Comments By Marcin M.

I just got my CDL A with all endorsements (yesterday I had appointment for HAZMAT fingerprinting so that one will take few more weeks) and considering job offer from ODFL in NYC as their terminal is 15min from the place I live. Looks like they accepted all my credentials, are willing to train me and tomorrow I will go for interview. From what I heard it is good company to work for but I would love to hear your opinion. They have Linehaul and local positions. First one is a night driving. On positive side the roads should be empty at night but it is unnatural and could be very unhealthy in long term I think. The other option is day driving but in NYC. Dont know if I should consider it as a beginner. Maybe I should start as a Linehaul and transfer later to local? What do you think? Is it good opportunity and I should not be so picky or there are better options in the trucking world for rookies? I would appreciate any advice. Maybe there are ODFL drivers in this forum ?

Thank you

So whoever carries Instan Pot has 6qt? I was thinking about buying 3qt to take less space. Is it too small? Why 6qt?

Hello guys,

Quick update from a reader of the forum. After graduation from driving school on Tuesday, I passed a road test next day in the morning and added couple more endorsements afternoon. What an experience it was. I arrived early to exam location - huge parking lot - and spotted examinator placing cones around. I drove closer to ask where can I park my car, opened my window and started with “Good morning, Sir...” noticing with closer look that examinator is a...woman...oooops :) Then I was waiting for school instructors bringing trucks (3 in total) and sure enough I was assigned to the oldest one with “problematic” transmission and more problematic instructor who recently do only truck deliveries to exam sites. I was aware of him and instructed not to make any conversation with him but other instructor advised me to clean my mirrors and gave me his tools . I thought it was a good idea because that was very sunny day. Sure enough I was not allowed to get close to my truck but it was not a big deal. I brought cleaning kit back and went to my car to pick up something. When I came back to exam site I just heard people yelling each other, throwing F-bombs, waiving arms. That was mine instructor who jumped on the other one for sending me to take care of this poor mirrors. Examinators were speechless and they told me that they never seen something like that before :) Anyway, I could not start my truck at the beginning what added little more stress to whole situation but begun pushing and realising a clutch and it worked out :) Break check and pre-trip overall was a piece of cake. Straight back went smoothly, I had some uncertain moment during off-set and after 2 pull ups and 2 get outs I parked successfully during third maneuver. Examinator removed front cones and we went to hit the road. First stop sign still on the exam site and the tractor stalled :))) Unfortunately that was a “model” which required more fuel added to start from 2nd gear. Shifting was not easy at all and involved a lot of “play” in clutch range. After countless lefts and rights in NY morning traffic, railroad crossing, emergency stop simulation, I noticed that examinator got comfy in his seat, stop watching mirrors and what was in front of him, was more busy with his tablet. That was a moment when I thought “It is good...” If I will not screw something, that will be good end of this crazy morning. And it was. But not for all students. Only 2 of 6 from our group passed. I went to other town where I had appointment for additional endorsements and DMV people were suprised that I could be able to make same day appointment for road and computer test. It was almost big problem for them and they said system will not allow them to do that. I asked politely if they can try. They did and system was more cooperative :) It is time to change a class on my dl, take care of fingerprints, send another aplication to hazmat department, decide about employer and start trucking in the real world...

304 hour Training Program I am attending is PTDI (Professional Truck Driver Institute) Approved Course and school will issue Certificate. Werner or Schneider recruiter visits here every time new class begins with company presentation. The course meets Minimum Over the Road Carrier Program Requirements for Entry Level Employment. The instructors are accredited to issue certificates like deffensive driving, straight truck driver 2, etc. Even we have many hours dedicated to road test, they keep telling us that the school is about teaching us about many other aspects like open road & city driving 6,9,10 speed transmission, coupling/uncoupling, tandem sliding, alley docking... This program better be recognized for price tag of $7.5k

I have a road test scheduled for Jan 27th and wanted to add some endorsements, get fingerprinted and close other things before applying for job but my present situation might not allow me to start new career and hit the road for months. How long after graduation from private school employers consider students as “recent graduates”?

Florida with no state tax sounds good. The problem is I have no family outside NYC, only some acquaintances in FL. Are there any issues involved with taking someone “under the roof” just for residency address? I might ask them for such a favor :) That would give me some time and money to decide which place I would call future home.

I am considering that as well but first would like to taste this lifestyle thru OTR driving. I got used to active living, swimming, biking, running, hiking etc. Truck has limited space for all equipment :) I will have to put everything together in my life, but first to pass road test, gain some experience with driving and do some reality check ;) I love to travel and always imagined myself going places but never went nomadic. I have a mother to take care of, she lives abroad but visits me once/twice a year so I have some responsibilities.

Hello fellow truckers,

After passing road test I am considering to leave NYC and move to warmer state. Florida, Texas, Nevada, other...which place to live would you recommend? Cost of living, access to trucking companies hiring out of school, pay/benefits, taxes, nice area for active lifestyle etc. I am tired of living with roommates, cold weather, high prices. I am single without kids.

Hi Rebecca,

I am still at the school and we are practicing on manual transmissions 6,9,10 speeds and all students doing well. I drove a car with manual decades ago and developed bad habits so it might be even better if you have not drove one before. It is good to take a road test on manual because you will not have restrictions on your CDL and will probably have a first job with major carrier. They mostly use automatic anyway.

What do you call the easiest job around trucking, Turtle?