New CDL Holder Looking For Advice

@Knightcrawler
Thanks for your Input! Yes I am currently at an independent school and while I have have spoken to a few recruiters I know there are better opportunities out there for people just starting out than working “as a slave” for “the Megas”. I just need to find more of them so I can compare what they all have to offer.

Once you received your CDL where did you start? How did you transition from being company to owner operator? One of my recruiters talked about some companies using high load pay or high mileage pay as a marketing tactic, but in reality they don’t have enough accounts to keep you busy. Has this been something you have ever experienced?

Your opinion and experience is appreciated!

 

@Dennixx ,

Thanks for sharing! After hearing from different people what I’m learning is that some people love being owner operator, others hated it and left and some just avoided it all together. But anyone who has had experience in it said you need to be on top of a lot of things and strategic with everything, which takes time, and is unlike punching a clock or simply doing a job. I’m not opposed to owning and taking on more responsibility and liability at this point in my life, but I’m too inexperienced with trucking in general to dive in, so I’ll save that for a possibility in the future.

As far as getting a good gig how did you find yours? Or how did others that you know find theirs? What I’ve heard so far is that people are typically finding positions through Craigslist, Indeed, Ziprecruiter, or simply by networking with others. Do you have any other insight into different avenues I could be going down?

I will look more into DOT foods, Sherwin Williams, and try to investigate other reefer companies. What are some of the private carrier companies you were referring to if you don’t mind me asking?

Also, I’d love to hear more about what you meant by “setting up a plan for experience”

Chicago traffic is definitely bad. I remember when I used to drive from the South Side to the North for work and the circle interchange would dictate whether it would take 1 or 2.5 hours to get where I needed to be.

I have always enjoyed taking road trips and being on the road in general. Time will tell on whether this is something I actually enjoy doing, but thank you for the words of caution.

I look forward to hearing back from you!

 

Hey @Chinatown thanks for the reply!

I don’t mean this in any type of arrogant way, as it may come across when read at first glance, but I just want to be clear and understand. You haven’t come across anyone in trucking making that kind of money, or do you mean that you haven’t come across anyone driving for a company that pays them that much in a year?

Thanks for sharing about the car hauling. A few students in my class do that already but with pickup trucks. They are getting their CDLs so they can haul more cars. I will definitely look into Cassens.

Thabks for your time!

 

@lual ,
I appreciate the feedback good sir! I however am thinking more about my future in regards to the physical toll dancing, competitions, and teaching takes on my body, and how I know I am currently wrecking my body and I will not be able to do it into my 40s.

I have come across enough people to know that this is a feasible goal to reach.

I’d love to hear more about you and your experiences. Where do you work? How did you get started? What companies have you driven for? What are you planning on doing with your future in regards to trucking? If you are open to it, I’d love to hear how the companies you have been have paid you. I know that a lot have different types of pay. Or if you are owner operating how you got into it.

Thanks!

 

@Allow Me. ,

Thanks for your opinion. Not discouraging, but realistic in your mind and from your experiences in life. I absolutely appreciate the questions I should consider and you are most certainty correct that I need to take all of this into consideration.

I think I may have misled people in my post in regards to the 250k I would like to make as a goal. To clarify, I have no expectation that I will make that as a minimum or in the near future. It is however a goal I have that will keep me motivated and inspired throughout tough times, and if done in time, will facilitate me to getting me to where I want to be.

I would love to hear about the spectrum you have experienced in salary and wages you have earned through you career as a trucker, and what you have seen from other truckers around you.

Finally, I am by no means dedicating myself to trucking, I would however like to use it as a catalyst to gain capital, life experiences, and time to educate myself on other endeavors.

Can’t wait to hear back from you!

 

Hey @Ridgeline , thanks for the reply. I believe it’s possible to make that kind of money in trucking because I spoke with two small fleet owners that are making well over that in a year; they showed and explained their profit/loss statements, and interestingly enough they are still driving because they want to, not need to. There are YouTube videos where people are explaining how they became financially successful in the industry. And also, many job posting that boast you can make up to or past that.

Now with that being said, I may be living a pipe dream in thinking that is possible for me, but I know that I have a work ethic, passion, and drive that is superior to many, so I’m going to run with it and make full attempts at trying to coordinate myself with those who are doing and making what I would like to be.

Two side notes here: I heard once, have been through it and am experiencing it now and have seen it in other people that people are like their surroundings, so with that logic in mind it’s good to surround yourself with people you want to be like. Ie. If your the smartest or most successful in the room something’s wrong. Also, there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance and many people will confuse the two.

Anyway if I follow your line of thinking as far as creating goals I may easily fall into the pit of letting someone else determine my goals for me, and that’s not necessarily something I want to do. What I’m choosing to do right now is create goals and make them happen regardless of whether the masses believe it to be possible in general or for me, because that how people pave the way for new possibilities.

Now, if you’re open to it, I’d love to hear more about what you do in regards to trucking, how much you have earned in the past, where you plan on going next, and your overall experiences with different companies that you might recommend to a friend.

thanks for hearing me out, can’t wait to hear back!