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Things to look for and ask for starting your 1st Cdl A Job as a rookie

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by PrestoTrucker, Oct 3, 2018.

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Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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Get the endorsements. Hazmat is the only one that requires more than a written test. The more you have on your license, the more options are available to you..."bird in the hand" sort of deal. Sure, "I can get it easy enough" ...but from an employer's standpoint, if it was "easy enough" for you to get, why haven't you got it?

As for the 1099/w2, in most cases you'll want to avoid the 1099's and stick to w2 working as a company driver. If/when you buy a truck, then you'll be 1099. Unless you know what you're doing, and more importantly unless the company knows what they are doing, it is very easy for you to get in over your head.

Pedigreed Bulldog, Oct 3, 2018

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Fuelinmyveins, Rollr4872 and icarus179 Thank this.
PrestoTrucker Bobtail Member

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Chinatown said: ↑

W-2 - the trucking company withholds taxes, social security, health insurance, etc.
1099 - it's your responsibility to withhold all that yourself and file taxes every 3 months.
Being a single guy, see the country and enjoy it.
Melton Truck Lines is flatbed and runs 48 states.
Freymiller is refrigerated and runs 48 states.
Danny Herman Trucking is dry van and runs coast to coast below I-40.
I'm a fan of Freymiller and Melton Truck Lines for new cdl graduates.
All 3 of the companies I listed pay on W-2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Info on Freymiller:

DO YOU HAVE YOUR CDL BUT NEED EXPERIENCE?
Freymiller has designed a Finishing Program for new CDL holders to get you the road experience needed to become a successful solo driver!

Tuition reimbursement for recent CDL school graduates

Our exceptional finishing program will pair you with an experienced, certified trainer who will prepare you with the skills that you will require to become a safe and experienced driver with a great future at Freymiller!
Click to expand...

Nice. Thanks. okay did a quick search on all three so the one company Melton is primarily a flatbed? is that good for right out school grad only experienced with tractor trailer.
and i guess both Co's Freymiller and Melton are in all 50 states?

the other co. doesn't want people Fresh out of cdl school i guess.. they wont at leas 3 months experience
PrestoTrucker, Oct 3, 2018

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PrestoTrucker Bobtail Member

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also what endorsements. Duals and Haz Mat ? and tankers?
any others sorry if that sounds dumb. haven't looked into yet. wasn't planning of 6 months. But now i figure if can just study a few days and go into DMV on monday or tuesday next week and test and finger print etc. why not?

PrestoTrucker, Oct 3, 2018

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magoo68 Road Train Member

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What color is my Pete how fast does it go .. do you do hair testing seem to be common questions

magoo68, Oct 3, 2018

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austinmike and BlueThunderr Thank this.
PrestoTrucker Bobtail Member

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magoo68 said: ↑

What color is my Pete how fast does it go .. do you do hair testing seem to be common questions
Click to expand...

funny...... not too worried bout that .....65 to 70 would be nice
not worried about any drug tests. Im good and clean.

PrestoTrucker, Oct 3, 2018

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magoo68 Thanks this.
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Pedigreed Bulldog said: ↑

How long has your trainer been with the company?
How long has your trainer been driving commercially?

Those are important, because your trainer cannot teach what he doesn't know. Many of the starter companies will take a still-wet-behind-the-ears rookie driver and make them a trainer after 60-90 days. That ISN'T the kind of trainer you want. Other companies don't even wait that long, if that "trainer" skips the whole company driver thing and signs a lease. They let them train with NO experience, because that's the only way that driver is going to be able to afford that lease they were just suckered into signing. Bottom line, you want to avoid getting yourself into a "blind leading the blind" situation, and look for a company with EXPERIENCED hands doing the training. I lucked out when I started, as I was placed with a trainer who had 12+ years with the company and well over a decade before that driving elsewhere. You can learn a lot from somebody who actually knows what they are doing. The recruiter likely won't know who your trainer will be, because you won't actually be assigned to one until after you have your CDL and a trainer is available to take you on. For this reason, you might ask about the average experience level of the trainers, and what the minimum qualifications are to become one.

Of course there are the obvious...
Freight types?
Lanes you'll be travelling?
Home time?
Equipment (trucks, trailers) age, condition, and type?

Then there are the things most don't think about until something happens, such as...
Dealing with a family emergency from the road?
What happens if the truck breaks down?

...as well as stuff a lot won't think about until they're half way through orientation, like...
Where will you park when you go home?

Hopefully that'll get you started...it's just the tip of the ice burg, though.
Click to expand...

thanks lots of info thanks
the trainer thing probably is out of my control i would assume id get a person with 6 months or less
get going on the basics at least.

PrestoTrucker, Oct 3, 2018

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Chinatown Road Train Member

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Flatbed is ok for new drivers, otherwise a company like Melton wouldn't hire them.
From my understand, Melton does a rigorous training orientation for new drivers on load securement and safety.
Melton Truck Lines
Some of the great features offered on our trucks are:

Double Bunk Walk-In Sleepers

Refrigerators & Upgraded Interiors

1500 Power Watt Inverters

12 and 10 Speed Transmissions, Automatic Transmission

ISX Cummins, MX PACCAR, and Detroit Diesel DD15 Engines

Omnitracs MCP 200 System with Electronic Logs

AM/FM/CD/USB/Weather Band Radio with Bluetooth
Last edited: Oct 3, 2018

Chinatown, Oct 3, 2018

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Chinatown said: ↑

Flatbed is ok for new drivers, otherwise a company like Melton wouldn't hire them.
From my understand, Melton does a rigorous training orientation for new drivers on load securement and safety.
Melton Truck Lines
Some of the great features offered on our trucks are:

Double Bunk Walk-In Sleepers

Refrigerators & Upgraded Interiors

1500 Power Watt Inverters

12 and 10 Speed Transmissions, Automatic Transmission

ISX Cummins, MX PACCAR, and Detroit Diesel DD15 Engines

Omnitracs MCP 200 System with Electronic Logs

AM/FM/CD/USB/Weather Band Radio with Bluetooth

Click to expand...

Just curious ..... how come you suggest these two companies a lot?

Melton and freymiller???

I ask this for no other reason than to sincerely ask?? Not being Sh#ty or anything.
PrestoTrucker, Oct 5, 2018

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Chinatown Road Train Member

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PrestoTrucker said: ↑

Just curious ..... how come you suggest these two companies a lot?
Melton and freymiller???
I ask this for no other reason than to sincerely ask?? Not being Sh#ty or anything.
Click to expand...

They're not your typical mega carrier and have an excellent reputation among new cdl graduates and drivers with many years experience.

Chinatown, Oct 5, 2018

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nomadatheart Thanks this.
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Chinatown said: ↑

They're not your typical mega carrier and have an excellent reputation among new cdl graduates and drivers with many years experience.
Click to expand...

Okay.. i figured.
I was just nervous both being ALL the way in OK. long ways to go to get started for orientation. things to worry about place to stay etc.

PrestoTrucker, Oct 5, 2018

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