Not much time and only one shot at this. Please help.

Turdzthaword · Sep 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM

Jennyspete said: ↑

You can get your CDL permit before going to school. Your local DMV will have a manual sometimes the DMV website will have it online. Study it and take the required tests. (There's more than one). Then you have to complete federally mandated Entry Level Driver Training. You will not be allowed to take the skills test until training is completed. Some trucking companies do have their own schools but there are many stand alone CDL schools that the mega carriers recruit from. If you go to a stand alone school and get your CDL then you go to a mega carrier and they usually have some additional training of their own and they put you with a trainer for a few months before you're let loose on your own.
Our local school has a short and long program. In my opinion, the short one is a waste of time. The long one is 540 hours. If you went full time 8 hours a day/ 5 days a week it would still take 13.5 weeks to complete just that school. I've know 4 people who went to school and all of them needed extra time. But let's say you do finish is 13.5 weeks then there's at least a couple weeks of company training and approx 3 months of running with a trainer where you won't be making crap. Even after you can drive alone you still won't make much. I dont know what you need to make but search YouTube for videos of "what you really make driving for...(fill in any mega carrier name). I've also know several people who got their CDL and went to work for a mega carrier and quit trucking after a few months because it wasn't for them. They all said the same thing. The recruiters lied it's not what they make it out to be and it's not. They figure if they can get 50 to learn to drive maybe a handful will stick around and that's fine with them.
It's not a job it's a lifestyle and it's not for everyone and that's OK. It's hard on the driver and hard on the family especially kids.
You mentioned hauling your friend's pickup truck. It's not the same. With the pickup truck you could stop anytime you wanted, if weather got bad you could stop, tired? Pull into a rest area and nap. Can't do that with a big truck. Almost no where to stop. Load has to be delivered on time. Bad weather? So what, you're a professional keep going.
I understand you're in a difficult situation but I think your time crunch might be causing you to act impulsively and rose colored glasses about trucking.
Sorry to be Debbie Downer but I have to agree with Opus. I don't think this is your best option right now. Others have mentioned Door Dash and that's a great idea to get money quickly. If you're serious about trucking then do Door Dash or something until your financially stable again then go to school for trucking and take your time. It's not something you want to rush. In my opinion most schools teach nothing more than how to pass the test but if you're serious and ask questions and take your time then you'll learn.
My info about schools and training may not be 100% accurate. I never went to school so my info is second hand and I admit I'm bias. I've been around truckers and trucking almost my entire life. I was taught old school. I like to say I was raised by wolves, it's pretty much the same thing lol. I started out by just riding along and leveling loads of bark mulch and I worked my way up from there so by the time I was actually driving I "knew" and had seen a lot so I don't have a high opinion on the current schools.
I feel for you and your situation but I would be lying if I said that learning to drive was the solution you are looking for. I know it's not the answer you want to hear but I sincerely feel it's an honest answer. Good luck to you, life sucks sometimes! We've all been there.
Click to expand...

He has already obtained his CDL. He's currently working on getting the experience up.

Jennyspete · Sep 3, 2025 at 7:22 PM

Turdzthaword said: ↑

He has already obtained his CDL. He's currently working on getting the experience up.
Click to expand...

Opps didn't see the date of original post. It was under new postings. Hope everything worked out for him.

James G · Sep 4, 2025 at 7:32 AM

Jennyspete said: ↑

Opps didn't see the date of original post. It was under new postings. Hope everything worked out for him.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your input on your previous post. I already have my CDL now and even got all the endorsements including hazmat. And I've already been crapped on by a mega on my first attempt at getting a job. (see posts 295 and 296 in this thread for the detailed story). I'm currently at home weighing my options. At least I have my CDL now.

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