Go for the CDL now, or wait and see if things rebound...

Listen to Chinatown, he’s pretty sharp! Check out DOT FOODS in Modesto, CA OR Bullhead City, AZ. They hire new CDL grads, pay is pretty good & good BCBS benefits that are reasonable. I work in Mt Sterling, IL. their HQ & I made 86K my first year of employment right out of school with no experience.

 

I say this. Once you have a CDL A and the jewelery (Endorsements) you have a valuable asset. Once you are issued it, you can be grandfathered by swearing out a Tier two paper and sign it (Means you are not interstate, intrastate commerce and no DOT medical card to maintain your A rating.) Spend the money, time and so on to get it. If the state can provide it then go take it.

Feast and famine is part of trucking. Any company that lays you off because they don't have the money each week they used to have is not a company to stay with it.

Once you have a CDL A etc any time you get reduced like I did in 2013 or so to a basic car license you can get back into A. For example I was told that since I held a CDL before in my life, All I need is 50 dollars, a birth certificate, a big truck and road test in addition to the usual vision, gen knowledge etc tests and they will stamp me CDL A in a hour. Under Tier two paper for me. Otherwise they require medical and so on and on and on.

 

Hit up the teamsters union hall and see if they are taking apprentices. They will train you, pay you, insure you etc and get you a job.

West coast pension is strong too.

Like Chinatown said look into readymix. It ain’t like people make it out to be. I grossed 1,900 last week and worked 51 hours. I NEVER work over 65 hours and if I have a 65 hour week it’s once or twice a year.