Interested in becoming a trucker

They offered me .36/mile or % of load. I took % and made around .46/mile my first year. I could have gotten home weekly, but with no wife and kids I stayed out to get more miles. Generally 2-3 weeks at a time. Also, considering most 120 hour classes only give you 30 or 40 hours of driving while slipseeting with 4-6 other students....24 hours one on one is almost as much actual driving time.

 

Almost all schools have financing options. Most have a 0 down option and some even allow payments as low as 100/month. TMC pays me 100/month for my school. I paid it off early since i made so much from TMC, but they still give me the extra 100/month.

Even if somehow you could rent a truck and insure it, It would cost a grand or 2 in rental fees, not to mention, you cant practice with your permit without a cdl driver in the jumpseat. As much as I hated the idea of going back to school, it is really the only option for at least part of it.

 

I think trucking is for you. Keep the anxiety issues to yourself; don't mention it to any trucking company or doctor. I recommend going into flatbed trucking because most shippers and receivers are easy to deal with; the exceptions being union steel companies. Other than a private CDL school or community college; try company paid training. Swift, Prime, Roehl, TMC all have flatbed divisions. TMC is strictly flatbed. The private/community college route is good if you can access funding; if not, go the company training route. Start studying the CDL Practice Tests at the top of this page.

Prepare now for the paperwork involved. You must document any periods of unemployment, such as enrolled in school. If you were not in school & unemployed, you will need notorized affidavit signed by a family member or neighbor that you were looking for work, handyman, doing odd jobs while looking for work, etc. As a backup, have W-2's available for all work history that you can. Keep a nice file of all this and take it to orientation, in case you are asked for it. If you are asked for any of this at orientation & can't produce it, you will be sent home.

 

I think you would fine driving truck my only real thought would be your looking to do it for 2yrs to save money, that doesn't work to well in that short of time frame.

 

Prime maybe a good option for company sponsored training.

 

lol i only drove a year and i got 30 g in my checking account...I'd recommend against company cdl training.

To clarify there are 2 parts to your training.

First, Getting your CDL

Second learning to drive at the company you choose to drive for.


Some companies offer to get you your cdl and take care of part one. These companies will generally charge you 8000+ if you quit and will generaly pay you very low rates since your locked in to a contract driving for them.

Find some way to get you CDL before going to a company. I do think some schools take FAFSA, but you would need to call your local schools to find out for sure.

 

CDL is both book work and basic driving so you can pass the cdl driving test. The companies dont think having the license is enough so they send you out with a trainer of there own. some will do part one as well. Part one requires a road test though so you do need a some truck time, even if you do it on your own for the classroom part.

It took me about 20 hours of "self study" to learn enough to pass my written cdl test and get permit o i could get driving time and get the actual cdl.

Grooming depends on the company. I shave every 2 or 3 weeks when i get home. Most want you to look neet. if your beard doesn't look bad your fine.

 

If your not doing it for the love of trucks, you won't last