Cannot find anyone to hire me?

If you have your CDL and no experience you SHOULD be uncomfortable backing and slightly uncomfortable while driving. Your vehicle just barely fits in the standard lane of traffic.

I still don’t understand why newbies go off to CDL school with no idea where they are going to work after school. It strikes me as jumping out of an airplane before putting on a parachute and hoping to make a parachute on the way down.

 

Must be looking in all the wrong places your in prime territory you want a real truck driving job, empty trucks are waiting for you with or without experience he!! you even have the upper hand with having a CDL.
Look for any abandoned building with a handful of multi colored trucks & sign on the building door saying flip flops must be worn at all times.
Fender mirrors busted off, plastic skirting missing, duct tape holding the backs of the door mirrors on, windshield cracked all the way across, take your pick jump in fire one up & listen for the air leaks.
Once air leaks are confirmed look above sun visor your mission papers are there, push clutch in once it starts to grind just bang it into gear & away you go.
Experience is over rated its all about hands on training don't worry you'll be fine, kick back throw your feet up on the dash watch some you tube videos & enjoy the ride.

 

Flat bedding has less backing. Western express has a reputation. But you need 6 months of experience to move on. Why not snchieder? I would apply to them. You need time in the seat. To be able to move up. But backing at the truck stop is harder with a spread axle flat bed.

 

You're in good hands at melton. I don't have anything against western express personally but knowing their reputation, if I were you I would 100% be on my way to tulsa.

Flatbedding may be intimidating at first, but it's actually the best kind of freight for a rookie for several reasons:

9-5 schedule. This is huge, because you will easily be able to avoid trying to get parked when the truck stops are full. Not saying it'll never happen, but it is extremely rare.

Very little congestion at shippers and receivers, both in terms of wait time and of other trucks parked helter skelter waiting for their appointment. Unless you pick up from another carrier's warehouse, there is a fairly good chance you'll be the only truck there. There may be a few others. Heavy industrial places like steel mills and lumberyards have large bullpens for waiting trucks and most of them have one way traffic so you don't even need to get swung around after you load/unload. Again, there are some exceptions, but when you encounter one it'll be something of a special event that you'll be extra on your toes for and not getting complacent about.

If you start with a spread axle with no other experience, you won't struggle with it like someone coming from a tandem. Your axles also don't move, so once you have your setup down, a 45 degree back is a slam dunk.

Melton in particular has fantastic driver support. There are no stupid questions when you call in about securement. Send them a picture and they will tell you exactly what to do.

 

It is good you recognize your weaknesses but do not let it become your mindset. Make up your mind to welcome the challenge, overcome it and learn from it, building your confidence along the way. Good luck.

 

The running rabbit is good. I know a few old timers that ran for them for years. They have/had great memories and stories to tell.

 

Chicago is literally the number one hiring area in the entire country. It should not be a problem to find a job with a Chicago zip code. If you're smart you'll take a flatbed job, and soon. Flatbed is the very best choice for a new driver.

 

I started as a flatbedder. Melton is a good outfit. They'll help you learn securement. Plus you'll get a workout every day.

Backing was hard for me for at least the first year. When I went to tankers I had to learn it over again, but tankers are relatively easy to back since the trailers are shorter and they have tandems. Then I went to boxes and had to learn it again. Frankly after 12 years some days I still have to pull up a couple of times to get it right.

Better to take the offer you have now. You don't want your fresh CDL to get moldy. Without experience after six months it will likely become as if you didn't have one.

 

Well.....youre real training is going to start once you get hired on and go out with a trainer. There isn't many people if any, that feel good about backing when they get out of school. You say you can't get hired on anywhere, yet you've got 2 offers.......is it really about the backing or are you just trying to see what else is out there? Or is there somewhere in particular you have in mind? Not sure what you're waiting on

You need to take one of those choices, flip a coin, and hit that road before nobody will hire you.