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Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by Joab Rynere, Jul 20, 2017.

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  1. Jul 20, 2017 #1
    Joab Rynere

    Joab Rynere Bobtail Member

    27
    28
    Jul 11, 2017
    Alabama
    0
    Hey there folks, I just realized I had been following threads and commenting in subsections, but never bothered to post here.
    I am a 35 year old veteran currently working as a military contractor. I am doing my research on switching careers into some I would enjoy more (I hate being stationary, and my job makes me want to punch kittens in the face). I have a couple years experience as a courier running a 1/2 ton truck, but that rarely required pulling a trailer.
    I am looking into running hotshot, but with the full CDL Class A. However, since I am going to do the full license route, I want to keep my options open and look at least a bit into the full size side of the house as well.
    Any advice or comments you fine folks have, I would be happy to listen too!
     
    Joab Rynere, Jul 20, 2017
    Joab Rynere, Jul 20, 2017
    #1
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  3. Jul 20, 2017 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,593
    143,951
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Do you already have your CDL-A and where is your location in Alabama? The neareast town or city so we know the hiring area you live in.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2017
    Chinatown, Jul 20, 2017
    Chinatown, Jul 20, 2017
    #2
    Joab Rynere Thanks this.
  4. Jul 20, 2017 #3
    Mudguppy

    Mudguppy Degenerate Immoralist

    1,657
    4,063
    Apr 28, 2014
    Wooley Swamp
    0
    Thank you for your service.
    Wish you the best of luck. I suggest looking into open decks. It's always a challenge and keeps you more active than just a door-slammer......lol
     
    Mudguppy, Jul 20, 2017
    Mudguppy, Jul 20, 2017
    #3
    Texas_hwy_287 and Joab Rynere Thank this.
  5. Jul 20, 2017 #4
    Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

    5,701
    9,071
    Mar 17, 2014
    Jackson Center Ohio
    0
    I like my flatbed, that's the route id suggest you go as well, at least then you'll have a leg up when you decide to make the jump to over to hotshot
     
    Gunner75, Jul 20, 2017
    Gunner75, Jul 20, 2017
    #4
    Joab Rynere and Mudguppy Thank this.
  7. Jul 21, 2017 #5
    x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

    34,017
    42,106
    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
    0
    Full CDL A deals with vehicles combination heavier than 33K all the way to the end of the weight chart if you have the axles for it. Something in order of 200 ton.

    Hotshots are actually runts in the heavyweight game of trucking. No offense. They are useful for what they do. You can run some loads for less cost with the hotshots. Unfortunately Arkansas is beginning to slowly but surely crack down on that trend a little bit because people think somehow they can run a pickup truck with a small 5th wheel and bypass all the regulating etc.

    This industry has made me want to punch kittens as you say. But it's more of a journey in life, take the good with the bad.
     
    x1Heavy, Jul 21, 2017
    x1Heavy, Jul 21, 2017
    #5
    Texas_hwy_287, Danny N Angel and Joab Rynere Thank this.
  8. Jul 21, 2017 #6
    Joab Rynere

    Joab Rynere Bobtail Member

    27
    28
    Jul 11, 2017
    Alabama
    0
    I am located in Ozark, Alabama. I do not have my CDL yet, I am hoping to get some good leads for schools here as well.
    Thanks for the responses! I will look into the flatbed open route for sure.
    I know there are a few out there trying to run hotshot while skirting the law. I read in a post somewhere, maybe on here, that legally, the only different in running hotshot is the size of the truck. All the DOT, hours of service, load requirements, CDL and insurance it all applies the same, no special exceptions for the little folks. So I am going into it with that mentality.
    It's another reason I am keeping my mind open when it comes to the big rigs as well.
     
    Joab Rynere, Jul 21, 2017
    Joab Rynere, Jul 21, 2017
    #6
  9. Jul 21, 2017 #7
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,593
    143,951
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    www.cfidrive.com has cdl school in Joplin,MO
    Be careful with hotshot; even the experienced drivers are really struggling because rates are really low. www.OOIDA.com is a business website for the owner-operator.
     
    Chinatown, Jul 21, 2017
    Chinatown, Jul 21, 2017
    #7
    Joab Rynere Thanks this.
  10. Jul 21, 2017 #8
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,593
    143,951
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Celadon has cdl school in Alabama and has flatbed, dry van, refrigerated.
    Titan Transfer has cdl school in Shelbyville,TN and it's dry van. Trucks have APU.
     
    Chinatown, Jul 21, 2017
    Chinatown, Jul 21, 2017
    #8
    x1Heavy and Joab Rynere Thank this.
  11. Jul 21, 2017 #9
    Joab Rynere

    Joab Rynere Bobtail Member

    27
    28
    Jul 11, 2017
    Alabama
    0
    I will check those out, thanks @Chinatown Any opinions on the TDI truck school out of Milton Florida? That's fairly close to me as well, but I haven't dug too deeply into it yet.
     
    Joab Rynere, Jul 21, 2017
    Joab Rynere, Jul 21, 2017
    #9
  12. Jul 21, 2017 #10
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,593
    143,951
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    TDI is good. Several drivers that used to post on here attended that school.
    I recall one of them hired on with CTL Transportation at graduation. I think another one went with Trimac Transportation at the Pensacola terminal.
     
    Chinatown, Jul 21, 2017
    Chinatown, Jul 21, 2017
    #10
    Joab Rynere Thanks this.
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