Hi
I got my CDL in July 2015. The first company I drove for was Swift, which was a disaster, left there after 4 months with a messy DAC but MVR still good. I thought that because I had a bad DAC, I couldn't get another trucking job, so I moved to San Diego and started looking at else what I could do. 6 months later, June 2016, I got another trucking job, regional from SD to Vegas and Phoenix. It actually went really well, made good money and was home every other night - the only problem was that's it was mostly seasonal with February and March as the slow months.
So now I am temporarily out of work. I'm wondering if I should take a whole new job or just wait until my current one picks up again. As it stands now, I'm 23, 12 months experience, clean MVR, I also have all endorsements and TWIC card.
I already have another offer, for a beer delivery position, still using my Class A. It's back home in NorCal and I would move back home for it. It'd be a little bit less money than I've been making in San Diego, but I'd have a better life other than that (home every night, 3 day weekends)
I really want to get into oil tankers eventually, or at least start using my endorsements in some way, but have found that most companies that do that need you to be 25 and have 2 years experience. I found an oil tanker company (Pacific Tank Lines) that would hire someone my age, but they told me today that I don't have enough consistent experience yet for them to bring me on. They said after I have one year with the same company, I'll be good to go, but as it is now, my experience is too all over the place for them.
Option A would be to just hang on until my current job picks up, work it until at least June, and then see if I can get on with PTL then. And start using my X endorsement even sooner.
Option B would be to move back home, deliver beer for a year or two, and see what is out there when I turn 25 (in December 2018 )
I already have an idea of which option I should do but what would you pick if you were in my position?
What do to before I turn 25?
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by DolphinCove, Mar 6, 2017.
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Delivering beer is a ton of work. But it's your option. In the end, go with a decision and don't regret it.
Puppage Thanks this. -
Stick where your at and get the year in will look better than a job hopper.
DolphinCove, MidwestResident and EZ Money Thank this. -
STICK to where you are at. Slows? Sit home on accumulated savings a while and rest up.
In my day winter itself was slow due to the holidays.DolphinCove and EZ Money Thank this. -
And get laid as much as possible and enjoy your time off!.....lol!
Something you will wish you did when you get my age!A21CAV, gokiddogo, DolphinCove and 7 others Thank this. -
without wine and dine tools idk, maybe charm will do it. as far as work is concerned Stick to your goal(s) where will you be content, home, with a life?
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Try Coastal Transport in San Diego. Apply in person if you can.
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Thanks for the advice, decided I want to stay with my current job until at least June...it works out well, financially and in every other way, so no need to job hop.
I'll definitely look into Coastal Transport. -
Looks like you made the better choice. Next year might be better, and here's why I say that...
I hired into my employer as a dump truck driver. Slow season is from December to April. The first year was rough, but my employer decided to expand on their semi fleet. They went from 4 to 9 semis. Because I stuck it out and because I didn't mind staying in a truck throughout the week, I got picked to drive one of the semis. Now I'm busy year round, making better money after raises and getting more paid vacations each year. It pays to stick it out.
Sad thing is that this truck will likely sit at the shop until I drive it again next winter.
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