CDL Student - Best Steps After Getting License?

Any background in mechanical things, driving heavy equipment or anything bigger than a car?
Any background at all that makes you familiar with the trucking industry or do you just think it's cool?
If so, you might be on the right track.

Probably the best place to start is as a company driver for one of the better non-bottom feeding large carriers, like Schneider.
All the mega carriers will hire fresh CDL-A grads, provided you have a clean record, without experience.
The reason I suggest this is that you'll want to try on the job to see if it loves you and you love it, because trucking, sorry to say, isn't for most people. It's almost like you've got to just love it and would do it for free if you weren't paid, because the sacrifices are large to be a participant in the trucking lifestyle. Or you just need to not care much. Or not know the difference. I don't even know.

 

Don't buy a truck until you have 2 or 3 yrs. experience first. Main reason is insurance. Insurance would be extremely expensive plus with no experience most companies won't let you haul their freight.

Put your location on your profile so we know the hiring area you live in.

Get all the endorsements plus TWIC and a passport. Attend a 160 hr. CDL school.

Study the "CDL Practice Tests" accessed at top of this page.

Many good trucking companies will hire you the day you graduate from CDL school.

Study the OOIDA website for the business end of being an owner-operator.

 

How do you get a NON OTR job after graduation?

 

This just in: Unless you're sleeping with the right person, there are no Monday thru Friday, 9 to 5 jobs in Class-A trucking for newbies.

 

Desn't have to be Monday to Friday 9 to 5, just not OTR...there is a difference

 

Most local jobs don't pay that well unless it's hazmat/tanker or food service. Some regional jobs you can be home during the week; maybe just not every day. May not pay too well though unless you're in the hiring area for LTL companies such as Old Dominion or food service such as Sysco. Put your city/state on your profile.

Pay per mile doesn't mean much. In fact, I've never even considered that when changing jobs; just look at a combination of accessorial pays with cents-per-mile at the bottom of the list. Cents-per-mile is important running teams, but not so much running solo. I only made .36 cents-per-mile with all my experience, but annually made $65K. What is the nearest city/town to your location? Location is important so you don't waste time applying to companies when you're not in their hiring area.

 

You have no idea what you are talking about, just because you got screwed does not mean everyone will. Straight out of school I got a local job, Monday to Friday. 6:00 am til anytime between 2:00 and 5:00 pm. Will make about $50,000 first year. Not quite 9 to 5, but how's that for you.