Joined
·
277 Posts
Any advice on schools. Programs to get the cdl. Obviously I’m looking for a cheap school, but what is a decent amount to pay, without getting sucked into a bad contract.
Heard some chatter on trucking.
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
Joined
·
8,177 Posts
Are you serious?
Probably the best advice I can give you is to start with a big carrier that is willing to train you, you will probably have to sign some type of 2 year contract to cover you getting your license
I have held a CDL for many many years, these days most companies insurance require 2 years experience with CDL.
Truck driving isn't all that, long hours away from home and they pay you by the mile so if your stuck in traffic you are working for free.
Joined
·
15,008 Posts
Just like at the end of the day we try to figure out how much we made hourly, truck driving is no different.
Even with a lot of traffic, the miles paid will translate into decent hourly pay with no expenses.
So it's not driving for free.
Joined
·
8,177 Posts
It pays about .41/mile, so if your moving 60 mph your getting about $24 hr.
It's a good gig for a young single guy, after a while most get tired of it and try to find local hourly work
Joined
·
15,008 Posts
If that's all they get, then they're probably making $10 an hour. Doesn't sound right .
Truck drivers spend a lot of dowm time at each stop, many times waiting on the business to get the forklift, maybe the guy is at lunch, maybe they're just asses who don't care to rush for the delivery guy.
I've heard of some drivers that also get certain amount per pallet.
Not sure if that's the norm.
Joined
·
995 Posts
Drivers(long haul) get paid if they help unload. If they didn't help, I would mark it on the freight bill.
Joined
·
2,670 Posts
CR England...training is FREE 99
No cost for training if you comit to work for them for at least a year (maybe 2 I don't remember)
Joined
·
1,253 Posts
Go with Prime, they're way better @ putting sugar on s**t than Swift & CRE are.
Joined
·
279 Posts
You live in la there is a ton of companies that will hire you right out of trucking school most say they need you to have experience but they need drivers and will hire you out of school others hire out of school and tuition reimbursement so pay for your school I would avoid the mega carriers you don't make any money at all driving with them and may even be trained by someone who is new to trucking and lot of companies are running automatics and are training in automatics you will wanna learn how to drive the manual transmission up and down hills. If you really must go with a mega carrier or go over the road I would only do if for least amount of time possible get experience come home and get a local job. I stared out with a ltl company as a yard goat backing up trailers and hooking doubles so I got lucky. But you can make really good money in trucking and be home everyday. When it comes to trucking there is so many companies to work for. And schools there is gonna be several options but check out Harbor trucking school
Oh ant btw some schools will charge like 1200 you can pay payments. The school I mentioned I didn't pay that much because I knew how to drive just needed a truck to take test in. But for you you will have to pay for a full course learning how to back up, shifting, and all the things they will ask on test. Get your license ASAP get your experience and get a local job driving and get paid per hour. Easily find a job making 20 something an hour stay away from school called Roadmaster.
Joined
·
3,663 Posts
The school I went to was Dootson, but they kind of rushed you. I wanted to take my time but they felt like I was ready to practice on the street when I wasn't.
If I feel the need to go back, which school would be the best? Doesn't matter where as long as they let you take your time
If I feel the need to go back, which school would be the best? Doesn't matter where as long as they let you take your time
Joined
·
125 Posts
stopped driving truck 2014 due to my arthritis after 10 years with big guys
like Schneider and CR Enland.
like other member asks are you serious would be my first question.
when we take those newly licensed tough guys out for 8 weeks road training
2 guys out of 30 finished the course.
some of em had to fly back from mid west.
250 lbs crying on the phone with his wife in the back.
I'm a immigrant. please correct my english I'll send you $10 Amazon gift card.
like Schneider and CR Enland.
like other member asks are you serious would be my first question.
when we take those newly licensed tough guys out for 8 weeks road training
2 guys out of 30 finished the course.
some of em had to fly back from mid west.
250 lbs crying on the phone with his wife in the back.
I'm a immigrant. please correct my english I'll send you $10 Amazon gift card.
Joined
·
279 Posts
Haha I would quit to and cry to my wife if I was driving with a mega carrier all week 1500 miles and gettin paid 300 bucks haha for those starting out with a mega carrier expect to make 400 a week haha
Another one I heard is good is called Messiah trucking school
Joined
·
2,905 Posts
I have a CDL, I paid for the trucking school myself.
Lots of cheap options out there where you don't pay up front . It's all pay-as-you-go classes until you finish.
Id recommend not going to some big company just so you can get the CDL free. It's low low wages and very depressing schedules routes etc. they lock you in a contract
Get your CDL yourself , you can work for a big company first 6 months quit then go to a better paying company that is local like JB hunt they do local rail stuff al the time pay like 60k a year.
Message me if you want some details on what I've been doing. I have never done a long haul .
Joined
·
279 Posts
Exactly staying away from long haul is great advice! I would even advise him to try in get with an ltl company. I thought about Schneider or jb hunt local intermodal myself but they pay per load and then per mile which threw me off I wanna learn more about how they pay for the intermodal
Joined
·
2,905 Posts
Talk to a recruiter from jb hunt he will give you details. Only reason I didn't go with them was because when you're new it's kind of on-call At first from lik 3p-6p, didn't like that. I'm very picky. But it seems like you can make decent money
I Drive a Couple Truck Drivers
They Make Good $$ Because They Own The Rig
I See Used Rigs For Sale in The Fontana Area For About 28K
They Make Good $$ Because They Own The Rig
I See Used Rigs For Sale in The Fontana Area For About 28K
Driving a truck in responsible, professional and financially rewarding manner is a whole different outlook on driving. There is a lot to it. Sure, there are a lot of people that do not take it seriously and do it just as a job, but those are the ones that cause accidents and drive like maniacs and so forth.
I know. I was a professional truck driver for 14 years before my career was cut short at the hands of a couple of car drivers causing a double accident on a freeway resulting in career ending injuries to me.
So, if you are thinking about driving a truck, stop first and think real hard and ask yourself these questions:
I know. I was a professional truck driver for 14 years before my career was cut short at the hands of a couple of car drivers causing a double accident on a freeway resulting in career ending injuries to me.
So, if you are thinking about driving a truck, stop first and think real hard and ask yourself these questions:
- Am I a defense of offensive driver? (If you always drive on the offense, you do not belong as a truck driver.)
- Do I care about those around me and others driving on the road? (If no, you do not belong as a truck driver.)
- Do I take the time to learn all the rules and regulations and do my job in a respectful professional manner? (If no, do not become a truck driver.)
- Do I follow all the rules and regulations? (If no, do not become a truck driver.)
- Am I a patient person? (If no, do not become a truck driver.)
- Do I like working long hours including all hours of the day and week? (If not, do not become a truck driver.)
- Etc and so forth.
Most do not and it would be only if included in the contract/shipment details.
Most owner/operators only make good money when the get involved with nich loads or good contracts. MOST long distance owner operators do fairly well or above, but that takes experience and time to build up. MOST local owner/operators make enough to get by, as they are latterly a dime a dozen.
Joined
·
2,905 Posts
Like Uber ?
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
