Career choice, get my CDL at 20?

@Ryan0077 --

As you can see by now -- you have at least several choices for freight, but it can indeed be multiple-choice for you to make to get to a choice that will finally make your life more choice.

Know at this point that it's also your choice to avoid being where you have no choice but to choose someone else's earlier choice.

It will be choice to see if you choose to bypass that choice, or not....

Also -- when you make a choice, don't feel that you are necessarily stuck with that choice -- that is a bad choice, as well. You indeed have a choice to change freight types, if you find that your given choice is later not so choice.

Your choice of a mega-carrier later will make subsequent choices easier later -- becuz you will have your choice of more than one type of freight with that same carrier -- thus saving you from choice mistakes (job changes), later.

New drivers can't afford to be choosey rite now -- but with the right carrier -- you can choose to change choices -- & each a penalty-free choice.

It's also your choice to choose whether or not to glean some sense out of any of the above....

-- L

 

The answer to you latest question is "yes"....there is indeed company-paid training -- provided you indenture yourself to same said company.

That indentured servitude time period varies -- the shortest I've see is 9 months. Most of that sort want AT LEAST a year. Some are (perhaps) even longer.

If you sign up with a reefer fleet -- you will be driving during both day and night. That's (in part) why some of us have warned you away from those fleets. YOU WON'T HAVE A REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE/CYCLE. YOUR BODY WON'T BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO ANY SET CIRCADIAN RHYTHM. THIS IS BECAUSE DELIVERY/PICK UP TIMES ARE/WILL BE ALL OVER THE CLOCK. AND THUS -- YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Been there, done that....

Some people apparently thrive in this sort of "rough and tumble" environment. For others (who value regular sleep) -- it's just pure torture. Your choice!!!

When you start CDL work, you will work with 2 different clocks. One is an 11-hour clock (for driving). The other is a 14-hour clock (for on-duty time). Thus -- you can drive up to 11 hours per shift. You are required BY LAW to take AT LEAST A 10-HOUR BREAK between shifts.

To make your start in the CDL as easy as possible -- you should also be aware that there are a few carriers out there that will put you thru their CDL school, award you a legit CDL, & give you a job after you finish this -- ALL WHILE PAYING YOU A $ALARY TO DO SAID CDL SCHOOL. THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE BOTH ROOM AND BOARD FOR YOU DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD FOR THIS PROCESS.

What a deal!

-- L

 

You can drive up to (but no more than) 11 hours per shift (by law). Past that would be an hours of service violation. THAT'S THE PURPOSE of the 11-hour clock.

It's much healthier (and safer!) to get a regular sleep schedule -- and stick to it. When driving a big rig -- SAFETY IS EVERYTHING.

Driving while sleepy/tired is basically drunk driving. This is very hazardous to your CDL career -- as well as to all the motoring public around you.

IF YOU ARE REALLY TIRED AND/OR SLEEPY YOU ARE/WILL BE EXPECTED TO FIND THE NEAREST SAFE, LEGAL PLACE TO PARK -- AND GET SOME REST.

-- L

 

You can pretty much schedule your driving hours with trip planning. With reefers you'll have to drive at night, which to me is one of the good benefits of reefers. You won't have to drive 11 hours a day, but the hours are there if you need them.
~
Yes, there are several companies that will offer cdl training for a contract. Nothing wrong with that either.
Millis Transfer does training in Eden, NC or maybe Cartersville, GA and it's dry van.
Earn $600 per Week During Classroom Instruction.
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Millis Transfer - Getting It There Since 1936

 

I only sleep 4 hours a night, even now. Worked out great for reefer trucking night driving.

 

CDL Training | Stevens Transport
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