What kind of non-CDL experience is helpful?

I second the recommendation for transport national. Also look into Moore freight services and Maverick (Triplesix calls this company a bottom feeder and I agree to an extent. However they have an excellent training program) Moore is a small company that just hauls glass. They are based out of Kingsport, Tn. Both companys haul glass out of AGC in Church Hill, Tn.

 

@farmboy73

Do me a favor? When you get your rig, be a good hand. Be a good driver. Skillful, honest, patient and positive. Be good at what you do. I don't care what everyone else around you does, you do your best. An old hand, Cranky Yankee said, "good drivers make money. Money doesn't make a good driver."

Every time you play, bring your A Game. You will stand out. Luck in battle.

 

Your equipment experience will make the transition a lot easier. Operating a truck is a lot closer to operating heavy equipment than it is to driving. If you've ran a dozer much, then you gave learned to use your ears as to how much throttle to use. A truck is very similar, I drive by the sound and feel of the engine, not by watching the gauges. What I mean is, you know when it's time to shift by the sound the engine makes. People that have only driven cars and pick ups have a difficult time adjusting to that.

 

It isn't rocket science you'll be fine. I'm more comfortable in my 7 axle tractor trailer with a heavy load than I am with my brothers pick up and goose neck.

 

I was born with knack for all things mechanical. The only trade skill I was blessed with. Useless trying to become anything else.

I started driving a tow truck for a company that also did heavy haul and transport. I was coaxed to getting my chauffers even though the truck I drove didnt need it. Back then it was like 25 or 30 questions and you had a license to drive anything. No road test, pre trip test or anything silly like that. Heaven forbid....

So one day I am given a 2 minute discertation on how to shift a spicer and told I should be a pro by the time I come back.

Short of backing up cars on a tow bar behind a roll back.. I had never driven semi before.. much less dealt with something grossing over 100k lbs. Sink or swim.

Later when I got out of trucking I decided I was going run heavy equipment. Only thing I had done is load the machines on and off the trailers. Within a week no one questioned my tenacity ever again.

I am a firm beleiver that anyone with enough fortitude can do anything they set their mind to do. It also helps if you like what you are doing.

Hurst

 

Supertrucker already knew it all. He got his CDL at 19 because he got a perfect score on the driving test and was banging the DMV girl.

 

Heck yeah man there is some wisdom in this post to be sure. You spoke some real worthwhile truth and new drivers should be keen to listen to this and take heed.

As flatbedders we are almost always heavily involved with the loading of our trailer. We have the ability to stop the process of leaving at any time and have them reload the trailer if we don't like the way things are. Van drivers are not so lucky. This is where leadership and a strong personality needs to start too. The first time you go to a steel mill near the end of a shift and they drop that coil too fast and off center, you will have to tell a tired crane operator to come back and fix your load. It's not that we enjoy making people do this sort of thing, but the stakes are very high on a flatbed load, and it must be done right. If it's in sight it must be done right.

there are also times where noobies and scrubs will be doing something wrong and dangerous. The leadership and charisma you convey may be enough to save a life. Behave purposefully and sternly but always with meekness when you instruct someone in this industry. By doing so you may convince a driver to save a life.

lastly triplesix makes a great point about DMs. Your DM doesn't have the final say on anything, you do. Flex your rights as a driver. Right now I'm sitting because my DM wants. me driving with two blowouts to a place to fix them cheaper. You should never be so meek as to let people push you into uncomfortable situations. When I started out I had to learn this skill and sometimes I had to refuse to back into a place they wanted me because It was unsafe for me to do so with my limited skill. Some drivers didn't learn this skill and they crunched into trucks or trailers. As a driver you are responsible for everything and you must not let things turn south because of a lack of leadership involving your truck. You are the captain of the SS MYTRUCK so ####ing act like it.