New Grad J

@SafetyPin --

First of all -- let me offer you my personal "Congratulations!"....on your location in TEXAS--& for that matter, also...DALLAS.

Why?

Texas is arguably one of the BEST PLACES to look for CDL work right now.

If you're not sure of what you really want -- then any suggestion will get you there.

As I write this -- I know the following company is hiring for drivers in YOUR AREA.....& they normally hire new (beginning) drivers, and will teach you how to drive:

Western Dairy Transport - food-grade tanker duty -- no experience normally required -- will teach you a VERY VALUABLE set of CDL skills -- Dallas/Ft Worth areas

-- Lual

 

Not at all. I started in flatbed. I'd dare say it's beneficial. You'll learn how to back a spread axle. That's harder to back than a standard box trailer. Once you learn to back a spread axle, you'll be able back any type of trailer. I think starting out in another sector of trucking will make you more versatile. Reliability, availability, and versatility is a great recipe for longevity in the industry, as well as good money.

 

Commutimg 100 miles to an OTR job is not that bad... Cause you only drive the round trip once every few weeks. The rest of the time you're on the road.

 

KLLM/FFE are good starters and relatively recession proof as they're refrigerated. Also, with a yard in Lancaster you won't have to search for parking for time off.

 

The job leads that I recently saw for WDT were NOT on Indeed.com, but on another website.

These WDT job postings that I saw were actually for LOCAL area jobs, in and around the outer suburbs of the DFW area.

In many cases--if my math is correct--you could be home every night, or most nights, based on what I saw.

Those opportunities should still be out there, unless something has changed VERY RAPIDLY.

But....DON'T WASTE TIME--if interested, submit an application, then follow-up with a call to recruiting in 3-4 days.

~~~~~~

You also asked about Swift and/or Schneider -- those are normally good starter gigs for someone in your shoes, but because regular freight right now is so sketchy....you really should go instead for a food-related gig like WDT. Your loads will very likely be MUCH MORE CONSISTENT there, for the time being.

If you want true OTR work -- and would rather pull "boxes" instead of going tanker -- then KLLM is not a bad food-related start, either.

I like to joke about KLLM, because it looks like it's pronounced, "kill 'em"....and who'd wanna work for a company like that?

However -- from what I have learned since getting into this industry -- my "raw", unfiltered recommendation would be: GO TANKER -- and don't look back!!!

-- Lual

 

Bulkley Trucking
bulkleytrucking.com
5889 Interstate Highway 30 W, Brashear, TX 75420
~
Now Hiring Solo Drivers
Earn a $4,000 Sign-On Bonus

 

Do you have a place to park a truck near you?
If so, it won't matter where the nearest terminal is. Most companies let you take the truck home.

 

KLLM which is already posted, is a decent reefer outfit.
Stevens Transport hires new cdl school grads and is a reefer outfit.
Stevens Transport | Temperature-Controlled Logistics …
Stevens Transport is a Dallas, TX based national truckload carrier providing temperature-controlled logistics services.