I’m an engineering-based guy now in his 50’s. I got laid off a couple of months ago and am sick and tired of the khaki-laden rat race. I’ve made a lot of people lots of money and look good over the years but not so much for me. I am just plain tired of it plus the job market isn’t so great for folks like me.
My background is in the marine industry, though I’ve spent a lot of time with heavy lift and haul operations at dock side for ships, barges, SPMT, rail, and trucking. Most of my work is with items weighting in the 100’s of tons, but I did do a bit of typical FMCSA checks and designs for open deck trucks hauling oversize (ex. transformers, turbine rotors) and other crated cargos that fall within standard commercial weight & size limits.
To that end, I’m “familiar” with how things generally operation but aside from towing a trailer with an F150 for a few years, I’ve done nothing that I’d consider commercial.
I’ve started looking into getting a CDL-A through either a technical college or vocational school and see about starting out as a noob at somewhere like Knight as they’re close by and have a newbie/no experience program. I’ll be paying for it all up front so I’m not beholden to the company for anything.
I’ve touched enough chain, shackles, welded steel, and damaged myself enough to know that I really am not interested in flatbed or specialized transport, but probably dry van or refer.
I’ll be lurking for a bit, but I’m pretty sure I’ll eventually be chiming in with comments or questions.
Welcome to the forum. Sorry about the job problems but be advised that most people here on the forum will recommend that you apply and get training and CDL-A from a reputable company. That way you pay nothing out of pocket and don’t have to search for a company to accept you with no experience. Giving back a year to a company in exchange for training and a foot in the door is not tough to do. Good luck.
Welcome. We do indeed recommend going with company provided training for many reasons. One is that they have some skin in the game after having spent considerable expenses marking, training and housing schools for new applicants, this makes them motivated to ensure your success and keep you working.
Two is that once a school has taken your money, your value to them is done, its no guarantee that you will find a job after. Its recommended to stay at your first company a year anyway.
I’d recommend going through Knight if you can, they have great training and resources, I launched my career with them.
Write the TXDOT exams (3 parts) for my learners permit. (CLP)
Once that’s cleared, I’m good to go for one of the carrier’s training schools, though I should really touch base with them (ex. Knight) first and inquire as to what I’m doing.
I figure that it’ll be after Christmas (Jan or Feb) for me to start this process so I’ve got time yet.
In general yes, at least with Knight, you get a med card first, then get your CLP. Next, assuming you are hired, you will get a new med card from a doctor of their choice along with a physical, then you would go to their Squire school, for three weeks, during which time you are paid, youre an employee before you start school.
Then, upon completing school, obtaining your CDL, you will either go for 30 days of training on the road or you will attend Top Gun for a week. (A week of close quarters maneuvering and real world backing while living on campus in a semi truck). Upon completing top gun, you will then go OTR training for 2 weeks. You’re paid during training and top gun.
Upon completing training, you will be assigned your own truck and will complete 30k solo moles under a DDM (Driver Developer manager) then you will move to a regular driver manager.
Different companies have different procedures. Some have you get your clp with them, others provide lodging but not pay, etc. I know of Knights protocol simply because its how I obtained my CDL. While you are paid from day one, its not too much in school, you pay your own lodging. Knight also has deals for veterans as most companies do.
I drove for them as a company driver for 3.5 years doing OTR, Regional, Dedicated, local and urgent/sensitive, all dry van.
I went to work for Hummer after and now am back at Knight as an owner/op.
Hello Mark. Everything I’ve read on this posting is solid advice, tested and proven. It seems like a no brainer for you to try starting with Knight. It sounds like you have enough money to pay for training, but letting Knight pay for your training would be sound wisdom regardless. Save your money for the inevitable expenses of getting set up in your truck. Get a top of the line Garmin GPS unit, cordless leaf blower, memory foam mattress topper, etc. Make sure your blood pressure is below 140 for the first number before you go for your DOT medical exam. You can get a head start on your training by watching YouTube instructional videos about driving and backing. Good luck and keep us posted about your progress.
The leaf blower is a great piece of equipment to have if you get into pulling a van, either dry van or reefer. It’s for getting debris out of the trailer. So much easier than a broom. Just keep in mind not to blow debris out of the trailer just anywhere. Customers will not appreciate the mess on their property. So always collect up the big chunks and put them in the trash.
I just graduated a CDL school in August. I previously had a CDL and I let it expire as I quit driving back in 2012. When I first obtained my CDL in 2000 I went through Swift and I would say that a company operated CDL school would be better. Now that I have experience doing both the independent CDL schools moto was “we are just here to get you your CDL.” When I went through Swift they taught us much more about safely driving the truck. I recommend that you go through a company run CDL school as you will learn much more.
But do you think it’s more so because you did it 25 years ago with the compan and it was a much better setup then? I hear A LOT has changed over the years.
Yes, that might be true as I think the values have changed over the years. I was saddened on how little the private CDL school did not teach the students. A few of the students even asked me on how to hook and unhook a trailer. I tried to show them but all they wanted us to do was to drive and they told us the company that hires you will show you how to hook/unhook.
I think people get the wrong idea about cdl schools, whether private or company sponsored.
The goal of those schools is to get you competent enough to pass the test (along with making money). Your real training will come from time on the road at whichever company you sign on with. From the daily tasks, to learning dispatch and whichever computer system you use to breakdown calls, fueling etc will all be learned there and it takes time, so be patient.
Ask any veteran driver on here or even in person and they’ll tell you that it doesn’t happen overnight. Take your time, be patient, remember the fundamentals and try to stay calm and collected. Most people aren’t going to tell you that the deck is stacked against you but numbers don’t lie and that’s why you see such a high turnover rate in this industry. People see trucking for many things, a way to see the country, a way to make a decent living, heck, just getting out on the road to take it all in and get inside your own head. All of these things are true but what it’s NOT, is easy. Most drivers never see their 1 year mark because they don’t understand the physical and mental side of the industry and just how exhausting it all is when you’re a new driver.
I learned more from my trainer than at CDL school. I think the CDL schools have lowered their standards over the years. The school I went to was 4 weeks long and we did lots of driving and no classroom. It could look back for a new student that just graduated from CDL school going through a job interview and the interviewer asks them some basic questions and the graduated student looks at them with a blank face because the CDL school did not teach them. It also comes down to safety and it starts from the beginning.
Hi! I was looking to change careers and was considering CDL. I am a 56 year old male and was going to do this till I need to retire (at 70 Lol). With all the trucking issues going on is it worth the change? Also I live around the Pensacola Florida area. Thanks!
Tony your the only one that can determine if its worth it to you. Trucking has been in a hard place the past 3 years. Goods still have to be moved. Right now the industry is going through a self correction. That will continue for awhile still. Companies are hiring more than they have been and some have said they have raised pay.
I think we are in the early phase of improvement, but I also think we are going to see alot of changes wether good or bad remains to be seen.
The feds are finally taking notice and trying to fix several problem areas. If you want to get in the industry seek out a company sponsored school.
You always have great advice on so many topics. Because I have met you in person I know first hand that you never steer anyone in the wrong direction. I always enjoy your posts and hopefully will get another chance at a meet and greet someday in my travels.
So I’ve been away for a bit. Researching and just taking a break. 3 months of job searching among other things got old 2 months ago. After this little recharge, I picked up again with my processes.
I’m still leaning heavily to a school for my own reasons (no debt, slower pace, endorsements, etc.). I did visit one of the local CDL schools. Seems ok, but I couldn’t get full info as all of the instructors were teaching classes or working on driving. I don’t think they’re used to folks coming in a kinda grilling them. This particular school provides everything from the medical through to the DOT road test that takes 3-4 weeks depending on the options. They also have auto-only restriction removal as well. However, she couldn’t tell me if they did any real-world ops like dock backing, 45/90 degree versions, or coupling/uncoupling. This is important to me. They do have dates for recruiters to show up (typ. ones for the Houston area like Knight/Swift, Schnieder, etc.) to put forward their company options. She couldn’t tell me if they actually worked with the carriers at all, so that’s going to be the next thing I do after I visit/chat with other schools: talk to the possible employers.
I’m also looking at a local vocational college which has a 6 week program. It appears to be pretty thorough, though there’s no course syllabus provided. It is a bit more pricey, but it’s a state school so I’m sure the grads are considered much more employable than typical schools. I believe they also have auto-only restriction removal. Not sure about HAZMAT or anything with either as well. I’d prefer to get HAZMAT and no transmission restriction in one fell swoop if I can.
One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that many of the trucks for the schools are day cab and smaller trailers. Seem to be 28 footers or TEU type with single or double axels. I’m 100% sure those setups will not be ideal to train on as I’m betting I’ll likely end up in a sleeper truck with 53 foot trailers assuming I start OTR as I expect.