Hello! In my final weeks of CDL school and need advice for the next step

The overall job market for brand new CDL holders is pretty bleak right now.

Not sure how soon that will change, of course.

You might take that barkeep job in April, & try the CDL world later....when things improve.

-- L

 

might want to check your notes on hours of service.

all work done with one or more companies all goes against your hours of service, I believe.

 

Hours of service will be a problem. Basically, you'll need 10 hours off between ending your bartending gig each day, and starting to drive. And there are more details beyond this. The one way this could possibly work is with a Monday to Friday LTL gig, and bartending weekends. And you'd still need to keep careful watch on your weekly hours. And this assumes you'll even be able to get a regular schedule, and not be on the extra board, called in whenever they need a driver. As a brand-new driver who wants to be home daily, you might have to just take what you can get for at least the first six months, and then more options might open up for part-time driving. That's pretty much the route I took.

 

Sounds like someone burning the candle at both ends. One or the other, pal, when you accept a trucking job, all else goes out the window. Other jobs, hobbies, family and friends, you simply won't have the time. Very few trucking jobs are compliant for you to do something else in addition. Trucking just doesn't work that way. You have to give it 110%, or don't bother, really. I suggest an adjustment in lifestyle, so one income is enough. Good luck.

 

Yes there is advice for all of this. You need to decide, and very quickly if you're all in on being a cdl holder. All trucking jobs eat up a lot of time, and will force a lifestyle change. If you're not ready to go all in on being a trucker, then you'll need to keep your bartending job. It's March right now and you're wanting to basically gain all the experience before April, basically 3 weeks. Doesn't make much sense to me. You gotta think about whether you really want to make that switch because you can't have everything in trucking. You'll give up a lot of the "normal life" stuff if not all of it. Trucking jobs are at minimum 12 hr days/nights.

 

although, there are part time temp agencies that handle drivers.

perhaps that would work, if 2 part time jobs is enough income.

 

Work for a courier service that runs local around your area.
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Cincinnati courier services - Bing

 

Car Transport | Car Transport Services | Draiver
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I think this one you work with a mobile app on your phone. I don't know, maybe work when you want to.

 

Yeah, asking a company to train you OTR for a measly 6 weeks commitment is a HARD "no". Not gonna happen; they may actually LAUGH at that request. So is the idea of being a "professional" driver AND a bartender. Obviously the seasonal gig doesn't pay enough, or else you wouldn't be getting your CDL.

It's time to grow up and stop playing around with 'fun seasonal gigs'; they are NOT a career, and never will be. Make a commitment to driving for at least a year straight, FULL TIME, or don't even bother. You will NOT be able to do both. You might be able to bartend for an occasional weekend, but that is about all you will be able to do.