Total career change for me.

Put where you live in your profile...general area not specific if you chose...will help others help you.

 

Well what do you wanna do?
Van, tanker or flatbed
Do research on each

Forget about endorsements, get the CDL first before worry about anything else.
I went to CDL school that I paid for, it wasn't a cakewalk.

 

You have a lot of options in that area...do your research and take your time. This forum is a great place and will help you a lot.

 

Get ALL your endorsements. IMHO best if you get them the same time you get your CDL. More endorsements mean you have more options and can make more money. I had bad advise when I got back in this industry last year and only just today got my endorsements while on home time.

School: if you can afford it pay for your own school. This will give you more flexibility where you work and what commitments you will be under. If you elect to have a company pay for or reimburse your schooling then bear in mind you will have a period of time that you will be working for less than you could have made elsewhere, or be on the hook if you bail early.

 

A 160 hr. CDL school or longer will prepare you for more options in trucking companies. The shorter schools are OK and you will find a job but there are more offerings with the 160 hr.+ schools. Get all the endorsements, TWIC, passport. Having all these will put you in the jobs paying $50K-$65K right out of CDL school.

Start a list of companies now that interest you because as soon as you start school, you can also start the application process. This way, you can start work as soon as you graduate. Many of us that have years of experience encourage new CDL applicants to research and have a list of quality companies. This prevents you from starting this new career at poverty wages, if you research and don't jump on the first job offer from some recruiter at CDL school.

 

Here's a few good companies and if you like any of them, add them to your list:
All these companies hire new CDL graduates.
Check the hiring maps on each website for hiring areas. Majority of these hire in New Jersey; maybe a couple that don't.
All these companies either "require" or "strongly recommend" hazmat endorsement.

CTL Transportation
Superior Carriers
SVTN
Trimac
Tidewater Transit
Schneider Bulk
Melton Truck Lines (strongly recommend hazmat endorsement)
NFI (been running ads for drivers with tanker/hazmat endorsements)

 

We want you to be successful; not someone who spends money on a CDL school then the first job you're hand unloading some truck behind a Dollar General store.