First Employer After Obtaining CDL

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BluesDude98, Oct 31, 2014.

  1. BluesDude98

    BluesDude98 Light Load Member

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    Jul 24, 2014
    Chicago, IL
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    How important is it to have a full year at your first employer after obtaining your CDL? I'm sure everyone has a WTF moment thinking "What did I get myself into?" or "This is it? This is what I signed up for moments."

    Besides really learning how to drive and handle dispatch assignments how should you be preparing yourself for bigger things. Dreaming of getting your own rig. I see some really nice stuff on the road. They must be making some really nice coin to support that kind of equipment. Or maybe be ready for a nice sweet gig at another company when it appears, but first figure out what a nice sweet gig is first.

    Some days are good and some days are just WTF.

    Any advice?
     
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  3. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    There's not awhole lot of drivers that complete a full yr with their first company.Its not real important unless you wanna find better companies that require a yr otr exp.But it is important to stay for a few months to get some exp.You as a new driver won't find that perfect company.You'll have to settle for starter companies and they're all pretty much the same in one way or another.I would shop around before taking the first company that prehires you.Every company has their flaws but some are better to drive for and and chances you'll stay there are greater then if you choose a company with a bad reputation from almost every driver.You'll get many good days and many WTF days but that's no reason to up and quit.Its all part of trucking to have your days.
     
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Don't let those fancy trucks outfitted with chicken lights and chrome fool you. A few of those drivers are successful, but not all. Are those you see working for their trucks or are their trucks working for them? Follow some of those drivers home to see where they live and the standard of living their familiy is going through. Are they working for the truck or working for the family? Is that fancy truck providing a good standard of living for the family or for the chrome shop owners family?

    Be a company driver for 3 or 4 years before becoming an owner-operator. Join OOIDA to learn the business end of being an owner-operator. Yes, you can be successful and still drive a fancy truck if you approach it as a business first. Keep your priorities in order; family first.
     
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  5. kiwi23

    kiwi23 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 29, 2014
    New Zealand
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    True there Bud ' The Good The Bad and The Ugly' comes to mind and somes up daily truck'in

    Don
     
  6. Sik_Life

    Sik_Life Medium Load Member

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    Saint Albans, WV
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    People stay with the first company for 1 year often to get their CDL training paid for. Then you have like another tier of companies that open up once you get 1 year experience. I wouldn't think of owning your own rig until later on if you decide that you like the industry and have a good understanding of the business.
     
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  7. McCauley

    McCauley Medium Load Member

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    Just speaking from my perspective as a newbie, I'm starting with a starter company in two weeks after doing a lot of research and having confidence that my starter company is the right choice for me. That being said, my goal is to end up with a good local or semi-local job somewhere in this country as soon as I can get one. Either a city driving job with a company like ABF or as a switcher for a railroad company or something of that sort.

    I will plan to drive OTR for my starter company for the year, or as long as it takes, but I will begin applying for the jobs I envision as the next stepping stone the day I acquire my CDL. Then I will apply to them all every 3 months thereafter. If I find myself lucky enough to land one of the next stepping stone jobs before my year is up with the starter, I will gladly pay the tuition out of pocket and I don't think it will be bad juju on my resume or anything.
     
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  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Those city or local jobs are out there for new CDL grads with companies like Reddaway.
    There's some off the grid jobs for tanker drivers if you look around; fueling aircraft at smaller airports or fueling train engines at rail hubs.
     
  9. Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    Hey BD, don't sweat it. There is not a job out there, or an employee out there who hasn't had those exact same thought from time to time. Put your head down and keep on working, and those WFT moments will pass. If they DON'T pass, then you will know something really is wrong. But there are bad days and good days. The longer you are in the job, the more good days and less bad days you will have!
    Dreaming is fine. Just remember that you have a life to live though, and you need to live it every day! I've known people who were so goal oriented that they went to their graves as extremely frustrated individuals. People who were quite intelligent and talented who just lost sight of the fact that your life is not made up of "what is going to happen in the future," but of "what is happening right now."
    I'm not saying don't plan for the future, that is an absolute necessity. Just don't subjugate your day to day living for some fuzzy future dream!
    To get ready for bigger and better things, the very best way to do that, is to do the job you are currently in to the very best of your ability. Talk to the folks you work with, (within and out of your company.) Other drivers are an excellent source of info. You just have to be able to separate the BS from the gold nuggets of wisdom! Use your common sense, and if someone is telling you about a job that is too good to be true. . .as I said, use your common sense.
    Your observation about figuring out what a "nice sweet gig is," shows a true level of intelligence and maturity on your part. Sometimes, you have to work for crap companies to appreciate the good ones. BTDT! I never regretted working for a rip off father son operation right after getting my CDL. That short, (2 months) job taught me just how bad some of these companies can be. Made me appreciate every employer that I worked for after that! Even some that were "less than stellar."
    You have it figured out right there. We will always have those WTF days, sometimes maybe even WTF weeks, and in very unusual circumstances WFT months. That is when you need to step back and try to take the long view of things. If you are working for what has been a good company, and they hit a rough patch, (and most of them will, outside of the megas which always suck anyway,) you need to be able to make your own decision about rolling with them through the rough patch, or abandoning ship and going elsewhere.

    OK, that is it for my FREE advice. Should you wish to pay for some more however, I take cash, certified checks or money orders only. No credit cards!:biggrin_2559:

    Good luck to you!

    (You may ask what gives ME the right to give advice. Well, I'll tell you, I DO!):biggrin_25511:
     
  10. Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    BE DARNED! Not to hijack the thread, but I never thought about how train engines get fuel. Guess they really can't just pull into a hook or TA, can they!:biggrin_25523:
     
  11. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    i didn't even know trains ran on fuel, I thought they ran on tracks😺
     
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