Thinking about getting my CDL ...

@Chinatown

 

I think you can get on somewhere. All of your issues are well behind you. The first year of trucking, it'll most likely be your lowest paying year. If you can tough it out for the year, the entire industry opens up and you'll be able to earn more for your experience. Then if you obtain your endorsements, that makes you more marketable.

 

You passed the DOT Physical, so you're good to go as long as you pass cdl school and a drug test.
Why don't you want a hair follicle test?
As for pay, you can expect between $55G - $65G your first year.
~
You don't need a terminal near you as long as you're in the hiring area. Do you have a place to park a rig nearby?
~
You won't need to supply 10 yrs. of employment. Most companies will want 3 yrs. and some maybe 5 yrs. The 10 yr. requirement is for current cdl truck drivers that are switching to another trucking company.

 

@xlsdraw drives for Leonard's Express and can let you know about the drug test. He lives in Winterhaven.
~
Home - Leonards
Recent CDL A Graduates have a home at Leonard’s Express.
We offer an 8-week training program that prepares you for a safe and successful start into the industry.
Leonard’s offers a cdl school tuition reimbursement program up to 10K.

 

I was in FL when I HAD to get into trucking. I could wait 5 plus months for a spot in the nearest Community College CDL program or got to a for-proft CDL the next Monday and start getting paid 4 weeks after.

The best thingbyou can do is research trucking companies and decide which one suits you best, NOT worry about which CDL school. You wouldn't focus on the cheapest, most convenient wedding chapel package and then hope to find the woman on your way to the venue. You would find tje woman first and work out the "wedding details" as they come up. CDL school is JUST TO PASS THE STATE EXAM. It's not Harvard, it's not getting in touch with a social network that will give you an inside track on jobs before anyone in the public learnscabout them. You need the research if your town has trucking opportunities that will give you a good life. If not, leave and live where the trucking opportunities are numerous. It's unrealistic to want to drive trucks where there are few trucking jobs, EVEN IF it is a dream or you liked a longbtrip you drove once.

Find the employer that matches your needs and then decide about your CDL. Some companies have their own school. Some companies only hire from SOME CDL schools with certain requirements. Half of the trucking companies that hire newbies offer Tuition Reimbursement in addition to paying wages. Never work for CR England or work on any trucking company's dollar tupe store account. If you jump into the industry with little research you will be quitting like 80-90% of 1st year CDL holders before 12 months experience. This research cannot just be done online. Make any company you are researching put you in contact with current working drivers doing the type of work you are trying to get hired for. Rural areas and FL are not easy places to find good trucking jobs. Not.much freight is produced in them.

 

The school you're considering, ICDS Florida Truck Driving School , is 120 hours. That's ok for many companies, but some want graduates from 160 hr. or even 200 hr. schools. Raven Transport in Jacksonville wants graduates from 280 hr. schools.

 

Heavy Equipment Transport
6585 Pickett Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32219
~
School reimbursment up to $2,000.
(For Drivers completing certified driver school)
70 mph vehicle speed

Paid Flatbed Training Available

 

Stevens is not a bad option to get into the industry.

Leonard's Express has their own affiliated school onsite in Farmington, NY.

 

Home - Premier Refrigerated Transport
Terminal in Zellwood, Florida.
PRT welcomes drivers of all experience levels including new graduates that would like to jumpstart their driving careers.
You can submit a resume for future consideration by clicking here.
~