Just getting my feet wet for now.

Good luck! I too was considering truck driving as a career (for the past 5 years to be exact), then, 12 hours ago, after years of pondering and research, I enrolled at my local training center and should now have my Class A CDL in the beginning of March. One bit of newbie to newbie advice I have is to just know what you're getting into. From what I've read, there are lots of people who don't understand what this career entails and that results in the high turnover rate in this industry. I hate to think about all the guys who invest so much time and money into something only to realize it ain't their cup o' tea. Anyways, once again, best of luck to you!

O&O,

Zero

 

Yes , stuff has to get from point A to point B . Here's the problem . In today's economy a lot less is getting moved . Use a little logic here . Newspapers shut down . The trucks that brought the rolls of paper in lose work . Housing construction has dropped . Trucks hauling building materials lose work . Manufacturers concentrate liquids and half as many trucks are needed to haul the product . How many LCD TV's can go on a truck compared to older type TV's ?
Just about every large carrier has reduced their fleet in recent years . Less trucks but always running people through orientation .
Why is that ? Not because they are getting new contracts and adding trucks . They are always hiring because people are always quitting .

 

Hey gentlemen,
I too contemplated getting my CDL for a very,very long time. I'm now 41. I had absolutely no problems passing my CDL testing, in fact was the highest in my class of about 15. I then went to work for Steven's Transport. I won't drone on about how I was treated there, let's just say after a week of listening to the "Redshirts," and being put in a truck with a "trainer" that had absolutely no business being behind the wheel of a Big Wheel let alone a big rig, I Quickly and happily got out of his truck and let him finish his own delivery in California.
I came back to the Denver Metro area, CDL in hand, and now, a full year later, cannot find a driving job anywhere because of a lack of experience.
Anyone have any ideas about how I can get back in a truck wth my limited experience??

 

driving aint easy. Im scared my compnay is going to let me go. contracts are drying up it seems every day. when i first started it seem like there were more freight to me. thought about getting my own truck, but scared i wont make the payments and be able to keep up on the truck repair with the fuel costs rising.

 

Have u looked at local jobs, dump trucks or day cabs?

 

My feet also used to get wet, ..........

try shooting a higher arch !!!

 

Not be say your old, but at 57 years old, this could be a different type work than you are used to. I don't know what your health is like but i know as you get older health issues comewith it. I look at my pop, when he hit his 50's hewent to hell with sugar anbd heart issues. By the time he was 60 he was done with trucking. It's rough out there, my father in law lost his job 2 years ago at age 57 after being there over 35 years. He was making decent money for a high school grad, 90k a year and couldnt find a job until recently. went from 90k a year to less than 30 k. Once he found a job my mother in law lost her's. she was a boss at company making about 75 to 80 k a year. At 59 years old no one wants to hire her, regardless of her experience or qualifications. thank fully they have their house paid for and cars too. beause they have had to change their lifestyle a lot. I was worried they would end up moving in with us, which meant I would stay on the road a hole lot more.

 

Thanks for the reply. Here locally, in Denver anyway, Just about every single company requires at least a year of experience. That's if they are hiring. I've looked at recycling plants, trash companies, food delivery and state job boards. No dice. Also, sorry I posted a reply to your question, I'm new to the forum also.