Advice on CDL Training and Employment *Noob*

As RickG posted, if you can get tanker, that's where the money is. Get your tanker/hazmat before reporting for orientation. Average loading time, maybe an hour & same for unloading. Where I worked, about 50% deadhead miles, but the pay is the same empty or loaded.

 

you can make good money flatbedding also,as you gain experence it can open doors to heavy haul/oversize loads, they are more work but they pay more also.what ever way you decide to go im sure you'l do fine Good Luck

 

Does Prime even haul hazmat ? Can you get the background check before you get a CDL ? When I got fingerprinted for renewal they wanted to see my CDL . If you were in the military they wanted to know your date of discharge.
I'd check with the carrier on whether they reimburse for the cost of the background check . KY won't let you take the hazmat test before you get the approval from TSA after the background check .

 

FamilyMan,
I would like to offer some words of advice/wisdom
First congrats on Passing your written test.

I would like to take a minute of your time to explain a few things that many will or will not agree with me on I have a few years of driving under my backsides, I will give you some good pointers as well as pointing out some of the very REAL dangers of trucking that can effect you both Personally and physically..

I have several threads on here that you would probable serve well to read one of which is called the "Truth about trucking without the sugar coating"
As I am not one to beat around or BS someone I am going to lay a few things out for you which are both positive and negative about trucking.... There is a good side once you get to it there is a lot of negative. One thing I won't do is tell you how good things use to be in this industry hell you can read a million post on that here.

 

congrats, where are you going for school?

 

Throw all the advice from people on a chalk board .. Disregard those that say everything is perfect and those that say everything sucks.

 

Congrats .. Love yer attitude and motivation .. Maybe one day drivers will be working for you!

 

First thing you need to realize is That if you can get the STATE you live in to pay for your training via the unemployment office DO SO....
If you have to get financing DO NOT DO IT THROUGH A TRUCKING COMPANY if you fail to meet your CONTRACTUAL obligations they will mess up your credit as well as YOUR DAC which is something that all companies use to get info on truckers job history...

Depending on where you live will greatly depend on where and who you would want to work for, I am sure once you let some of the folks on here know they will make suggestions you may have already done so..

Just a heads up THIS industry has one of the highest Divorce rates of any other job in the US, yep outside of Military folks and lawyers we are up there at the top I am married to Wife number 4 the other 3 fell victim to my not being willing to leave an industry that runs deep in my blood not to mention I am 3rd Generation probably 4th if you would call pulling stagecoaches trucking....

This lifestyle as I like to refer to it as is not an easy one. Yes the temptation of seeing the sights, and the money all sounds good. And there is money to be made you wont become a millionaire overnight but you can make a decent living.. Your first 2 years will be a real pain in the pocket book, the first year you will be stressed out about getting new toys, CB, fridge all the things that make you comfy being away from home and trust me this will cause issues at home, you cant live without being comfortable out here and she aint going to like you spending what she needs.

The second year you will start to realize that there are a boat load of companies out there who have nicer trucks, and bigger terminals, and all that good stuff nicer trucks does not MEAN you will get better pay trust me Big ole shiny rigs sometimes means less PAY just ask anyone who works over in Denver for Western Distribution they have amazing rigs terrible pay..

After you get through the rough spot and pay off trucking school or finish a contract with a company you might want to consider NOT LEASING from any company... Any company that leases a truck to an employee is there way of making a load of money and not having the liability. THE Lessee has all the liability some will argue this and that is there prerogative.

I worked for one "big" company in my career the absolute biggest mistake of my career I made good money at first, and in the end I was at wits end...
I prefer the Mom and Pop companies just my choice, I like a company that knows my Name not my #### truck number...

There are many different kinds of trucks to drive and trailers to drag,
The more important of the two is what you want to drag..
Flat Bedding very rewarding at times, slow when the economy is slow, and A Lot of work, not for a weak person or someone who is lazy.. there is climbing, tarping, chaining and not to mention you will work in all kinds of weather... This one is tough...

Bed Buggin (household goods) this in my opinion takes a special breed you pack other people junk, you move it and unload it, many long hours, and a lot or work.. The money is good as a new driver I know of no company that would hire a rookie I may be wrong they also stay out for a long period of time.

Reefer ( hauling garbage groceries) this trailer can be a royal PAIN lots of sitting at grocery warehouses, and Dispatchers all LIE, I don't give a rats tail who they work for Dispatchers and Brokers are all professional Liars. Reefers make some noise I slept in front of one Most of my Career, I enjoyed it some can not get over the HUM of the rattle box.

Dry box pretty easy depending on who and what you are pulling...

Heavy Haul, Over size and Over dimensional this is a tough one too like flat bed with a lot more brain work (not that flat does not take brains) permits can be hell you can only run on certain days and hours, any you have to be able to think on your feet when it comes to pre planning..

Tankers NON Hazmat tricky and it takes time to get used to being pushed... lol
Tankers Hazmat Well this is something I said I would never do yet on Monday I start my new job hauling Propane, I can say this you have to be plum nuts and well versed to do this...

Car Haulers if you are not scared of heights, or backing up a long ramp this is a money maker too (not something I would do God built me low to the ground and I don't do heights)

Now Bull Haulers (Livestock Haulers) if you ain't growed up around livestock and you want to stay married stay away from this one. The folks run hard, work hard and play harder... Nuff Said bout that.


There are Huge companies that offer the world to new drivers ( I won't call them by name as I don't want any fan mail from them) remember this if it sounds to good to be true, it most likely is to good to be true...

Any company that offers a "sign on Bonus" is company with a high turnover.....

ALL Companies are out to make a profit, You can too find the oldest guy in the company who is sitting in the corner of the yard away from all the rookies and ask him for advice, he might not say what you want to hear, you need to hear what he is saying.


There are three different types of driving jobs in my opinion

OK four

LTL (Less than Truckload) a lot of stops and a lot of drops
TL (truckload) self explanatory
Regional/Short Haul
Local

All of them have opportunities to make money and that also varies upon where you live....

I am sure I will think of more ad post it on here

But in the mean time Keep Studying Keep Your head up and As long as you have focus, and are willing to work hard the effort in the end can be very rewarding......
DO not get hung up in the BS of negative people, or wannabes, or supertrucker... (defined as someone who has done it all , seen it all or aka a one upper)

There are a lot of good people on this sight many of whom I have met face to face some I have known for a long time, and many more I have yet to meet. They will all have different opinions and you have to find what will work for you most importantly for your relationship.