CDL Student here - Am I on the right track?

First off go to a good trucking school. Don't go to one of these $4k schools that crams you to a CDL in 4 weeks because you'll have the license but you won't know squat about how to actually drive a truck and a lot of companies won't hire you. Find a reputable school that has a good 8 week program where you get to do a lot of actual on the road driving and on the lot practice for maneuvering and backing. I'm about to graduate from a really good 8 week program in NC coming from a background where I had zero experience with trucks. There's no way 4 weeks is enough unless you have some background and already know how to double clutch. I know people do it but it certainly isn't the best way and you don't get as much for your money. The program I'm about to complete is through a local community college and only cost $1200 so shop around for the best over all deal. I'm going with Magnum. Good pay, nice trucks, and a good overall program from what I've read studying up on them. They had a recruiter at our school and one of the previous graduates that works for them now stopped by the school with his truck. Heading out to ND in a week or so to get started. Good luck with whatever you decide. If you've never had any experience with trucks just try not to get too frustrated in the beginning because it's pretty easy for that to happen. Just stick with it and it will come together for you.

 

I forgot to tell you that if your interested in a company call them and ask if they hire graduates from ABC driving school.? Some carriers don't hire grads from some driving schools. Do that before you sign up for truck driving school. No sense in wasting time and money .

 

Watkins and Shepherd out of Taylor, Mich, near Detroit. 48 states, maybe Canada. Their website describes their freight. One of the companies Chinatown recommended for my son but we live on other side of state, unfortunately.

 

I'm fixing to find a driving school too and i've heard mixed messages about them.

All schools are for is to get your cdl and a job quick.

Find a school with a long in depth program.

Find the cheapest one.

Go to a community college type class.

So honestly which one would be best?

 

Unless you have some money saved or don't need a lot of it I would go the route that gets you a job the quickest. Experience is the best teacher and it's all good to tell someone they need a 3 month long school and a 2 month long training program at their first company but if you're needing money then that won't work. Most people come to trucking as a last resort so I assume that's where you are. Don't let companies tout the length of their training programs because in reality it usually is just an excuse to move freight very cheaply. Trucking isn't as hard as some would believe and while you do need some training you don't need to overdue it.

If it was me, and it was once, I would go to a CDL mill and a company with a short training program so you can get your own truck and make a decent paycheck.

 

Hey man, Im also 27 and lived in Michigan for a few years. I actually train drivers for Werner, and I get to meet guys from all the other starter companies all the time. My last 3 students came from CR England...

Im sure you've heard of CSA scores... US Xpress, Swift, CR England, Stevens... they are all reckless hellholes. Avoid All of them like the plague. If you need funding to get your CDL, local schools will be more than willing to help you out. Dont underestimate the helpfulness of small local CDL schools.

If you can get with Crete, I have seen first hand that they are an awesome company. But they are really strict about hiring. They rented me a car, put me up in a great hotel, and fed me good food. They also pay really really well, almost twice what CR England pays.

That said, Schneider is the safest company for new drivers, they are in the top 15% of CSA scores... the other starters are all in the bottom 15%... except for Werner.

I started with Werner, and its a very average company, except the trucks are really good. Werner has an average CSA score, which kinda puts Werner in it own category of starter company. They arent too bad, they arent the best, but they wont treat you anything like CR England or Steven, or US Xpress. Werner is a safe haven, if you cant get with a company you really like, Werner will get you a reasonable paycheck and some experience. Always always always apply to Werner as a backup. If you ever need work, they will get you a job within the week. There is a reason Werner is twice the size of CR England and has a CSA score 3 times better.

I personally went to US Xpress orientation, and they treat you like animals. One woman was about to piss herself after hours of waiting in line for a physical, the medical guy chased her down the hall yelling "Then you are disqualified!". At Werner, orientation is pretty quiet... no lines except the first 15 minutes of day one. Werner isnt the best company, but they are more than reasonable if you need to get experience. I look back fondly at the first few months I spent with Werner in that black Cascadia... it got me out of a really bad place in life.

I got with Werner over 2 years ago, because they were the only ones who would take me. They have always given me a paycheck, and even on my very worse week...I made more than $250... by a nice margin. A bad week is $400, a good one is $800... starting. After you get experience, you can get dedicated runs, and it just gets better overall. After 6 months, I was making enough that I didnt need to move. I routinely make a grand a week... but Im also dedicated and I moved so I could be on the account I wanted.

So if you dont get with Crete or Schneider, get with Werner. There is absolutely no reason to go with any company worse than Werner. Even Werner's worst account pays 29 cents per mile... thats equivalent to $14.50 an hour... if you only average 50mph. If you get up to 38cpm like I make, and can average 60mph like I do... its $22.80 an hour.

So Werner is a great backup if you cant get with a really good company like Crete, or a really safe one like Schneider. Schneider has about the same kind of trucks as Werner, and the same pay. They just have a really good CSA score. Crete just pays the best...