Welcome to TT. Forget what you heard anywhere else. There is no BS allowed on this site. Here are some links to get you started. Good luck.
And
Paid CDL Training Programs and Trucking Company Reviews
That should keep you busy for a while. Also try entering any questions you have in the search bar at the top of the forums.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Thank Scott. I think I'm gonna start the High road training program. I'm already read the book, and I've spun through the guide quite a bit. Sure didn't see the Trucking Company Reviews though, I'll be sure to check that out.
Great. The High Road Training is the best FREE CDL test prep. You will find this site very helpful.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Great. The High Road Training is the best FREE CDL test prep. You will find this site very helpful.
I'd like to add that the FREE phone app is AWESOME. It is by far the best I've used so far. I showed it to the manager of the school I am in and he has started recommending the app and this sight to all new and prospective students.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Honestly, you don't need a critique. Only you can determine whether or not trucking would be a good choice for yourself. I researched for two years until I made a decision to commit. And that's what it comes down to. Educate yourself, ask yourself if you are willing to commit, and then stand by your commitment and see it through. The most important thing is to familiarize yourself with what trucking demands, and you can get enough of an understanding to make a decision by reading through the resources and perusing the forum on this website. Ultimately you'll need to make a commitment and get out there to really understand if trucking is for you, but this website will give you enough info to make a start.
There's a lot of misinformation - and disinformation - out there. Had I not stumbled across the people on this forum, I might've changed my mind about becoming a truck driver. Stick around and you'll find out that having the right mindset going into this potential journey of yours is probably the most important thing you can have. After having the right mindset you'll need grit to see it through, because it's not an easy job and it has a tremendous learning curve. Don't ask for too many opinions about whether or not this is the right decision for you, because you can wind up getting all kinds of feedback, some of which might wind up being discouraging to say the least, especially if you wind up asking a disgruntled driver (and there are plenty of those). Being self-reliant, confident, able to make decisions and having a certain steadfastness is what makes a good driver. You don't need somebody else to tell you if you're making a good decision or if you can hack it. You can do that yourself.
Thanks Navy vet, I wasn't aware of the app.
And 6 String Rhythm, I think I know what you mean. I'm listening to a podcast that's talking about truckers and their mindset, why some are happy with their job and some hate it. How you deal with all the stress thrown your way. The perseverance to keep going that first year, I understand this is the most difficult time in a truckers career. And honestly after these past few years, things just roll off my back, so to speak. I know I can commit and excel as long as I have that desire. And I always learn the best when it's sink or swim time.
The only reason I'm hesitant, is I'm kinda stuck in a job, I thought it was a great opportunity at first, but as time goes on, the more I think it's a fast track to nowhere. I've been here a little over a year, and I plan on one more to see if my boss can sort things out, but I can't make 12000$ a year and do something I'm just not interested in forever. I'd leave but I don't want leave this guy high and dry (I'm his only employee, besides his wife) as he got me out of chick-fil-a, and I'll ALWAYS be grateful for that huge brake, that job was killing me. These long stretches of no work coming in for weeks on end, I can only sweep the workshop so many times. I have to tough it out though, I'm paid hourly, and I've got bills to pay.
Welcome to the forum. Good to see another young gun, I am 21 as well. The struggle is real for us now and we need to do what we can to get ahead in a tough job market that wants 10 years experience from people that just got out of college.
I was on the same situation of barely making any money that I had to change, as well as looking for something I would like. I felt bad leaving the truckstop because they took care of me for the last 3 years, but they didn't care enough to pay me more and being a cashier as you know working in the food service business is the worst. You definitely see the worst in people.
Do as much researching and soul searching that you can, and don't hesitate to ask us anything. It took me 8 months to decide and I am glad I did it. You can always be grateful to the man that gave you a better opportunity, but you also have to do what is better for you.
Truck driving is a great opportunity for a lot of us and it sure has improved my life drastically. However there are the rough days to that I am ready to hang up the keys and quit. Good luck!
I guess a part of it is understanding that no matter what you do, there are going to be bad days, I'm used to those, I come from two messed up familys, both with a long histories of Trucking coincidentally.
Life gets a lot easier when you accept that **** happens, and it always will, every day, and that you can fix it, or you can't, no need to worry about it.
Won't know I like it for sure until I try, and for me, the pro's seem to good to pass up for the con's.
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I'm 21 years old, live in Jacksonville, Florida. It's something that's always been interesting, and over the last few years some I've really wanted to at the very least try. I've done research, read articles, watched videos... I've heard horror stories and endless praise alike. Never talked to people in the industry though, I found this site and I'm currently reading that free e-book.
I'm convinced that trucking would be a great path for me to go down, so I guess what I'm asking for is a critique. Any information you want to judge, just ask, I'm an open book, not sure which page to go to is all.
Any help will be immensely appreciated.