I recently graduated with a cdl b w/airbrake and tanker endorsements. Plan on getting my hazmat as well. My dilemma is that I’m finding it difficult just getting my foot in the door with smaller companies due to my lack of experience driving a commercial vehicle. When I look at job listings I try to find ones that say urgently hiring. There seem to be very few that say driving school counts as experience.
To be clear, I’ve had 3 companies reach out to me about jobs, but they weren’t really what I was looking for. 2 were garbage companies and the last was a propane company. The propane company was a weird one because you need hazmat and 2 years of experience for that position, but they said they’d train. I want experience driving non-hazmat before I even consider hazmat due to the dangers of the job, plus I don’t even have my hazmat endorsement yet. Either way, they’re an hour commute so it was an easy pass.
I’ve applied to a flower company and a restaurant company and am waiting to hear back. There’s another produce distributor I’m looking at as well.
My question is, practically all of the job listings I’ve looked at say they want 1 year of cmv experience. But how am I supposed to get experience if no one will give me a chance? I know there’s insurance liability issues with new drivers so I understand that. I’ve even looked at non-cdl positions as that appears to be another option. The job listings I have saved say something like ‘1 year of driving experience preferred.’
I guess I’m confused as to the supply and demand part of the driver shortage. There’s thousands of trucking jobs available and a driver shortage, but the hiring appears to be hamstrung due to companies wanting experience. It’s a bit circular but I get it.
Any advice you experienced drivers want to give? Or is the simple answer for me to stop being so picky?
Getting your foot in the door as a new driver
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by HankScorpio, Jul 2, 2023.
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WELCOME TO THE INDUSTRY
Getting my CDL was one of the BEST things that ever happened to me. I will say that getting into a larger mega company first is reccomended. Get your 90 days - 120 days (3-4 months) of OTR and then look for a local gig. What I have found is that most companies want a min of 3-6 months for what you are looking for. Especially if you plan on using your tanker and hazmat.
BEST OF LUCK !!!!tscottme Thanks this. -
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Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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