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FL, USA
Posted: 4/24/2024 11:12:47 PM EDT
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Hello AR15! I am 21 years old and just obtained my CDL. No endorsements yet. I'm in the central Florida area, I've got a potential job with Swift and Schneider. If those don't work out, I'm reaching out for advice on how to approach this new career. Where should I go to get initial experience? Please feel free to shine light on things I should look out for or be aware of in this industry. All input is extremely appreciated. Thank you for your insight. |
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435
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NH, USA
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Originally Posted By fourstar: Be careful and wary of any advice you get on AR15.com. There are some subject matter experts that have weighed in and given great advice. I would, perhaps arrogantly, also place myself in that category. If he shoots me a PM, I’d do whatever I could to help him find the right job based on his goals. @Seabee_Mech @Brawndo |
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Late in life, I got mine. Only drove for 2 companies.My 1st was with Roehl (family name pronounced "Rail"). I got my cdl on my own, so zero driving experience. That being the case, they put me through their "get your cdl" program. And then a month with a driver/trainer. This gave me some much needed hands-on that I needed. After that, there was a contract amount of driving I had to do. Before it was over, I had taken more than I could stand and was ready to reach through the phone a bitch-slap somebody who desperately needed it! Not Roehl's fault, that's just truck driving. Their set-up is for new drivers and that's what I needef, and I assume you too. And that will wear on a person. But, you gotta get that initial experience. They say your cdl is a golden ticket. It is as long as you keep it clean. After 4 years, mine still is unmarked by any infractions. I sit at home retired, I may get back on the road some day, but that may be a slim chance. Do right, stay clean, keep your cb turned on (until you get tired of hearing everybody else cussin' you out), and when an older guy calls you out on some dumbass thing you just did, remember that "yes sir and thank you" will do you more good than what you really want to do. |
| I’d suggest getting into food service. You’ll make considerably more money than the OTR guys,per day,and you’ll sleep in your own bed instead of having to find a spot to park and sleep in the truck. I’ve done both,and while F/S is more physical,it’s a much better fit for me. I’ll add that the OTR is a good way when you’re young and want to see the country,but working locally to regionally gets you home nearly every day. |
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I was banned for a fews days do to being Shit Faced so take this for whats it worth. Do you have a wife,girlfriend,kids,PETS an Apartment or house ? If so, find a smaller company that works local (home everynight) Im talking Dump Truck, Local retail flatbed, Running Biomass from the local Mills to a chip plant or bio mass Cogen etc (what i do) if you can get in (Fed Ex -USPS?) that may be sweet, (but i have no idea) LOGGING ! driving a Log Truck is also another home everynight option and isn't bad at all. NOW,, if you have no other "living thing" that you are responsible for, and dont mind doing time in a sleeper ,, with OTR - Swift New Dominion May Ruan Siaia The skys the limit with OTR. ive been at it 2.5 years all local .... Ill NEVER EVER go OTR and knew that before i got my CDL. (FYI - Im a newer fully endorsed Class A (2.5 years) - im also 54 years old no kids or wife but i have a bunch of pets and an ageing mother. It is what it is..Find what works best for you. AND SWING WIDE in turns.. 
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Welcome to the CDL in Florida club. It sucks. You're 21, which means it will be difficult to insure you so you will be looking at the bigger self insured companies. You really need to tell us your goals. Want to see the country and don't need to ever be home? Need to be home every day? What kind of trucking do you want to do? Why didn't you get Hazmat yet? If you want to be home, you'll want a FL based company. Just having a terminal typically isn't enough. Cypress trains on flatbed, Bonus used to train but not sure now. Oakley might train you on tanker. I'm sure I'm missing a few. You can also check with crane companies like Sims, Beyel, etc where you can learn more than just holding a steering wheel. Give us some more info and we can help. I know Swift has the Walmart DC in Cocoa and those guys are home every night, but you'll have to work for that spot. |
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Originally Posted By Brawndo: Welcome to the CDL in Florida club. It sucks. You're 21, which means it will be difficult to insure you so you will be looking at the bigger self insured companies. You really need to tell us your goals. Want to see the country and don't need to ever be home? Need to be home every day? What kind of trucking do you want to do? Why didn't you get Hazmat yet? If you want to be home, you'll want a FL based company. Just having a terminal typically isn't enough. Cypress trains on flatbed, Bonus used to train but not sure now. Oakley might train you on tanker. I'm sure I'm missing a few. You can also check with crane companies like Sims, Beyel, etc where you can learn more than just holding a steering wheel. Give us some more info and we can help. I know Swift has the Walmart DC in Cocoa and those guys are home every night, but you'll have to work for that spot.  It's tough to break into, especially without 2 years commercial experience unless you have someone on the inside to vouch for you. Rigger is the job you'll most likely be applying for, our riggers hold a Class A and will haul the rigging or a counter weight load to the job and then work as an assistant rigger or rigger/oiler while on the job. Working for a crane company gives you the opportunity to move up into Over Sized, Heavy Haul and Crane Operator positions, my company paid for my NCCCO Crane Operator training and testing. I mainly do Heavy Haul and part time as an operator. The crane industry is very incestuous, if you can get your foot in the door it's pretty easy to move to a new company or region as crane companies prefer to hire from other crane companies. |
USN Retired: APR 1988 - MAY 2008
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
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Originally Posted By Seabee_Mech: Cranes is a good business to get into, it's been very lucrative for me It's tough to break into, especially without 2 years commercial experience unless you have someone on the inside to vouch for you. Rigger is the job you'll most likely be applying for, our riggers hold a Class A and will haul the rigging or a counter weight load to the job and then work as an assistant rigger or rigger/oiler while on the job. Working for a crane company gives you the opportunity to move up into Over Sized, Heavy Haul and Crane Operator positions, my company paid for my NCCCO Crane Operator training and testing. I mainly do Heavy Haul and part time as an operator. The crane industry is very incestuous, if you can get your foot in the door it's pretty easy to move to a new company or region as crane companies prefer to hire from other crane companies. If you want advice or listen to advice we will all do our best to give it. But, if you were to only listen to the advice of ONE member of this forum. (IMO) You listen to - Seabee_Mech Dude knows his Pre Trip And Seabee Thankyou for the info you sent me !! |
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Originally Posted By barbcue: If you want advice or listen to advice we will all do our best to give it. But, if you were to only listen to the advice of ONE member of this forum. (IMO) You listen to - Seabee_Mech Dude knows his Pre Trip And Seabee Thankyou for the info you sent me !! Thanks for the compliment  ETA: There's a lot of different truck driving, I'm pretty good with heavy haul but couldn't tell you much about tankers, car hauling or LTL. We have some very knowledgeable people here in their specialties, we even have a few that own or manage fleets big and small. |
USN Retired: APR 1988 - MAY 2008
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
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Originally Posted By el_hombre: I am a trainer for Knight which also owns Swift. Feel free to AMA @el_hombre Former class A CDL here. It has been 25 years since I drove and I don’t have my CDL anymore because I let it expire. I am about to go back to truck driver training school again this month. School is a one month program. I was thinking of Knight because they have a local terminal. Swift is located in Ocala as well, I believe think. I want to work OTR reefer and stay OTR as long as possible because I have no ties to Florida or any other state. No family. No nothing. I’ll get back to this post later today to see if I can get some information from you about team drivers. Ty |
Don’t worry, be happy ??
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Originally Posted By TitanXD: @el_hombre Former class A CDL here. It has been 25 years since I drove and I don't have my CDL anymore because I let it expire. I am about to go back to truck driver training school again this month. School is a one month program. I was thinking of Knight because they have a local terminal. Swift is located in Ocala as well, I believe think. I want to work OTR reefer and stay OTR as long as possible because I have no ties to Florida or any other state. No family. No nothing. I'll get back to this post later today to see if I can get some information from you about team drivers. Ty |
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Originally Posted By TitanXD: @el_hombre Former class A CDL here. It has been 25 years since I drove and I don't have my CDL anymore because I let it expire. I am about to go back to truck driver training school again this month. School is a one month program. I was thinking of Knight because they have a local terminal. Swift is located in Ocala as well, I believe think. I want to work OTR reefer and stay OTR as long as possible because I have no ties to Florida or any other state. No family. No nothing. I'll get back to this post later today to see if I can get some information from you about team drivers. Ty |
We should have shotguns for this
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Thanks guys. If I got a job with Knight or Swift OTR what could I realistically expect to earn in my first year? I figure after all withholdings I should net about 1K every week. Does that sound right? Again, thank you and I’ll be back to the thread. I’m also in my late 50’s but I’m in good health. |
Don’t worry, be happy ??
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Ok I will see what I can do. The lady who works for Fleet Force Truck Driving School told me companies like Swift are bottom rung tier zero, but they hire anything. So I know I’m getting a job, with someone. lol. Been a long time since I drove a truck and I am hopeful to get back in it until I retire. No family, no ties to anything except the road. I can’t wait. |
Don’t worry, be happy ??
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NV, USA
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Hello, Starting your trucking career: I started out with May Trucking Company. Did a few months OTR, left that job and applied at a local Paving company as a dump truck driver, and got the job the day after I quit May Trucking. Built some experience ( 1.5 years ) then moved to another state where I work for the Division of Highways “Interstate division.” The main thing is keep your license clean, meaning no tickets/ accidents. Be selective on which company you work for and if they ask you to do anything illegal, don’t. And find a new job. Keep your criminal background clean, get your Hazmat and TWIC card. Don’t fail drug or alcohol testing, goes into your Federal Clearing House. Build experience in the construction industry driving dump trucks and operating equipment like skid steers, mini excavators, rolling machines, etc. this way you have more than one skill in your bag of tricks. It makes you more valuable. Feel free to ask any questions and I’ll try to answer them. Welcome to the start of your new life! |
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Originally Posted By SwackEm24: Hello, Starting your trucking career: I started out with May Trucking Company. Did a few months OTR, left that job and applied at a local Paving company as a dump truck driver, and got the job the day after I quit May Trucking. Built some experience ( 1.5 years ) then moved to another state where I work for the Division of Highways “Interstate division.” The main thing is keep your license clean, meaning no tickets/ accidents. Be selective on which company you work for and if they ask you to do anything illegal, don’t. And find a new job. Keep your criminal background clean, get your Hazmat and TWIC card. Don’t fail drug or alcohol testing, goes into your Federal Clearing House. Build experience in the construction industry driving dump trucks and operating equipment like skid steers, mini excavators, rolling machines, etc. this way you have more than one skill in your bag of tricks. It makes you more valuable. Feel free to ask any questions and I’ll try to answer them. Welcome to the start of your new life! Respectfully to you @SwackEm24, what you have said contains some bad advice for anyone wanting to pursue a career driving Class A rigs, or at the very least, does not communicate good advice clearly. Frankly, a few months experience with semis is....extremely limited, and one should consider that they may not know what they don't know at that point in time. You took a path that limits your options in the Class A world. Insurers don't care if you have ten years dump truck experience - to drive a semi, they want recent tractor trailer experience. Class A experience translates to driving a dump truck to a much higher degree than trying to make the opposite transition. If you've been out of a semi for more than a year or two (depending on the insurer) your prior experience doesn't meet the recency requirements for hiring eligibility for most companies, and you are limited once again to working for companies that will hire inexperienced drivers (less than a year or two of recent operation of a class A rig). ًWhat you did IS a valid career progression for someone NOT looking to pursue a career in class A rigs, but what it does NOT do in any way, shape, or form, is further ones career options if looking to drive a semi locally or over the road, and does NOTHING to get one into specialized trucking where real money is made. |
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Really?….so like I posted I went more of the dump truck route, but how was I able to land a career driving SEMI-HAZMAT TANKER TRUCKS, with ZERO recent class A semi driving experience??????? Because they don’t care, what they care about is your FEDERAL clearing house, your driving record, how long you’ve driven commercialy, not just 53’ footers, I make $36hr 60-70hr work weeks….do the math on that one I could work for whomever I want to just for your information |
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Originally Posted By SwackEm24: Really?….so like I posted I went more of the dump truck route, but how was I able to land a career driving SEMI-HAZMAT TANKER TRUCKS, with ZERO recent class A semi driving experience??????? Because they don’t care, what they care about is your FEDERAL clearing house, your driving record, how long you’ve driven commercialy, not just 53’ footers, I make $36hr 60-70hr work weeks….do the math on that one I could work for whomever I want to just for your information @SwackEm24 What you did is not possible outside of government agencies. Policy is driven by insurers out here in the real world. An appeal to the authority of the ‘federal clearinghouse’ leads me to believe you’re being disingenuous, as the only time that’s relevant is if there’s a substance abuse issue documented - it’s literally called the ‘drug and alcohol clearinghouse’. The fact that you believe you could go work for anyone would directly be based upon your *recent* experience operating Class A rigs. If you can’t understand that, I don’t know what to tell you. Your advice was bad, and your arrogance is worse. I wouldn’t go throwing out paycheck numbers as a conversation-ender either, because you look petty and childish, especially when you don’t have a clue what other folks in this thread and offering advice, actually make. |
| Not an OTR driver. Heck not even using my cdl atm. But I just wanted to drop in and tell OP not the sweat someone’s comment about why he didn’t get all his endorsements at once. Atleast in AR you can basically get them as needed. Heck that’s a lot of testing at once. (And a lot of the tests got more questions since I did mine) Or even prior to a job, I guess depending on the industry. I got mine for oilfield. 90% of the time you’ll get a job before the next guy even if they have to train you, since they won’t have to foot the bill to put you through a school. |