Cdl permit trying to find school or company.

First of all....take your time.

Since the job market is slow -- start out by doing some homework on what type(s) of freight might interest you the most.

Personally, I envy you. Why?

Your location is actually a pretty darn good one -- for several different types of freight.

My location? Not so much.

Once you figure out what freight is a better match -- ask relevant nearby carriers from what CDL schools they like to recruit.

Then apply to one of those nearby CDL schools.

-- L

 

In the meantime....while you are making these decisions (& yes, I had to figure all that out, as well....but I didn't have the luxury of this really cool trucking Forum to help me sort things out)...to later maximize your chances of success in the trucking world:

• If you are not married, stay single
• If you are presently childless, stay that way
• If you don't have any tickets or citations, do all in your power to avoid such. Pay careful attention to speed limit changes as you drive
• Stay out of any trouble with law enforcement (e.g., no DUIs, or drugs)
• If you don't already own a home -- don't buy one
• Be a company driver first, for a good while. Decide first if the trucking world is really for you, while on someone else's dime (i.e., don't buy or lease a truck anytime soon)

You did the right thing -- coming to this Forum for wisdom & advice.

There's A LOT of knowledge & experience here -- & good people who are willing to help.

-- L

 

Arguably the EASIEST way to get into trucking is to start out with dry van freight.

Dry van trailers offer the shortest & flattest learning curve, compared to any of the other trailer types.

That's why CDL schools typically only have dry van trailers in their fleets.

Obviously -- if you go to a flatbed school (like the one there for TMC)....those trailers will all be flatbeds.

-- L

 

Here's your sweetheart, Romy Schneider.

 

If you want to be a trucker, you'll have to discipline yourself and just get it done. There's another guy on here from Columbia, SC that's doing just that. Can't remember his screen name.

 

When I started, just the thought of punching a timeclock in a factory or some job like that, was my motivation to complete CDL school and hit the road. I like to keep moving around. I tried the factory work briefly, very briefly, and knew the routine at the same job and stuck in one place, would drive me crazy, so CDL school was the answer.
Went from dry van to reefers to flatbed, back to reefers and then to hazmat tankers. All those jobs were OTR because that was what I wanted and I made that clear when I applied for those jobs.

 

You're right about that. That's why I tell new drivers to apply to any company, ever if they think they won't be hired and that works sometime.