Total career change for me.

I went through a community college and got all my endorsements while in school. I got my cdl on the 24th and start with Superior Carriers on the 15th. Just like Chinatown said 160 hours or more is what you want. I am from Jersey originally and I can tell you that you are in a good area for it. Best of luck.

 

would worry about getting my cdl first, from a good driving school that you pay for. the problem with company schools you owe them and you have to work so long,and you either pay them or work for them. my suggestion get your cdl find a company with van freight that is pretty easy until you figure out what you really want to do. just take it slow and easy and dont let a company talk you into a lease purchase program. trucking is not easy not like a paper jam on a old press with a flame dryer, a lot of professional people that are down sized think they will jump into trucking and make some easy money,its not as easy as it looks. and there are a lot of really smart people out there are going to try and exploit you to work for nothing. lots of luck

 

Welcome Jersey. Dont feel bad, I am 36 yrs old as of 2 weeks from now, for the past 7 years I have been in Telecommunications, and im scheduled for my CDL school come may 5. I cant wait as I am so burned out in this field. I come from several family who are drivers, so im kinda of carrying on the tradition. Ive got my short list of companies, Melton, TMC, and Millis. There are others on the list however these are the ones Ive spoken with most, and done the most research on. It helps to have some prehire letters in hand once you start school. Remember your school will have a bunch of recruiters come in and try to get you to sign with them. Looking at these forums, you can deduce on your own who to avoid. Good luck in your en devour.

 

Whatever you do just don't go to Werner or CR England

 

More endorsements opens more doors of opportunity and higher than average pay. Get them while you are getting your cdl. It is easier to do it all at once rather than waiting until after the fact because once you start driving it will be harder to find the time to get them.

Pulling tanks has worked out well for me. Good luck in your search.

 

Don't know much about NJ.. just posting here to wish you the best of luck, whatever you decide to do.

 

TMC TRANS pays better then all of those and has a better training program.

 

Get ALL your endorsements (tankers, haz mat, and doubles/triples) even if you don't wind up using them at first: they still make you more marketable, not to mention- it's ALOT easier to get them while your studying for your CDL NOW: than to "go back later and get them"

Good Luck on your career change

 

If you want to "get ahead of the game" .......

stop by your local dmv and grab a copy of the commercial drivers handbook, go home and GLANCE through it (don't overwhelm yourself)........follow that up with clicking on the link at the top of this forum titled: "CDL PRACTICE TEST" and start taking them in your free time...........by the time you start your school, then cycle back through the handbook a couple times, THEN the chance of you being overwhelmed by your career change will be low......

doing it this way MIGHT have you chomping at the bit to get in a truck to do your actual testing lol but it also insures that when it's time to take your written test for your permit- that you are PREPARED.

 

What's wrong with unloading dollar general? 8 hour work days and breaks. oh you meant driving and unloading. Take the dollar general job. go home to your family each night and paid the same for ratio hours worked