Newb from Jacksonville FL

Leonard's hires from 160 hr. schools.
For the other companies I posted, call and ask which ones off the registry they hire from.

 

You'll be rolling soon in your new career.

 

Schneider veteran here.

Now, I haul fuel in South GA & north FL.

Welcome to the Forum!

"Keep your CDL squeaky clean" = "Don't hit anything" + "no traffic citations, or poor DOT inspections"

Basically...what type(s) of freight do you most want to pull? Flatbed (aka, "skateboard")/heavy-haul/multi-axle? Doubles (LTL)? Tanker (food-grade, or hazmat)? Reefer? Or something else?

Do you want to work local? Regional? OTR? Or "dedicated"?

If you are single & unattached--great!

Past that--trucking is rather hard (to say the least) on marriages/families/relationships (especially if you still have children at home).

Reverse that...if your significant other wants to/is willing to travel with you--& no children are in the picture.

I got into it (in part) because I'm single...with no dependents, or pets.

I broke things off with my previous girlfriend right after I got started.

Your first year/18 months will suck, pretty much no matter what you do.

It will suck significantly less....if you get your CDL on your own, via a school from the previous sources.

Are you a "loner"? Do you like to travel/work alone? Do you like staying/being alone for extended periods of time? Do you like the idea of visiting unfamiliar places--especially at odd hours? Do you like the thought of getting up every day, & not knowing for sure where you will stop/sleep for the nite? Do you REAL-LY like to drive? Do you like/thrive on unexpected challenges? Are you at least as patient as a grandfather clock?

If you answered "yes"...to most of those qtns--then WELCOME HOME!!!

Trucking will be a good "fit" for you.

If you answered "no" to half or more of those qtns--get out now, while you still have your dignity & self-respect.

Lastly--if you aspire to be an O/O someday (and...may God have mercy on your soul for that)...you should know now about USA TRUCK, & their "Drive Your Plan" program.

After you have been with USA TRUCK for a year, if you satisfy their criteria--you can then pick your own loads from a load board of theirs, & run when/where you want.

This pgm basically lets you train to be an O/O--without all the up-front responsibilities of that world.

It's the only pgm of its kind in the industry--of which I'm aware.

--Lual

 

These questions are usually asked in The New Drivers section. My first and strongest recommendation is to find the company you want to work for the first year BEFORE you decide about going to CDL school. I always say your goal should be stable career at a good company, not the cheapest/easiest/fastest way to get your CDL. I compare it to getting married. The goal in marriage is to find the right partner, not the cheapest, easiest, most convenient ceremony. The ceremony is over in one day. The relationship lasts years. Some trucking companies have their own CDL school. Some trucking companies only hire from certain CDL schools. Half of the trucking companies that hire newbies also pay Tuition Reimbursement (TR) toward your CDL school loan. Some of the companies with TR will only pay TR if you have an outstanding school loan. Meaning after you find your dream company and decide to go to ABC Trucking School, even if you have the money in your pocket to pay for school, take out a loan and use your employer's TR to repay the school loan. EVERY CDL school will find a company to supply a loan for CDL school. If your dream company has their own school, go to it even though it means a 12 month employment contract. If your dream company only hires newbies from 3 different CDL schools, go to one of them. If your dream company hires newbies from any CDL school with at least 160 hours of instruction (that's a common requirement) then go to the most convenient or least expensive one that satisfies your future employer. IMO, the single worst way to enter this industry is to sign up for a random CDL school or a trucking company's CDL school before you know anything about the industry and what type of trucking you want to work in. CDL school, in many cases is only 3 weeks long. It is ONLY meant to prepare you to pass your state CDL exam. You will learn how to do your job and all the practical aspects during your first 2 months at your first employer. You will ride with a trainer and learn the job by doing, under supervision. DO NOT CONSIDER CR ENGLAND and DO NOT CONSIDER LEASING A TRUCK FROM ANY OTHER COMPANY. CR England advertises so much online and everywhere else they seem to be the only company EVERY newbie is considering. They may be the worst company in the industry. Feel free to join everyone in The New Driver section.

Money for CDL Training

 

Heed the wise words of @tscottme

Additionally, I would add CRST to the list of companies to avoid. Avoid ANY company that requires signing a contract. Same goes for leasing. There's always an angle that favors the leasing agency and not the driver.

Good luck in your new endeavor.

 

USA Truck introduces Drive Your Plan company self-dispatch program – USA Truck (usa-truck.com)

And yes....USA Truck does hire newly-minted CDL owners.

--Lual