Is there a right way to get your CDL? Old Drivers & ROOKIES

In 74 I worked in a warehouse loading food service trucks, both straight and semi.
I'd been on runs w a buddy who worked there and he let me drive several times.
I confess I had to stop and start from a dead stop if I got caught between gears on a 13 but eventually kinda got it.
One night both the bosses didn't come in and I took a rig for a 10 hr joy ride.
Was promptly fired when returning in the morning but by gosh I was a truck driver, or so I thought.
Learned by watching others, not wanting to be ridiculed by the professionals.
Started applying everywhere but I'll be darned if all of them wanted to see a license, except one.
A flatbed outfit that did ag equip nationwide.
They had a driver quit in Spokane and needed that freight delivered so they hired me, gave me a plane ticket, credit cards and a salary of 800 a week.
I was in no position to argue.
Worked for a month and went to take my test, promptly failed.
Went back later and passed.
I was a trucker now.
Worked 3 years for them then went back to school for 1 semester, and then quit to go trailer trucking.


Been at it 45 yrs now and still love the traveling aspect, best for me is taking 2 lane roads I've never traveled.

 

Brevity is your friend after 1.44 of stammer and uhs I gave up

 

I quit after 40 seconds. I absolutely cannot stand people that talk like that. There is zero reason to add "um", or "Uh" in almost every sentence

 

Studied the handbook & got my permit. Found an old hand in my home town. Has a IH 4700 lopro ex Budweiser rig. Cost $5 small. Spent 2 afternoons with him & he met me at the test site that Saturday AM. Went home 2hours ish later with a CDL A, no restrictions. Have been a MC/ Owner op ever since. Started with a 3500 dodge dually & hotshot. Still pull that mini float, but been dragging it around with a '93 FLD120 for a year now. Saving my money for a new/new ish 48' drop deck..

 

Went to bmv and took test. Went and got a physical. Went to a cdl road test place and rented use of their truck. Passed test. Went back to bmv. Done.

I had ridden with my Dad many times before though and driven trucks around the farm. Hardest part was having to double clutch when I never had done that before.

Edit: actually first road test I never even made it to the road. Failed the inspection part. Studied much more then got it.

 

What's the problem?

Those who matter in this is the one who does the hiring.

It amazes me what people cry about.

Op if you are going to make videos, make sure your lighiting is facing you, not behind you.

 

I drove semi trucks in the military. So, getting my cdl was very easy for me in Texas. Took a copy of my training documents to the driver lincense office, paid to take the written exams, and had my cdl. Didn't even study for the test and easily passed.

 

Well I have done it both ways, I got my CDL B with tank and hazmat back in 95, I got my permit and then my friend trained me. I ran expedited team with him after that, after 6 months I found it too hard on my kids and the money wasn't good enough ( 50 cents pm split but not enough miles ) and went back to plumbing and heating. I kept my B and used it to deliver heating oil and stuff a few times to help out business associates. Fast forward 16 years and the economy sucks, the trades are dead in NY and its not getting better anytime before 2016. The trucking industry is one of the few hiring so I researched for hours and decided on a company for training to get my class A, and then to work for. I closed up my HVAC business and went trucking, I am now an O/O and making more money than I ever did as a plumber. If I had to do again I would definitely go the GOOD school route, I had good instructors and learned a ton of stuff like proper trip planning, how to properly use an atlas, different backing techniques, laws and such.