WooHoo!

It does have to be a full 24 hours though. The rules are actually quite clear on that, and you have to provide proof. So if you check in at 3pm and check out at 10am like most motels, you wont have your required 24 hours.

 

I have noticed that the CDL job market seems markedly better in the Chattanooga & Nashville areas.

Maverick Transportation hires new CDL grads there; this appears to be a great opportunity, given the current somber job market:

Student Program | Maverick

-- L

 

Because of a few reasons but the most important is this - you need to pay attention on how you are going to learn how to drive a truck. Getting your CDL is just one step, you need to focus on that. If you worry about the taxes and other things, you will not spend the time learning.

Is it important?

Not really, you are living in the truck so if you do this right, you will have more money to pay the taxes and then in your second year, you can focus on living in different places.

 

I can not speak for @Ridgeline reasons for saying such, but unless you have absolutely zero ties to the area, I would not consider moving until you've been in the driver's seat for a while, unless possibly, you can land a local/home every night gig, but even then I probably wouldn't.

If you go OTR that will be a monumental change, in your life, your loved ones lives, even a pet. No matter how well you think you and your loved ones are prepared to deal with that change, you aren't. I had a great support system when I started driving, and the job still almost tore relationships apart. After being gone for 2,3,4 or however many weeks at a time you will need/want a constant to come back to, both for you and your S/O, if you have one. If you are married or in a long term relationship imagine moving to a place where neither of you know anybody, anything about that place then telling that person "Gotta go, see ya in a month".

This is a field that seems to chew up and spit out more than it retains. The hours can suck, the weather can suck, the traffic DOES suck. I think it kind of has to be something that's in your blood to keep doing it year in, year out.

Don't get me wrong, I know I spout doom and gloom, and it ain't all that, there are great parts too, but until you are in it for some time I would minimize the number of gigantic changes you make to life outside of trucking, and moving to new area would count, taxes or not. Now if you are in Crook County and want to get out and over to Will, DuPage or something like that I can't say that would be a bad thing.

 

@Chi Town Steers is a seasoned Air Force veteran and used to moving around frequently.
Many companies will put him to the top of the hiring list, because he's a military vet.

 

To Suspect Zero's point: carriers in the flatbed sector will much more likely have you back home weekly.

Other sectors of freight will pretty much expect you to live in the truck -- & be gone for weeks at a time.

Best of luck....

-- L

 

Hey bro, the man stated that he has 34yrs in. The air force! I imagine he knows what it's like to be away from home for long periods. Don't you?

 

Gawd no I'd imagine. You ever play with one of those camel spiders?

 

Also: given the bad current CDL job market, & other factors -- if you are (still) serious about a career in trucking -- DO NOT move to:

• Florida
• California
• the far northeast (Maine, NH, etc)

-- L