Dock to driver or 4week cdl school..

The dock to driver will be a better CDL education that should come with a lot more 'hands on practice' than any CDL school.

The more time you get behind the wheel while suffering the criticism from the others and actually listening when that feedback starts with 'try it this way' or 'why don't you let it', the better.....those coments are going to be worth a lot more than any 4 weeks of just learning how to pre-trip and pass the CDL road test.

A good LTL driver has to back up constantly all day long. I used to get groups of school grads that Matlack put thru 6 more weeks of school located at an old airport using tanks 1/2 full of water and 'supposedly' stressing backing.

Maybe one of 20 could actually back up! I took every bunch to our railyard and had them drive around in some 'real world' situations. we had two tracks together and a short third track with a crossing and space between the 2nd and 3rd tracks. every one could drive up turn left over the crossing and turn right to sraighten out in the short end of the yard. They all had trouble backing down along the 2nd track watcing them try and back up about 1/4 of a mile. none could do it.....

Getting paid to learn, even if dock work is a real grunt job, with the availability of some hands on learning, makes 'Ole dum Indian' a great choice....

 

Hey I'm an "Ole dum Indian" I think I should apply to OD.
Well I'm ¼ Indian and then Irish.... wait a minute I don't think I'm helping my situation.....
Irish/Indian loving whiskey is a awful stereotype.....accurate yes......but still a stereotype.
And stereotypes are bad.

 

Dude you are getting a foot in the door at one of the best employers in the industry. If they asked you to eat your pet, I would consider doing it. Once you have a year or two of CDL driving at a premier company, you can always choose to get a worse job later. Your CDL school doesn't really count for much after you get some years under your belt. I recommend you grab the opportunity and don't look back. You may decide you don't want to do P&D later, but it pays well and you should have pretty regular hours, like a regular job, which will make home life much easier. There is no good reason not to seize this opportunity. I'm VERY risk adverse. The only possible downside is if you live too far from the terminal/yard for a daily commute. 2 years of employment at ODFL and you can work for almost anyone, anywhere.

 

ODFL has other positions you can transfer into if you don't like P&D. P&D will make you a "backing pro" and get you used to city driving. Just focus on NEVER getting a ticket and NEVER hitting ANYTHING. NEVER, not even a tiny one. Most newbies just assume they will get several of each. I don't know what world they are living on. Drive like any ticket or any accident is a death penalty and you will have a MUCH MUCH smoother career than the newbies that show up with multiple excuses why hitting some stuff and getting some tickets is just a part of doing business. I don't understand their attitude, but it matches how many of them operate. SMH

 

You are going to see LOTS of drivers that will make you question if this a career for you. You can be as professional and respectable as you CHOOSE to be. ODFL is a great place to be a clean and respectable driver. I briefly worked for them when they bought out a company I used to work for near Nashville. Don't sink to their level, your life will be much easier than theirs. Treat everyone like they will be your boss one day and avoid the complainers.