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

I used hope at North Georgia Tech in Clarkesville. Small world

 

Why?

because this is one of the worst times to become a driver.

we have too many drivers and many more looking for work.

They are taking crap jobs with crap 1099 companies and this in turn increases the problems we all have.

if I was you, keep the job, go get a cdl through a state program (you qualify with Helene) and start being careful on what company you want to go with. The life style is a b******, many don’t make it through the first year or if they do, many are just lucky but are piss poor drivers.

remember this - you are desperate in creating revenue, trucking is an easy thing to get into but not everyone can drive a truck or should. You want to be a professional about this and this means being 100% into it when you start.

oh and remember this other thing too, trucking isn’t all over the road, you can make one good living doing local work, like P&D, and if you are so strapped go to UPS and work on the dock, then apply for their dock to driver program, good wages and free schooling.

 

The 25$ p/h aint bad and 52k is about what they make too i know a lot drivers who don't make this it really depends what you gonna do a bus driver rarely make much, some these otr companies you make very little money most drivers I know make 60k or less and I know only one personally make over 100k hauling oversized loads one my brothers though just gets spent on a new boat or truck every year like clock work.

The problem is most companies don't pay much not like they should if I had no injuries I would go back in oilfield and work a crew like my brother did and work way up because they paid for him go college after a few years and is now the manager who oversees all the operations. Do all end up like this? No, but there's a topic in the oil field section that most do move up in positions and pay and CDL is just a stepping stone to something much better then just a driver.

 

Another carrier that can get you started....that should at least be on your radar....is Roehl Transport (pronounced, "rail"):

No Experience Truck Driving Jobs - Entry Level w/ Driver Training

Their terminal locations:

Roehl Transport Locations

With Roehl...you could start off with dry van freight (which is what I would recommend)....but they also have reefer, flatbed...& conestoga/curtainside fleets, as well:

Curtainside Flatbed Freight Hauling | Roehl Transport

So later...with them....you could get experience pulling other types of trailers....& without changing employers.

Having experience with different freight types makes you more employable...& more attractive to more fleets.

-- L

 

Because truck drivers don’t get paid overtime and are expected to work 70 or 80 hours a week

that’s the part no company will say when they give you a earnings estimate

yes you can earn close to $100k in our third year or so , but you’re gonna be working 80 hours a week


I only earn $33 hr , but I have a very cushy job . And I aint giving it up just to make a little more money .

I can do some side hustles and make more money .

 

I went to the CDL class at Carroll Tech in Carrollton , many years ago .

for drafting and design and a few years later for CDL

 

This beginner job is hard work -- but would allow you to be back home daily:

Performance FoodService -- driver trainee -- Valdosta, Ga

The other big advantage here is that you would gain experience in a sector of trucking that is highly recession-resistant (food service).

-- L

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/3VKeAfFU45s?si=o1dIKU6jqdC3QIa4

 

This one is a union job -- with union wages, & benefits -- developed for new drivers:

ABF Freight -- Tifton, Ga -- new driver training pgm

This one also pays overtime after 40 hrs, & pays a pension -- a RARE FIND in the world of trucking.

-- L

 

I also started driving trucks at age 59, after 20 years of bus driving. I made around $65k my first couple of years, make just under $80k now. Decent benefits, I’m up to 3 weeks of PTO. I leave for work Sunday afternoon/evening and get home Friday afternoon/evening. I could make more if I wasn’t home every weekend (and I may start staying out for two weeks instead of one, at least for a while). It’s a good job in many ways, and I enjoy it, but it’s definitely affected my relationship with my wife and 9 year old grandson that we’re raising.