course etc. Are those good offers? I am open to making an initial investment though, if that is a better way to do it.
     
  6. TracyN

    TracyN Light Load Member

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    Aug 7, 2014
    Texas
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    Jay, what do you want to do? Do you want to run OTR, drive in the oil fields, run local, etc? If you want to run OTR, then you can get on with a mega carrier and they will put you through school and pay you while you train. There are several good companies out there to start at. Prime, Schneider, Conway. Generally, if you stay with them for a year, then you owe them nothing for the school. If you want to run in the oil fields, then you can put yourself through school and there are several companies that will hire you if you just graduated from an accredited school.
     
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  7. Pahrump

    Pahrump Medium Load Member

    Best is probably to go to a school at your local community college,, If you can maybe get a job with a company working in their yard fueling and working with their maintenance shop,,oil changes etc..you can learn to drive around the yard,,I worked for a truck rental when I was 15,,I fueled and parked the trucks and did oil changes,,for 18 months I never left the yard but got real good at backing up etc,
    Many companies after you prove your self in the yard will assist you getting a CDL if you work for them,,If nothing else get you CDL learners permit on your own,,a learners card can be gotten by just taking the written test, going to a company like Stevens or swift you will work for slave wages to work off your commitment for their training,,,
     
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  8. Vintage

    Vintage Light Load Member

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    Mar 16, 2013
    Sea to Shining Sea
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    Amarillo college has a 3 week program it's affordable and they offer campus housing.
     
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  9. lcfd15

    lcfd15 Medium Load Member

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    Sep 17, 2014
    Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
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    I have been doing a lot of research on this as I am going to school here in January myself. Now if you go to your local community college you can use FASFA and the govt will pay for it and you get whats left over of your fasfa that is not used for that semester. The only reason I am not going that route is because I don't want to wait a 12 week semester to get something I can get in 3 weeks through a CDL school.
     
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  10. Pahrump

    Pahrump Medium Load Member

    I believe that a College CDL school will be looked at in better light than a big fleet CDL training mill.. Quality school rather than a volume training program to fill their seats with low paying jobs,,

    Back in the old days I got my license when I was 16 by paying $3 for a chauffeurslicense to drive a tow truck at a gas station,,a few years later it was automatically converted to a class 1 then to a CDL,,the only test I have ever taken was for my car license at 15 and when the CDL program was established I took a written test,,never took a road test in a big rig,,things have changed but years ago no one drove a simi unless they drove 6 or 10 wheel trucks first,,go to college

    There are many good paying driving jobs driving 6 and 10 wheel trucks,,Pepsi,Coca Cola,,Propane gas,,home heating oil. Penske truck logistics .food delivery companies like Sysco,
    Best OTR jobs are with private carriers transporting the products they make, don't narrow you job hunt to OTR,,OTR trucking is not a tourist sight seeing job..
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2014
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  11. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
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    Might consider Stevens Transport, Dallas (company driver) and their training program if reefer hauling might be of interest to you. You might see the tomato hot-house facility north of Marfa as I know I've seen their trucks in there in the past.
     
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