Currently getting my CDL, wanting to move to Winter Haven FL.

Hello! I am currently in the process of obtaining my CDL license. I live in Oregon currently but will be moving to Florida in the next few months. We are looking at the winter haven area. I see they have the intermodal rail terminal there and also close to Lakeland which is a big manufacturing city. I am looking on indeed for jobs and am not seeing a lot of postings. Is this a hot area for trucking? If so, am I looking in the wrong spot for jobs? Would like to eventually have my own truck and if all goes to plan, would love to expand and have a small fleet. Research seems like this is a good area, but currently job posting don't really reflect that.

 

Florida, especially central and southern, isn’t the best place in the world for finding trucking jobs. That said, there are a couple of tanker outfits (Indian River and Oakley) that are in that general area. Both pull food grade. Davis Express is in Starke, but I would HIGHLY advise you to think twice about them. They pull reefer, 90% of their driving is at night, your breaks will almost always be in an ally behind a Publix grocery store (their main account), or in the parking lot of a stinking, filthy chicken processing plant. Additionally, they will micromanage you to death. You don’t so much as look at your ELD unless they tell you to.

 

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Florida is the worst state for a trucking company.

Go with Swift I think they have a terminal over that a way..not positive though.

That whole area blows , cool people move to the east coast. West Coast is where old people go to die. Central Florida is a traffic nightmare 24/7.

Lol, Moving to Florida in a few months you’re going to suffer a million deaths with the heat and humidity..It’s the opposite end of the spectrum from Oregon…(I’m delivering in Yamhill tomorrow afternoon)

Just curious if you have spent much time in FL or just winging it? I don’t know how much you spend on auto insurance but be prepared for sticker shock in fl..

 

Leonard's Express has a facility in Winterhaven and hires new cdl school grads.
Home - Leonard’s Express
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MapQuest
https://www.mapquest.com › us › florida
Leonard's Express Inc, 200 Avenue B NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881, …
Leonard's Express Inc is a transportation company based in Winter Haven, FL, specializing in freight services. They provide reliable and efficient transportation solutions for businesses in …

 

I actually grew up in Florida. Moved to Oregon about 6 years ago but finding myself over the wet and gloomy fall/winter months. Don't mind the heat, I guess my body grew used to it. I actually miss the sunshine, pool, water activities.

 

I can give you a list of companies that hire in that area.

 

Thank would be great!

 

Food service and fuel pay the best.
May have to go with something you're not too interested in to gain a few months CDL experience.
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Eagle Transport Corporation | Truck Driver Jobs | Rocky Mount, NC
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Eagle Transport Corporation | CDL Truck Driver Jobs in Florida
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Here's the info on new cdl school grads:
Applicants must have at least one year of CDL Class A driving experience with a tractor-trailer within the past seven years OR have graduated from an Eagle-Approved Driving School, meeting Eagle GPA requirements, within the past seven years (school certificate and transcript required).

Once hired, we have paid tanker-specific training for both our Petroleum Division and Chemical Division.

 

Sygma Network - Winterhaven drivers.
Sometimes hires new cdl school grads.
Average SYGMA Network Truck Driver yearly pay in Winter Haven is approximately $89,967, which is 22% above the national average.
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SYGMA-Florida
2200 Consulate Drive
Orlando , FL 32837
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Delivery Associates | Careers | SYGMA

 

I never heard anyone say that they miss Oregon, ha hahaha

Just a heads up..the population here has exploded like really insane now. Traffic is just nuts. Personally I’d rather deal with Atlanta rush hour traffic on a rainy Friday afternoon in the summer than deal with Orlando.