Okay. I finallypulled the trigger

I'm starting CDL school at TDI in Milton, FL, on Monday, Jan 6th. I originally made contact with Johnny Mead (retired Houston Oilers linebacker and very nice guy) about three years ago. Drove up there and registered this past week.

I'm selling my center console boat and using the proceeds to pay of what's left on the boat and my truck. That will put me pretty much debt-free. We have no mortgage and the wife's car is almost paid off too.

I've also been working out pretty hard by lifting weights, jump roping, and doing the ab carver for my core. Results have been good. I'm going to make that 120 lb tarp my bee-otch (hopefully).

The timing on my last remodeled kitchen will be good as well. I'm signing up a $22,000 cabinet job this Friday. That will give me a nice cash influx on top of what I have saved already. They'll be delivered probably the week after I finish CDL school, then a week to install them. I'll hopefully start with TMC, Cypress, or maybe even Groendyke if they resume hiring new graduates. Their local terminal is only 20 minutes from my house.

I won't really miss kitchen remodeling, and I'm excited to do something different after 25 years. I will miss the freedom, but after I do my time, more opportunities will open up. Who knows?

I think I'll do okay. I've been backing a cargo trailer for 25 years, so at least my brain is wired for looking in the mirrors. Heck, I can even cut the hair on the back of my head with clippers through the mirrors without getting discombobulated and gouging out my hair.

Wish me luck!

 

Seems you have a good plan; keep up the good work.

 

Mondelēz International, Inc. - Pensacola drivers.
Click -> Apply On Company Site
Do you hate the gym? You’ll never need to go again! Why? You’ll be lifting, bending, carrying, pushing and pulling – way more fun than squats. All that with a fun, fast-paced environment.

 

www.svtn.com
Recent graduate of an approved truck driving school.

 

Melton Truck Lines
www.meltontruck.com

 

Paul Transportation Inc. Tulsa OK - Flatbed Trucking Company
https://paulinc.com

 

Hire new cdl grads all over Florida.
Nationwide Motor Freight Company | Abilene Motor Express
https://www.abilenemotor.com

 

You mentioned a ‘cabinet job’.

I’m a bit confused here; do you mean that you are installing them for a customer, therefore you are essentially doing construction contracting?

If so, stick with that and do not get into trucking. Reason being is that you will only be making from between $500.00- $800.00 a week to work up to 7 days a week, 10-14 hours per day. Yep, thats legally even with HOS rules. And, regardless of experience, it doesn’t eventually get any better.

Ok, if what I’m saying were really true, then why aren’t there any other people posting the same information that I have just written? Of course, there is a valid reason, however, if I were to go any further with this, I’d probably get banned from this forum altogether.... again.... hint...hint.

BTW, I’m also a former construction painter and drywall hanger. Had my established business going for years, and I’ve been a member of the Painters and Allied Trades union since 1988. Decided to get my CDL during the crash of 08’; was living in Las Vegas back then and had to do something real quick. Tried driving for several years and I can tell you, I ended up moving across the country to get back into construction; got the heck out of the extremely low paying trucking jobs.. especially ALL OTR trucking jobs. Emphasis on all; anybody tells you any different, then keep in mind that they never worked construction and therefore have no point of reference as to what constitutes a good salary.

By all means; get your CDL, along with all endorsements, and keep it only as a backup in the case of another financial crises, since construction is one of the first industries to ‘go down’. Then, I suppose that $500.00- $800.00 a week is better than nothing.

 

iwxmf.com - IWX Motor Freight | With IWX You’re Covered.
https://www.iwxmf.com
Our driver mentoring program, featuring best in class trainers, helps new CDL holders reach their full potential.

 

FFE > Home
https://www.ffeinc.com
Two Florida terminals and lots of freight running into and out of Florida.