Where do new CDL graduates typically go right after getting their CDL? Small or large carriers?

I haven’t gotten my permit yet but from my own experience I have been looking more so at the larger carriers because they tend to offer the CDL training programs. They also are the most in your face when you first start looking, I know I have had to do more digging to find information on the smaller carriers.

 

I went to Western Express after getting my CDL. It was fine as an opportunity to break into the game. Just about everyone on here most likely broke in with a large carrier so I'm a little puzzled by the poll. Some people get lucky and get on with a small carrier, but that's few and far between. Small carriers that hire students are almost nonexistent, if existent at all.

 

Large carrier all the way. New guys need at least a month, probably two, with a trainer. Few small companies are going to do that.

 

yeah, I was going to say I have been researching for a while on CDL training offered by carriers and most people I have seen or talked to started with a big carrier. From what I have seen the smaller companies don’t offer anything like that. I mean there could be some that do but I haven’t come across them.

 

Even with the large carriers, when I started there were way more options to get started, even for large carriers. So many companies that hired students when I got started are long since out of business, or they scrapped their training program. After the pandemic, when the freight recession occurred, it really thinned out the opportunities for new drivers. Companies are picky now.....you almost have to be a perfect citizen to even get an opportunity seemingly.

 

I remember when that happened and a bunch of them went out. I know Yellow shut down in 2023, they had bought out the company that my grandfather worked for Roadway back in 2009. They had a training program I believe. Companies are definitely very picky nowadays I have seen, which I don’t think is okay. I am lucky to be pretty clean record wise, never had an accident, and have only gotten one ticket when I was 19.

 

I remember when Roadway got bought out. Right when i got started I think. If the freight was to pick up, then magically companies will get less picky lol. I can understand the pickiness somewhat though. They don't want irresponsible drivers and unsafe drivers out here. These companies have used this opportunity to clean up their act some. You're like me, 1 ticket ever. Mine was almost 18 years ago.

 

Companies will always back off how picky they are once they need stuff done 100%, I worked in customer service for 10 years they were very picky until they needed jobs done they did not have people for. I get the pickiness too to a point, you can’t hire drivers who may do something dangerous, etc while on the road but I think they could stand to let some things slide. I know I spoke with at least two companies who didn’t like that my work history was spotty even though I had explained to them why I had those and they were legitimate. And some of them definitely needed that cleanup, I have heard some horror stories from my grandfather over the years.

 

Oh I agree totally that they could let things slide. Just because one has a pristine work history, doesn't mean that company, or even the industry as a whole will be a fit. So many people become disillusioned so quickly and that's why they leave. At least you have some trucking pedigree in your family so you're not totally blind to the industry like many new drivers are. They just see the open road on TV and that's all they illusion they need.