Advice for student starting class this Monday...

Good luck. Take everything slow. You don't need to contact any company until you determine which modality interests you. Then thoroughly research companies doing that modality on here.

 

Start submitting online applications right now. As long as you have an approximate graduation date, you will receive job offers. Study the "CDL Practice Tests" on this forum; top of this page has the link.

Don't just consider companies the school recommends. Lots of good companies out there that hire new CDL graduates.

Tyson Foods
Watkins-Shepard
Schneider Bulk
Trimac
CTL Transportation

 

You can start looking at companies now and get pre-hired. Half way through school I would suggest you nail down a couple that really interest you. I am sure recruiters will visit your school. Take your time and be patient with yourself once you get behind the wheel. Good that you paid out of pocket. You won't be "owned" by any company. Congrats on your new career and good luck!

 

Decide what best fits you company wise, meaning ask recruiting "What home time policy they have", How long is the orientation and training process is and how much you are you paid during training, What type of trucks they have, benefits, cents per mile once you go solo and make sure, if your interested in team driving, that the company is fitted for teams. All in all it comes down to asking questions and doing your research in the companies. CDL school is just the 1st baby step in this industry, the training you recieve from your 1st company is the Giant Leap. Make sure they have an extensive and reputable training program. Im currently in Dallas at Stevens Transport, their training program is a great starter. Good luck and Study up!

 

for me there was no knowing what i really wanted out of trucking
and after driving a while it started to make more sense
where i wanted to head
i think the most important thing is to treat first year like boot camp
expect nothing and you will get all of it
after that many doors open for you and you will know what you want
some people perfer day driving some OTR
some dry van some reefers
what works for one doesnt another
i go out 9-10 days WI to CA and back take a couple off repeat
start driving at 2-4 every morning with a reefer
love it............someone else would hate it
i hated dump trucks dirty dusty 16 hour days
others love that

 

What no one has mentioned to you yet, (but they meant to!) is to get your endorsements!

I don't know what school you are attending in NC, but that is my home state and where I went to CDL school.

I happen to be one of the aforementioned 'owned by the company' for a year drivers who is quite comfortable with the arrangement, as i am seeing weekly gross amounts on my pay stubs in the $1,000 neighborhood. I only graduated this past Christmas, and to be earning this kind of dough in my first year comes not only as a surprise, but a welcomed one. No where else do I know where four weeks of school would put me in this earning bracket.

And to contradict another statement made, no representative from ANY company visited the school I attended, so certainly heed Chinatown's and Powerstroke's advice and take the initiative to beat the bushes on your own. Good luck! Work hard but have fun!

 

Excellent reminder about endorsements. Get them all plus TWIC and passport.

 

TWIC, Hazmat, and passport are good to have. However, they are not cheap, and if your company wants you to have them, they may well pay for them.

I was planning on going for my Hazmat test on Friday, and realized on Thursday that the DMV would be closed... DUH!

 

you need to realize companies claiming to pay for schooling or endorsements
is all a sham like car buying
they get you up front or from behind
you get a good trade in or you get more off the msrp
the pie only divides so far