Just got my CDL today, any advice is great advice!

All I can say it’s a good luck and be safe

 

No matter where you end up.. Be prepared for it to be all your fault and not get huffy.

I paid $20 cash to a loader today who waited for me.. They wanted to have us all in by 2pm so they can load and be gone by 3pm. I know these guys, regular pick for me. I made it in by 3:10pm and the only break i took in an entire day of hammer down was a power dump but my phone rang off the hook with where are you? what have you been doing blah blah. Uhh.. I been drivin my ### off boss.

Thats just truckin man, it goes wrong all the time. Was the $20 worth it? It sure beats spending the weekend 400 miles from home on a missed load. They waited for me cuz i take care of em, i got my load and ill be home in the morning. But 2 other late drivers got locked out.

Right now im an hour into my drop appointment, and it looks like i got atleast a 2 hour wait before unload even starts. Did i piss n moan like the other guys i work with? Nope. Theyll tell you strap it back up and haul the whole thing back if you dont like it. I get more bears with honey.

The stuff im saying is totally normal in my gig so dont be surprised when its your day in the barrel. Thats truckin.

 

I copied and pasted this from Pitt Ohio's apprenticeship program.....

The Professional Driver Apprenticeship Program is an entry level position that offers opportunities for career advancement. The program starts with comprehensive training on the dock and the opportunity to advance to driving a non-commercial vehicle. After dock and non CDL training, employees will be trained to drive commercial vehicles and acquire their CDL licenses. As employees advance through the program, their compensation will increase and their career potential will continue to grow.

Same with Saia's Dock to Driver program....

If you are looking for an opportunity for career growth, stability, and to make more money and provide excellent benefits for you and your family, consider applying for a Dockworker position at Saia. Once you have been employed as a Dockworker for at least 90 days, you are eligible to apply to Saia’s free Dock-to-Driver training program. For more details, check out this video featuring Saia employees in our Dock-to-Driver Training program.



And here is a link to A Duie Pyle's training academy.....

Driving Academy-A. Duie Pyle

UPSF in Pennsauken did recently start hiring new students. Don't know if they're still doing it, but it can't hurt to put in an application.

Good luck and I hope everything works out.

 

My first gig as a newbie was with JJW (Systems Transport) in Washington. I hauled big tankers up and down the I-5 corridor filled with unbaffled loads of nasty chemicals. Had to wear a rubber suit head to toe and delivered to factories. They gave me the training I needed to work for them.

I mention all of this to suggest that there are no hard n` fast rules about the road to success in trucking. Driver shortage is so bad in some parts of the country that even as a newbie you can land a good gig and avoid the traditional OTR and crap companies on your way to experience and success.

Don't sell yourself short, guy. It's all about supply and demand. Companies can't afford empty parked trucks anymore in this super-competitive market. You are golden to them and they know it. Shop around as if you were interviewing THEM, which you are or, at least, should be. And, welcome to a great profession!

 

FWIW I talked to a Loves driver one time and he said he really liked his company.

 

I have never done OTR. Did a year as a dirt hauler with a set of bottom dumps and went right into fuel delivery. I believe paying your dues is a bunch of BS. Find the best job you can. Apply for positions that are over your head and then work your butt off to do the job right. Once you're as good as you can get at that job find another job you're not qualified for and apply for it and then kick butt doing it. Let the steering wheel holders take the crap jobs and just concentrate on being a professional and demand to be treated as such.

There's a whole lot of people out there that have a lousy work ethic. Just by showing up and doing your job without any drama will get you noticed and help you advance. By your questions you sound like someone who's going to do well. Good luck.

 

All good advice. Especially good attitude, that will get more respect than anything else. Be careful, don’t let others,( traffic) get you rattled. Safety, Safety, Safety

 

Where do you live? I don't recommend either of those companies. Western might be a bit better but that's like saying the dog crap that's been outside longer is better than the fresh one because it doesn't stink as bad because it's dried out. In the end it's still crap.