Starting out for rookies

From what I know the ONLY way you can get a CDL is going to a school and go through their class; which was 5-6k. Then you had to do a 1yr on the road before anyone local that will hire you at all.. Unless you knew, had an inside scoop of a job lined up for you!

Saxologist, if you paid 1200 for your class and then go a job right after! That is hard to believe unless you knew someone or where every every every lucky finding that sweet gig! Hope you still have it and don't lose it. 99.9 percent of trucking jobs require you too have 1-2yrs of experience.

 

So true, it take a rare breed to do this type of job. Not everyone is cut for this type of work. As well as most companies want to pay you 10-12 or 14 dollars an hour. Unless you live in a union state where you can make a decent living!

 

my school was $4000 for 160 hours with bus endorsement but state of NJ paid anywy
I believe the problem lies in most insurance companies want to see 120 or more hours
through an accredited school. You dont think a carrier really cares about anything
other then the freight delivered on time
Safety office is only there to keep federales at bay "safety concious" is a joke
all bald tires be fine if it didn't raise flags with DOT and insurance

 

True, I do have an advantage that I have friends that have been in the Trucking business for a while. But I have also been searching ads for truckers everywhere. Some on this website. I have come across a lot of companies that will hire new grads, place them with a trainer, and then they get their own truck. No one is asking for any money to do this. One company I found here was located in Missouri. Their ad said they will put you with a trainer and after 3 weeks you get your own truck. OK maybe Missouri is not the place but it's ranked as highest paid for drivers but it's a start.

Pretty sad that the Companies in this Country are not willing to train anyone in any field any more. They all want experience. All this B.S. about creating millions of new jobs is just B.S. Yes there are more and more jobs I see on Craigslist but they are all $8 to $14 down here is South Florida. Who can live on that. I moved down here from Chicago 8 years ago and I can't wait to get the hell out of here. Going to Phoenix to drive for a friend.

South Florida is the pits.

 

I don't understand what they teach you with all these hrs.

 

Yup--yes, correct, uh-huh, and exactly. I am in Chicago area also looking to escape. My target is somewhere in the Dixie South but Central or Southern Indianaa/Ohio/Missouri would win also. DIdn't you like saying hello to LaBron everday? What was wrong with South Florida? Too expensive? So is Chicago.

 

Hey Casting, I think I came across an ad here a company either Ten. or Missouri was looking for a newbie. Their deal was actually good. They place you with a trainer for 3 weeks and then they give your own truck

 

I live here in Florida, also I got XT endorsement on my CDL. With that said Florida is the pits for a job, starting pay 8-12 dollars per hour! I found a job for 14/hr to haul acid and working for maybe 40 hrs week! Yes that is what the ad stated; "14/hr to haul acid and working for maybe 40 hrs".

Florida is for retire people and for corp jobs. Not many if not at all any decent paying jobs here. I would [would of] been outta here years ago but wife loves this place and doesn't want to move from this crap whole of a place.

Oh well, I got 3yrs driving and I continue to look for work a lot closer to home. At this time I am driving 128 per day to make an average 600-700 gross per week for a pay check.

 

Much of the economy is that way. By the time I was getting good at being an auto mechanic, the wages dropped to less than what they were when I started.

Though you may not think $14.00/hr is much, it is realative. I can tell you that here in the Chicagoland area, with its traffic congestions and all, $14.00/hr is nothing. However, maybe in Florida, making $14.00/hr is like making $19.00/hr here. I dunno.

This is a major reason I wish to escape Illinois--broke and corrupt state. It is also too expensive. If I am only going to make 'X' being a trucker, then I don't want 'Y' cost of living. I want 'X' cost of living--or less.

 

Hey Taino! If that's the case then go OTR and live the wife behind