Comments By SilverBullet

I'm starting a local CDL School on Monday and researching all I can about future employment.

Which school are you attending? Let us know how it goes.

Bill

NOT LOOKING TO START A DEBATE HERE... JUST STATING FACTS...

Where you attend school and the type of program matters.

Many companies (more and more over time) are relaxing "minimum experience requirements". Historical reviews are a great place to start but are not a substitute (IMHO) for current research.

Companies may also make a "one off" exception for "the right" candidate.

I just graduated (have my certificate, cap and gown / diploma this Wed.) from a 400-hour technical college program. I am scheduled to start Jan. 7th with J.B. Hunt on the Amazon Dedicated 7-state Regional run out of Kenosha, WI. J.B. Hunt "advertises" a 3-month experience requirement. (It is a GREAT gig for a newbie!).

I have been in ongoing discussion with a company which "requires" 2 years of OTR experience. After going to his boss, his bosses boss and the owner, they were continuing to move forward with me.

I know of one company which will hire out of "my" school, but not the other local area technical college due to differences in results from hiring students out of the two schools.

Whatever you do, do your research... explore your options. Get the best training you can get and market yourself professionally. I started attending job fairs early in school, before the one on our campus... even met a trucking co. owner at the DMV. Stay in touch... don't burn bridges!

FYI... I am doing online orientation. I show up on Jan. 7th as a J.B. Hunt employee. Fill out some more paperwork and go out with my trainer for week one. After 4 weeks (home each weekend I believe), plan is to test and go out solo in my own truck.

Not saying this is better than other ways of doing this. Just saying this seems to be working for me.

Find what works for you!

Good luck to us both!

That's awesome !

I've been researching and job hunting for several weeks now. Still overwhelmed with the vastness of it all. BIG learning curve but it is what it is. One can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

Just started class today so research will have to wait just abit.

Thanks for the tips !

I'm starting a local CDL School on Monday and researching all I can about future employment.

Which school are you attending? Let us know how it goes.

Bill

United Trucking Driving School here in Murfreesboro, TN.

DAY ONE of CLASS under my belt !!

Back to studying.

Check this link out. Trucking Company Reviews

Short answer is "yes".

Longer answer, you will still need to go through the company's training program. Companies like Prime and Wilson Logistics have a 40k mile training programs. 10k with permit (solo with trainer) and 30k with CDL (team with trainer). If you already have a CDL you skip the permit phase and do 40k with a trainer. 10k evaluation period while solo w/ trainer and 30k teaming w/ trainer.

Hope that helps. Some will probably stop by and post all the "starter pack" links.

Yes Sir! Most definitely helps for sure.

I'm starting CDL Classes on Monday.

Is there a Comparison in Chart/Spreadsheet Format somewhere to see Reviews etc... on one page ??

I'm starting a local CDL School on Monday and researching all I can about future employment.

Which Companies Hire New Graduates straight out of CDL School ?

Is there a comprehensive listing somewhere that list trucking companies that hire new CDL Graduates ?

TIA

Thank for the tips.

We're paying for school ourselves. I will be looking for companies the do Tuition reimbursement. That is a major issue.... of course.

I'm not sure what " linehaul" means just yet. Gimme time, I'll get. :>)

There is a large Old Dominion in your area, you might be able to work the dock and have them train you for your CDL while you get paid. Or if you go to a private school they approve of you can skip the dock work and go right to 4 weeks of paid training to either run linehaul like I do or do pick up and delivery (P&D). I would suggest linehaul because it is easier overhaul and pays better but it almost all over night driving.

As stated above LTL companies like Old Dominion, Estes, Dayton, USF Holland, Saia, Averitt, R&L, XPO, ABF. Would probably be your best move if you want to start local.

GI bill? Or has it been too long?

Would you believe I missed the cut-off of Eligibility by 7 months ? Get this. We Vets have 15 YEARS to use the GI Bill program. I Retired from the USAF 4-1-2003 !! Talk about being ****ed !

We're fortunate to be able to pay cash for my CDL class. Financing CDL school is a nightmare scenario for folks here. Schools tack on an extra $1000 to the bill and want 19% interest on top of that.

I just finished up my first year OTR with Melton truck lines. I filled out some apps with some of the LTL companies, suburban propane, and a local tanker job hauling cryogenic something rather. All jobs paying very well IMO.

I have wanted to haul cars since the start of all this though so provided my training goes well, I will be driving for US Auto Logistics home weekends and during the week here and there. They require 2 years of OTR experience or 1 year with flatbed I believe.

Cool. Did Melton require experience to start driving with them ?

Yes, I hear hear car hauling can be quite lucrative.

When I went up to Smyrna a couple days ago. I was checking out all the trucking companies up there associated with the Nissan plant there. Cassens (car haulers) was one of the companies I stopped in to talk with. Yes, they also required 2 year OTR as well.

Thank for the tips.

We're paying for school ourselves. I will be looking for companies the do Tuition reimbursement. That is a major issue.... of course.

I'm not sure what " linehaul" means just yet. Gimme time, I'll get. :>)

There is a large Old Dominion in your area, you might be able to work the dock and have them train you for your CDL while you get paid. Or if you go to a private school they approve of you can skip the dock work and go right to 4 weeks of paid training to either run linehaul like I do or do pick up and delivery (P&D). I would suggest linehaul because it is easier overhaul and pays better but it almost all over night driving.

As stated above LTL companies like Old Dominion, Estes, Dayton, USF Holland, Saia, Averitt, R&L, XPO, ABF. Would probably be your best move if you want to start local.

Thank you for your input. Are you a Vet as well ??

I actually talked with Venture Express up in Smyrna a couple days ago.

I'm seriously pondering going the Yard Dog/Switcher route at the Nissan plant there.

There's 4 Trucking companies (Venture Express, Averitt, Prime, Universal Logistics) that have contracts there and a few viable opportunities with decent pay/benefits.

I am very aware that driving switchers will NOT count towards OTR time. That is a huge downside. However I will get to sleep in my own bed every night and will get 1-2 days off per week. Maybe.

Of the Switcher companies at the plant, one hires CDL-A drivers straight out of school. All the others require at least 1 year OTR I believe.

Where are the trucking jobs listed/posted for this area ? The main job sites (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor... etc) are a complete joke.

I know Venture express is always advertising for a position going back and forth between their Springfield terminal and their terminal in the Nashville area. I think it is in Antioch, but don’t quote me. It would be one of the easiest local gigs that I see advertised in the Nashville area. If you are looking for local in the Nashville area I would also look at the LTL companies. Old Dominion, Saia, UPS and YRC to name a few. Besides Venture Express, look at Averitt, R. E. West and Penske. Those 3 also advertise for local or out n back type jobs as well.

Welcome to the forum and good luck.

Thank man.

Who do you drive for ?

Yes, Nashville/M'boro traffic is a nightmare for sure. We transferred down here a year ago from the Dayton, Ohio area. Was not expecting is to be so freaking congested here. I heard a News report a couple months ago where this Region is expected to grow by an additional 1 MILLION people by 2040. Yea, 1,000,000 ! Given families normally have 2-3 vehicles I don't even want to think about what this area we be like then!

Hey bro... I live on the other side of Nashville along i24. There are plenty of opportunities in and around Nashville for local gigs. I will tell you that nashville sucks to drive through and to deliver in but I guess most big cities do. The learning curve is quite steep as a new OTR driver and will be much steeper as a new local driver. Not that you can't handle it but, it isn't the best method to getting your start in this industry. Not too mention many more local opportunities will be available to you if you complete your first year OTR. Regional companies that get you home on the weekends satisfy that requirement for many local companies. Goodluck!

Thank you all for the warm welcome and advice ! I will have my head buried in this laptop reading and absorbing (like a sponge) anything I can about Trucking.

First question. Is there a size restriction on Avatars ? I can't seem to get one to upload. ??

TIA