School, or trained by first job?

There's nothing wrong with a year contract IF THE COMPANY MATCHES WHAT YOU NEED.

 

In cases like mine, the answer to the original question is "both." School teaches what you need to pass the CDL exam, but that's all. Companies that hire inexperienced drivers, at least the good ones, recognize this, and will then train you to be a driver.

My first job was doing LTL. First week was orientation on company policies and procedures, and going on a few deliveries. Week two I was with a P&D driver, and week three with a linehaul driver. After that, they were comfortable having me do linehaul on my own, but really the training continues for months after that. One advantage of linehaul is you're always going to your company's facilities, so everybody there is part of the same team. I tried to take full advantage of my coworkers' willingness to share their knowledge.

Edited to note that this was in 2021, before the ELDT regulations. It's possible cdl school is more thorough now than what I got.

 

You assume correct, unless it's planned as part of your down time.... which this was not.

Yes, depends on who you work for & what they pay for, but in most circumstances the detention pay does not come close to what you would make actually running.

Then, you have my circumstance working for myself. Detention terms are usually part of rate contract with broker, but also are typically chump change & sometimes you get screwed over by broker on even that. Chasing them down on that is mostly impossible, as it would cost more in lost revenue than owed, taking them to court.

Biggest loss comes into play if delays cause loss of next planned load for myself, along with messing up next broker & their likely pissed off customer (my customer, too). Even worse, if I have several loads lined up & causes schedule chain reaction to all planned loads.

 

If your going to work for a mega, drop & hook is "the ####" if you want to make the milage pay.

None of the potential wait times screwing up your clock, just hook & go.... unless they scew it up.

Do not have that option as a single truck operation.

There is something to be had with having a huge trailer pool spread out across the country at hundreds of long term contracted customers.

Man, definitely miss that (usually) no hassle book & run stuff.

 

Get your license yet or made decision on how you are going to? I will go back over posts.

Sorry, been absent for a bit. Been busy with #### spot market w/new truck & weather.

Just taking opportunity to check back up on you while I had the opportunity.

 

Yep,

Even with the supposed "incentives" from the Feds to train new drivers, insurance companies still pretty much have us owner ops that might want to give back completely shut out.

Would love to give back to industry & help a new guy out with actual true training & give a real chance, even if not looking for an employee.

But, can't touch anyone that doesn't have at least 3yrs experience.

Yet, a mega can let an individual that has 3mos experience or less, train one of their new drivers......... go figure. (Self insured, I know).

Makes sense to me, eh?