Starting Company for New CDL Holder

Where is your location; we need to know the hiring area you live in.
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So far, you've done everything right; all the endorsements and no automatic restriction.

 

Without knowing where you are located (nearest city/state) -- making any carrier recommendations is almost a total waste of time.

Note also: the overall freight market right now is in a slump, & will likely remain so for at least the near-term future.

As a result of this decline -- most carriers have tightened up their hiring requirements.

All this of course makes things more difficult for new(er) drivers to enter the field.

The bottom line: you may well find yourself having to submit more applications....& otherwise working harder....to land that first CDL job.

It's really pretty bad out there right now.

All this is not meant to discourage or scare you.

Rather, the message is for you to begin this with your eyes wide open...& with a good dose of honest reality.

In short -- for beginning drivers -- it is NOT a "driver's market" right now.

-- L

 

Fredericksburg is a good location. Should be easy to find a company where you can live in the truck and run the roads.
Here's one of many companies that can probably meet your wants & needs.
Roehl Transport

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Refrigerated National Fleet is the best for more miles and keeping the wheels turning.

 

Some general suggestions for you, as you begin your search:

• Stay away from jobs that involve pulling hazmat tanker loads. You don't have the experience yet -- for that level of risk, & responsibility.
• Avoid any job or account that has you delivering to any of the so-called "dollar" stores: Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc. Those jobs are simply too nasty for rookie drivers. Leave those for drivers with FAR MORE experience.
• Don't let anybody talk you into any lease, or lease-purchase type agreement. You need some honest experience in the industry first -- before you assume/think about that level of responsibility.

-- L

 

Continental Express | Transportation & Logistics Company
Earn 4 weeks paid vacation the first year.
Has 2 terminals in Virginia. That's not important though if you want to stay on the road in the OTR Division
Driving Job Requirements

• Class A CDL
• 23 years of age

• No more than 3 moving violations in 3 years

• Must pass a DOT physical and drug screen

 

Best carrier starting out?

Pick one (or several -- remember, it's a bad market right now) that has a formal, time-tested training program for new drivers.

CDL school DID NOT REALLY TEACH YOU HOW TO DRIVE. All that school did was get you a CDL.

ALSO: Try to pick a carrier that is self-insured.

That way -- if you have a bad day as a rookie driver, & you do something stupid -- your odds of later being fired are less -- A LOT LESS.

Getting fired early on is pretty much a "kiss of death"...for you CDL career -- & especially so, in the present market.

Those smaller carriers that are not self-insured....are a potential booby trap for you -- if you have an accident, or an incident.

THINK about it....& protect yourself.

-- L

 

Drive With Us - Bison USA (bisontransportusa.com)
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Has Regional and OTR plus Canada.