Want to became a Truck Driver!!

You are in a good spot. I know a guy from Dallas who drove for about four different truck companies in his first year in Dallas since there were so many opportunities there. If you guys ever fix the roads I will move there.

 

Contact your state employment agency and see if they offer any grants that my pay for a CDL school...you might be eligible for a WIA grant.

 

"I am interested in becoming a truck driver... seems to be a cool job, traveling to different places sight seeing and what not..."

Just remember it's no vacation.....the only "sites" you'll see are through your windshields.....same ole same ole day after day except in the winter when you get to play in the snow. You might even get to drive the mountains your first year out!

 

I would try to get your CDL at your local community college. If you want to get sponsored by a company look at Stevens Transport as they are based in Dallas meaning you'll get home often. Also Swift, Schneider, Prime, Watkins Shepard, and Millis Transfer are options to consider. Best of luck to you.

 

that hasn't been my experience at all.....

 

schneider doesn't do CDL school. You must get your CDL first, they will however hire you once you graduate and get your license and will reimburse you for your CDL tuition. However it must be a SNI approved school.

 

I guess I stand corrected. I know Schneider used to have their own CDL schools.

 

How serious are you? I might have a pretty good option for you and its not with a mega carrier

 

Most companies require you to be 23. So there is no rush for you to make the wrong choice.

Trucking requires a special skill set. People skills are the first thing you have to master. Everyone we meet is having a bad day. They have either been waiting for us forever or they just don't have time for us. We can't use their restrooms because back in the spring of 1837 someone failed to flush the toilet. You have to learn to make them think you care. You are after all a salesman. You want the customer to only think of you and your company when it comes to trucking.

Now, everyone is telling you the standard path. Personally I feel it to be a waste of my time to tell you stuff that is already posted here. In fact the question you asked has been asked and answered so many times that had you done a simple search we could get back to the ball game. So let me tell you something different.

Go to a company that is located in your area. I recommend Design Transportation. It is a medium size company. They will not hire you as a driver yet because you have no CDL and I bet you are too young. Who cares? Get an interview with them. Tell them you want to be a driver and want to gain whatever experience you can that will make you a better driver in the future. You want to build your value for a company in the future. They have a shop there. You could start as a helper and learn mechanics and trailer repair. They have a cross dock operation so you could learn to load and unload. All of these jobs pay. Use that money and maybe get them to teach you how to drive. Once you turn 23 you are in like Flynn. (This is an old time reference to Errol Flynn who was an actor caught sleeping with 2 fifteen year old girls.) Anyway, it means you have two years with the company and you start out knowing who the good dispatchers are and who to avoid. You will be way ahead of the game.

Again, all this is just a different approach to the same question. Use whatever works for you.

Until you are hired, you might want to clean out a closet and try sleeping in it for the next couple of years. That will let you be ready to sleep in the truck.

 

Millis Transfer - Burleson, TX

Raider Express - Ft. Worth

Southern Refrigerated Transport - Texarkana

Prime Inc. - Springfield, MO

Mesilla Valley Transportation - Canutillo, TX