Anybody drive CDL?
- Thread starter McDirkale
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@DCGallim once said something to me, and this wont be verbatim so I do apologize, but it was something to the effect of 'being recession proof'
Now, that could have been his business - waste industry, but maybe he meant the skills he possess, like driving large trucks with a CDL
Ive considered contacting Thomas about driving buses to destinations, but Im also just out of work and in that 'let me just clean and relax' phase
Now, that could have been his business - waste industry, but maybe he meant the skills he possess, like driving large trucks with a CDL
Ive considered contacting Thomas about driving buses to destinations, but Im also just out of work and in that 'let me just clean and relax' phase
I drove an 18 wheeler back in 2004-2005, rough job for someone with a family cause you’re never home. That being said I’ve kept my CDL and gotten my physical every two years as a fall back job option.
If you don't have trouble keeping your nose clean on the highway (don't get tickets frequently), go ahead and start the process now. It's difficult if you don't use a training school to arrange a vehicle to test with.
Frequent speeding tickets are expensive and make it hard to keep your CDL.
If you get your license and look for a job, do some kind of specialty hauling. There is no money in freight hauling unless you run constantly, and even then with electronic logs there's not much to be made.
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Frequent speeding tickets are expensive and make it hard to keep your CDL.
If you get your license and look for a job, do some kind of specialty hauling. There is no money in freight hauling unless you run constantly, and even then with electronic logs there's not much to be made.
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Electronic logs killed the money making ability of drivers.
Burt Gummer
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Having the license to drive a big truck, or being able to operate heavy equipment is a skill that will always land you a job somewhere. Always. The job I’m in now doesn’t require a cdl as my past jobs have, and I’m torn between keeping it and letting it go. But if I had to leave my current job I’d go get a job operating an excavator somewhere Or driving a truck and be just as happy.
Just beware that 99% of insurance companies wont insure you as a cdl driver unless you have been through an accredited school. I spent more than half my adult life in trucking.
Also if you dont keep current at a cdl job you may be required by a company's insurance to take a "refresher " to be insurable
Also if you dont keep current at a cdl job you may be required by a company's insurance to take a "refresher " to be insurable
DCGallim
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I have never had that be the case. In all my years of driving and hiring drivers I’ve never been asked by a potential employer or my insurance company about a driving school.
I’ve had cdls for about 8 years with no intentions of giving them up. Don’t currently drive full time but fill in when one of our drivers is out. You can make a decent living running for many different local companies but most require some form of otr experience. Our drivers make around 50k, home everyday and have most holidays off with pay. I enjoy driving for the most part but the dot makes it more difficult all the time.
I drove OTR very briefly. Loved the job, the pay was bad. Almost every entry level company requires you to have attended a school, insurance I'm told. Almost every outfit that pays well requires you to have 1+ yrs exp, driving a combination vehicle. Dedicated tanker route not servicing gas stations would be ideal I think.
It is not recession proof. There may be a shortage of drivers drivers right now, but companies fold, drivers go unpaid, and bad companies abound. People generally stay in the good jobs when they find them.
I have to have a CDL, I don't have to have a med card, but I keep it because it keeps other jobs a possibility. I don't discourage the profession, but it's certainly not all roses.
It is not recession proof. There may be a shortage of drivers drivers right now, but companies fold, drivers go unpaid, and bad companies abound. People generally stay in the good jobs when they find them.
I have to have a CDL, I don't have to have a med card, but I keep it because it keeps other jobs a possibility. I don't discourage the profession, but it's certainly not all roses.
As said by beef15 more entry level companies require the school. As to the insurance requirements, I worked in hazmat, and that may be the difference
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Hazmat always adds a level of red tape. I studied years ago to get it, and double endorsement. I decided against both. Still have my tank endorsement but haven’t used it in years
I have been considering getting a B license rather than a full on CDL. Any reason to just do the CDL? Not looking to drive OTR big rigs. Thinking like a dump/roll on type. Not real happy with my desk job right now.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'll probably have more questions, as well.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'll probably have more questions, as well.
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I hadn't considered this. Hell, I used to build them for the big green! How does one go about getting into this field? I do have a little seat time.
DCGallim
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Some places will hire with just a Permit and then help you get a full license. Most grading and construction companies are going to want a class A since you’ll be driving a dump truck and pulling a trailer with a piece of equipment on it. There’s a restriction now on auto vs manual transmissions as well.
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Class A cdl for 13 years or so. Got a regional job contracted to a bakery. It’s as recession proof as you can get. But I have friends that have been laid off or hours cut. So it depends on what you haul. I’m at the point at 12 years with the company that I’m making good money and can’t afford to leave. Starting pay isn’t so great. It’s kind of weird right now. A lot depends on what you are hauling and having seniority to ride out the cuts.
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If your going through the process no reason to stop with a b. Class A would give you more options for employment. Also keep in mind when testing it will be best to test with a combination unit with manual transmission. If you test with no trailer or an auto you will have restrictions for both is my understanding.
This and footage restrictions. Want a full Class A you need manual transmission and 53’ trailer. Any variance to that will limit your Class A to whatever you test in.
Honestly, if I were starting from scratch I would go ahead and go for Tanker, Tandem, and Hazmat endorsements. There are only certain offices that do some of those endorsements, Charlotte and Johnson City TN IIRC. But that opens up jobs at UPS, Fed Ex, XPO, etc. About anyone out there hauling tandems requires that set of endorsements.