Trucking Industry/Future Career

Community College. I went to a private school to get my CDL, then about 3 years later got out of trucking for almost 3 years, so I had to do the whole "school" thing again. Went to a community tech school, and it was magnitudes above the private school.

Not saying that's true in all cases, but that was my experience, and I'd be willing to bet it is the general rule.

 

Community College is alot cheaper but may take longer. If you do it through a company, count on being with them for about 2 years. Whatever you do, stay at each company for at least one year as it will look good on your employment history and do not EVER leave a truck abandoned or you may never drive again. That means, when you quit (if and/or when you do) take the truck back to the terminal in a good state of cleanliness.

 

I am hands down in favor of the community college route. Getting college hours for the same thing is great. It looks good on a resume. Plus you don't owe your soul to the company.

Now, if those Delta boys (animal house) ever get a trucking school going, count me in.

 

When you first start out to get that all important one year under your belt, you will probably have to work for one of the large self-insured companies. If you have to do that anyway, maybe take a closer look at their in house system for giving them 1 year of driving. If it is too aggravating, i'm sure there is some sort of fee you would have to pay for quitting before your contract is up. However this could come out of the money they owe you. Just a thought.

 

I just go my CDL and am interested in teaming up with a private owner/operator in order to gain some experience and references. I would prefer someone going to New York from Texas and back on a regular basis, but any route will do (I just like driving). Willing to put in hard work for a while at a discounted rate. Any suggestions?

 

Don't take this the wrong way but I would never team with a bran new driver. I tried it once and could never get any sleep because co driver couldn't shift, and I was not comfortable with his driving. If you really want to team your best bet will be with a recruiter at a big company. One of the large reefer companies would probably be best for team and longer haul routes. Maybe try CR England, PRIME, Shaeffer, come to mind.

 

I would say the community college thing too with one caveat. Be sure to find a company that will hire you at 21 before you fork out the dough for classes. The reason most want you to be 23 is for insurance and if you don't have recent experience, most companies will want you to go back through school anyway. So, don't waste your money until you know you can get a job.

 

Why do some posters like to make their text so tiny?