24yo no-lifer, need company / newbie advice.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Spartananator, Jan 17, 2025.

  1. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

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    Jan 17, 2025
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    Hey all,

    I am working towards getting my CDL-A at my local Technical school in Louisville, KY. Hopefully should be ready to start with a company by beginning of march.

    I am looking for recommendations / advice on the best opportunities for my current life situation.

    As with everyone, I am looking to make as much money as I can, that being said I don't have a magic number that I care about hitting, just that I am doing everything I can to maximize my compensation compared to time worked. I think I understand that there is a middle option between being an O/O and company driver where you lease yourself to a company, would anyone recommend this as an option after gaining experience for a year or so?

    To that end I am interested in flatbed trucking, mainly because I like getting dirty and from what I understand the earning potential is higher. I used to be an earth mover mechanic for a CAT dealer, and that was fun other than the tool truck man LOL and the company not wanting to advance me. We used to load excavators, dozers, and big ### dump trucks onto these flatbed heavy haulers, seemed like a cool gig.

    I don't want home time, in fact I don't want to have a home at all, but, I do want the opportunity to take time off to travel out of the country for decently long periods of time several times a year, since that is what I like to do, so maybe a month every 3 months, or a week or two ever few months I would like to park my truck and #### off somewhere in the world with my money.

    Not looking for the perfect set up right away, I totally understand a lot of this stuff might be 6 months, to several years of experience needed.

    TLDR: I want to start designing a pathway to make the most money for effort that I can, I want to know if flatbed trucking is recommended to that end right now, I want to be on the road 24/7 and live from my sleeper, as I have no life and dont care about going home to do the same #### I would do from my cab, and I want to be able to have the freedom to take time off when I want for long periods of time to travel.

    I understand I may not get all of this so if I had to choose the things that matter the most to me it would be:
    1st. being able to live out of my truck
    2nd. being able to take time off to travel when I want
    3rd / last. making as much money as possible and anything else I brought up. I dont actually care about money so long as I can live well.

    Feel free to adjust my expectations as harshly or as politely as you deem necessary. Appreciate your knowledge and help.
     
    Numb and austinmike Thank this.
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  3. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Scratch out number 2.

    Especially as a new/first year driver -- & the current CDL job market.

    -- L
     
  4. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Flatbed?

    New driver?

    Louisville, KY?

    Take a hard look at:

    • Maverick Transportation
    • TMC
    • Melton Truck Lines
    Among those three -- you can't lose.

    All good "trainer" flatbed carriers.

    -- L
     
    Spartananator Thanks this.
  5. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

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    Jan 17, 2025
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    Got it,

    I suppose I could always just quit if I want some time off lol. Any idea if the bigs bad mouth workers to eachother?
     
    austinmike Thanks this.
  6. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

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    Sweet thanks, from the research I did those were the ones I came up with as well.
     
    austinmike Thanks this.
  7. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Given the status of the current CDL job market -- especially for new drivers -- plan on staying with a carrier for AT LEAST A YEAR -- if/when you are hired.

    Preferably longer.

    Set yourself up for success -- not failure.

    -- L
     
  8. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

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    Jan 17, 2025
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    Got it, will do.

    I am curious, what changed? I swear a few months ago there was a driver shortage? Same #### that happened to the tech industry where it filled up with starry eyed newbs looking to get rich quick?
     
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Several drivers on this forum live in the truck and spend off-time overseas.
    Easier to work for a temp service to do that. Get a year experience, then sign on with a temp service that hires cdl drivers, such as Trillium.
    If you don't work for a temp service, you'll be considered a job hopper and find trucking employment next to impossible after awhile. With a temp agency, you work when you want to.
    Trillium Staffing - cdl-drivers Jobs
    Trillium partners with some of the nation's leading private fleets, third party logistics companies, for hire carriers, and LTL carriers to locate reliable CDL and non-CDL drivers! Whether you are …
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2025
  10. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    I can't speak much on this for Melton -- but both Maverick & TMC have more than one division -- or line of freight.

    Show the rest of the CDL world that you're a true team player, & that you can go the distance -- by spending some real time in each division.

    Maverick also hauls loads of glass ($$$$).

    Both Maverick & TMC haul boats (a marine division).

    Hauling boats/watercraft is very interesting work -- with (mostly) cool deliveries & cool customers.

    -- L
     
  11. lual

    lual Road Train Member

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    Driver shortage?

    Naaaah.

    No shortage of drivers.

    There IS however, a REAL shortage....of truly good, professional-grade, knowledgeable, polite/courteous CDL drivers....indeed.

    -- L
     
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