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Path for New CDL holder (no experience)?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jaginFL, Dec 25, 2024.

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nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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Chinatown said: ↑

This one the website shows you need 6 mos. experience, so file it away for future reference.
Indian River Transport – Food Grade Tank Carrier and Transportation Services
2580 Executive Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884
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That's where I want to go.

nextgentrucker, Dec 25, 2024

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nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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tscottme said: ↑

THERE IS NO TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE

On rare occasion some tanker companies will hire a brand new CDL holder. I would not expect that to happen, but maybe @Chinatown knows of such a company. Normally, tanker drivers are made by doing dry van, flatbed, reefer (refrigerated trailer) for 1-2 years and then moving over to tanker. I worked for Quality Carriers for 3 years on a Dedicated account in Nashville. I mostly loved it. I made my career-maximum working there. When I was there they had a guaranteed weekly pay as long as you accepted whatever work they gave you and you were available at least 6 days per week. I understands that weekly guarantee is no longer available.

One thing about tanker, the best segment of trucking, is each terminal or yard is like it's own universe. The Terminal Mgr has full-authority over it. Rules and pay depend only on that terminal. It does not matter what any other company terminal is doing, you get what that terminal offers. Van, flatbed, reefer seem to operate more as a unified whole company rather than hundreds of mini companies with the same name in different places. Tanker customers treat you like a human, where most other customers treat you like a stray dog. Tanker trailers are easier to blind-side back and park compared to van. flatbed, reefer. Detention pay is also more common with tanker, but their are gimmicks which severely limit detention/demurrage pay. Tanker requires you drive each day like you are conducting your state road test for your license. It doesn't tolerate the reckless, dangerous, inattentive driving you probably currently do in your 4-wheeler. You think you are a good driver know but you have never seen that you should look for. You equate "didn't wreck" with "good driver". 10 minutes driving a truck on the road with 4-wheelers and your eyes will be opened how bad of a driver you were before getting your CDL and experience with a CDL.

The best job is the one that provides what you need. You have to define those needs. Jobs provide some of this and a little of that and none of the other, etc., etc., etc. Only you can provide if some of A is enough A, lots of B is too much B, no C a deal-breaker. Trucking isn't just a job. It's essentially your whole week, YOUR WHOLE WEEK for a paycheck. You now assume you will certainly have some time here for this and some time for that. No you won't. Trucking is often JUST BARELY ENOUGH TIME to drive and sleep the legal limits and nothing else. You can shower, eat, use restroom by getting less sleep. All of the waiting time at customers comes out of your time budget. Customers always say "we'll get to you in 20 minutes" but the waiting time is however long it takes and you won't know that until AFTER the fact.

You need to define with numbers the amount of money you need per week/month/year, how often you get time off and how long you have for yourself, where you want to drive, where you want to not drive, how far you can commute to start work, etc., etc., etc. If you walked into a restaurant that sold every type of food and just announced on the PA "what food should I eat?" you will get as many answers as people that give answers because some people are willing to work themselves to death to either make 5 cents more per paycheck than anyone or set the weekly miles driven record each week. Other people, I was one, wanted the most off-time possible, and had jobs that gave me regular hours and weeks off and holidays off, etc. You have to pick among all of the options. Nobody can pick for you. Just walking around with a vague "I'd like lots of money, but not too much hard work" will not serve you at all. Try walking into a Thai restaurant and say "make me some good food I will like". You better like spicy food and be willing to eat whatever creatures or vegetables you may see for the first time prepared in an interesting way. If you want roast beaf for dinner, you can find it more easily than just asking "where can I get some good food."

MOST NEWBIES WILL NOT RESEARCH and that is why 80% of newbies quickly leave trucking long before they work for 12 months. No research equals quick exit. Trucking IS NOT like that one nice road trip you took one time. That's about 5-10% of trucking. You have to define what you are looking for and then weigh the multiple things you want and will more of A be ok if you get less of B, etc. Newbies do no research. Work for a company that doesn't match what they want. Quit, try again, quit, try again, quit. I would have suggested you do all of your job research BEFORE going to CDL school because you will not have enough time during CDL school to thoroughly research even 1 trucking company. Almost nobody does it. The results show.
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Didn't know, the Tanker division operated like that, I can't wait to get out that Flatbed thing I'm doing and get into Tanker, cause Flatbedding in the winter is no joke lol!!

nextgentrucker, Dec 25, 2024

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nextgentrucker said: ↑

That's where I want to go.
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Are you under contract now?

Chinatown, Dec 25, 2024

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nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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Chinatown said: ↑

Are you under contract now?
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Nope, payed for my CDL out of my pocket, I just wanted to stay there for at least a year since it's my first trucking job, and then move on. March 15th next year will make it a year driving by myself. I DO NOT want another winter to take me in flatbed again, I went to Virginia, delivering a load, and man... 16 degrees outside, two shirts on, two jackets, two gloves and my hands was still freezing... Crazyyy!! Never again, 3 more months then I'm out lol!

nextgentrucker, Dec 25, 2024

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Well then, in 3 months you can move on. Congratulations.

Chinatown, Dec 25, 2024

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nextgentrucker said: ↑

Nope, payed for my CDL out of my pocket, I just wanted to stay there for at least a year since it's my first trucking job, and then move on. March 15th next year will make it a year driving by myself. I DO NOT want another winter to take me in flatbed again, I went to Virginia, delivering a load, and man... 16 degrees outside, two shirts on, two jackets, two gloves and my hands was still freezing... Crazyyy!! Never again, 3 more months then I'm out lol!
Click to expand...

Come mid - March....you will have more & better job options -- if you have those endorsements: tanker, hazmat....& doubles/triples.

If you don't already have them -- you might start working on them, now.

Otherwise -- you will later be stuck pulling cheap &/or sucky freight.

-- L

lual, Dec 25, 2024

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Chinatown said: ↑

Well then, in 3 months you can move on. Congratulations.
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Thanks! I want to go to Indian River, they're in Florida, and I figured they would get me home easier, my fear though... I have 3 points on MVR and I'm scared they won't take me after another year.

nextgentrucker, Dec 25, 2024

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lual said: ↑

Come mid - March....you will have more & better job options -- if you have those endorsements: tanker, hazmat....& doubles/triples.

If you don't already have them -- you might start working on them, now.

Otherwise -- you will later be stuck pulling cheap &/or sucky freight.

-- L
Click to expand...

I already have my Tanker and Double-Triple endorsement, and I'm planning on getting my Twic card too.

nextgentrucker, Dec 25, 2024

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What are the 3 points for?

Chinatown, Dec 25, 2024

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Chinatown said: ↑

What are the 3 points for?
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I posted about it here, but it's for "Unsafe lane changing" so hopefully I get lucky next year.

nextgentrucker, Dec 25, 2024

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