Need Advice (Buffalo NY)

Yeah, come on out to Las Vegas!

 

I've seen their vehicles, they're nowhere near modern lol

 

FYI: the following CDL school near you is an approved school from DOT Transportation's website:

Buffalo CDL Traiining At National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS)

from/via (DOT's listing of approved CDL schools is on this webpage):

Schools - Drive For DTI | Dot Transportation, Inc.

If you test out/graduate from there -- it would really improve your chances of being hired by DOT, afterwards....at the facility listed in post #4, above/earlier.

DOT Transportation is easily one of the best gigs in the reefer segment.

-- L

 

Buffalo is perfect for Leonard's Express. Leonard's has their own on-site driving school in Farmington, NY. Therefore they'll train you and then employ you. I know a couple guys that live in Buffalo and drive for Leonard's.

 

Yes -- you will definitely need to do the planned training that the carrier provides.

As it turns out -- CDL schools really don't teach you how to drive; instead, they give you just enough knowledge to get a CDL.

You REAL-LY LEARN HOW TO DRIVE AT YOUR FIRST CARRIER. So choosing a good one is really important. That training you get at your first carrier is REALLY what you want.

As a truck driver -- you will probably spend the better part of your first 2 years, learning how to drive....all over again.

If you sign up with a reefer fleet (like DOT Tranporation, or Leonard's), you won't mess with the freight (DOT has touch and no-touch options--your choice).

I spent my first 2 years pulling "boxes"....because I realized during that period it's really all above learning how to drive....& on a professional level. You can then get "cute" with specialized freight, later....after you have mastered that first skill set.

-- L

 

Follow-up: With all the above in mind -- either DOT Transportation....or Leonard's Express.....would be an excellent choice....to get you started in the CDL world.

The thinking here is....because you're a vet....with an honorable discharge....you may well get preferential treatment during the hiring process -- especially if you do well in CDL school, and you have a good/great personal driving record.

If you have a good personal driving record -- keep it that way! That will open doors for you now, & later, as a CDL holder.

-- L

 

As long as you have a clean criminal record, there are a lot of companies who haul Canadian freight as well, and even some Canadian companies hire US drivers for local/regional work in and around western NY. That's mostly what I did for the last 4 or 5 years driving, concentrating on automotive loads at Canadian auto factories.