is it dumb

If you are getting a CDL to sit in your pocket or just for bragging rights, knock yourself out. If you want to actually work for someone who isn't instantly out to screw you or has plans for only making money for themself at your expense in mind (banking on your ignorance)... this is always the best route.

 

My god they have alot of trust!

 

so fozzynok your saying that these companies that require schooling isnt screwing the new driver?? 4-6 thousand dollars for a 3 week course so u can make 25 cents a mile??? Your profile says you have 29 years as a trucker did you go to school???

 

It's not dumb. It's just a matter of when you want to get into the trucking workforce. You just took the long route. Another is, the smaller companies may not have good benefits, if any. This may not seem important when you're young or have a wife working that has good benefits. Study some companies that interest you, look at the benefits package, will their 401K roll over, and don't be a job hopper. Every time you change jobs, you're starting over and your benefits package starts over, you're at day one again.

 

Got mine on my own. Everybody I know got their cdl on their own. However, this is a rural area and just about everybody started in construction or on a farm. If you know somebody that will hire you after you get your cdl go for it. If not go to school so you can find a job.

 

Paid for mine in cash. No loans, no contacts or any thing like that.
Been driving ever since.

 

I lol at the trucker scholars....If thats your gig so be it but not mine, I am old school thru an thru.In the 90's when I first got mine I went an talked to a small flat bed company that wanted to hire me when i get my lic,and let me practice in the yard,I was ready to road test after I practiced ,they said I was not.
I said C YA,and booked,went an talked to the local car hauler and liked his petes and wanted to drive em, told him I would trade wrenching time for using his truck to practice and road test.
I wrenched,and did not get any drive time,and said C ya. And went an talked to some old old old school O/O and he said yeah he would help me out. I traded running the road with him after I used his tractor trailer to get my cdl.
He was a cool guy to go with ,good points,patient and made a good driver out of me,after I chilled out an did not get so hot headed BECAUSE I knew every thing right.
MY DL record was bad lots tickets young an dum an did not care one bit.why would I ,I was very irresponsible and having a good ol time, I lost my license, and when i got it back i did not get my cdl since i was not really insurable anyway. I went for my CDL right away,this year( have not held CDL in 16 years),an i used my bro in laws little contractor truck W/air breaks with a car trailer.And studied to book real hard and passed it all an got my cdl again and i am insurable now. and do not plan on losing it anytime soon since i am 43 now and not 22 with no cares, i have a family now and do care.
SO not a dumb idea to go get it your self i think it shows more if you do it yourself,But then again iam a person who will tear in to stuff i never tore in to fix on have no clue about, or do stuff i never did just to see if i can do it myself LIke my CDL.Good luck with getting yours!!

 

I'm just playing. I'm the forum clown! You'll understand that statement in about a year.

It just limits your opportunities starting out because so many require you attend a certified school now-a-days. I think many have went to Watkins Shepherd who requires no experience with a CDL in hand. There are a couple other's.

If you ever apply to experienced OTR companies later on they require your experience in the 3 year prior window and any other CDL position like local or class B counts as zilch. Just keep that in mind.

Plus your first 3 months can be scary until you get the hang of it. That's why it's good to have a trainer by your side to get you out of them problem moments and teach you some of the tricks of the trade.

There's a lot more to driving than one thinks, like log books, pre-trip inspections, DOT regulations, how to deal with irate customers and minimize dock time, how to deal with all the negative on the road, how to chose and deal with employers because trucking companies are unlike anything you have experienced if you get the wrong one, which includes how to make the most money, how to expand your traffic reading abilities to keep safe, how to incorporate good driving habits and courtesy so you stay safe for your career, how to load/balance freight and secure properly, how to maximize and take care of that engine and drivetrain, how to deal with weather, how to trip plan effectively where you don't end up on the wrong roads or get lost, how to manage time, etc.

It's not like anyone can't teach themselves, you just tend to learn the hard way. You can learn a lot on this forum.

 

Well, the old school days are over. Very few now make it going on their own without a rough ride & wasting valuable time. It's a shame when a driver gets into his 50' & 60's and looks back and has very little to nothing to show for those years & may only have Social Security to live on. I like the guys on here that ask a multitude of questions in the beginning; some don't follow the advice, and may make less than desirable decisions. The quality companies prefer drivers with lots of clean experience or new drivers with some formal education in trucking. Companies can no longer afford the wild & wooly outlaw trucking days because, there's a lawyer behind every tree now.

 

Nope. WS requires approved schooling. You cannot just show up with a CDL. Same as every other larger carrier.