Rookie Driver Looking For Job Search Guidance
Topic 26899 | Page 1
Finally fulfilled my lifetime dream by getting my CDL a month ago. Now it’s time to navigate the inexperienced rookie driver job market. Went to the California Trucking Show in Ontario, Ca and almost all companies were asking for at least six months experience. I have all endorsements except for “passenger”. My goal is to one day drive fuel tankers. For now I’m looking for something with decent pay, regional or local, and even night driving. Any ideas on companies that would be willing to give a 50 year old rookie driver? I’m in San Bernardino, Ca.
Welcome to our forum. I first if I was you would start here:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
If you are open to teamin then give CRST a shot. One of my best students lived in San Bernardino. CRST has a drivin school in Fontana called ASD or Advanced School of Drivin. Anyway start with the links above. Especially read Bretts book because it will give ya a legendary insight into what you would be gettin into this industry. Also use and study the heck out of that High Road CDL Training Program. That will help ya to pass all your PERMIT tests the FIRST time. Anyway welcome to TT we are glad to have ya. 😜
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Since you already have your CDL , apply everywhere and see what offers come back. After that, narrow your search by what you are looking for, benefits, hiring area, freight type, etc.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Since you already have your CDL , apply everywhere and see what offers come back. After that, narrow your search by what you are looking for, benefits, hiring area, freight type, etc.
I reread that. It’s been a long day for me. Sorry I missed that. Thanks Packrat for catchin that for me.
Still though Give CRST a shot only if you are open to teamin full time with someone. We also have a terminal in Riverside CA so it would definitely be easy to get ya home if needed especially if ya have a car you could drive home and keep your truck at the terminal.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
The companies asking for six month's experience are simply not interested in getting fresh CDL drivers up to speed in their trucks.
If you see ads, look for the phrase "Recent Grads". Apply there. And since you got your license a month ago, you need to get your patootie in gear, before your license gets stale.
This link goes to a form that will send your application to a bunch of trucking companies. It'll be nice when you can tell one company, "No, thanks, I'm going with another company.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
The High Road training program was crucial to me in helping get my permit and endorsements. I learned more there than I did with anything the school offered me. I have been recommending it to others.
I know the feeling about the license getting stale. I drive a 26’ stake bed for a company that promised me seat time on one of their rigs if I got my license. So far I have only driven the rig twice. It feels like I’m getting the run around. Meanwhile, I’m just literally sitting on the license.
The companies asking for six month's experience are simply not interested in getting fresh CDL drivers up to speed in their trucks.
If you see ads, look for the phrase "Recent Grads". Apply there. And since you got your license a month ago, you need to get your patootie in gear, before your license gets stale.
This link goes to a form that will send your application to a bunch of trucking companies. It'll be nice when you can tell one company, "No, thanks, I'm going with another company.
The companies asking for six month's experience are simply not interested in getting fresh CDL drivers up to speed in their trucks.
If you see ads, look for the phrase "Recent Grads". Apply there. And since you got your license a month ago, you need to get your patootie in gear, before your license gets stale.
This link goes to a form that will send your application to a bunch of trucking companies. It'll be nice when you can tell one company, "No, thanks, I'm going with another company.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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Finally fulfilled my lifetime dream by getting my CDL a month ago. Now it’s time to navigate the inexperienced rookie driver job market. Went to the California Trucking Show in Ontario, Ca and almost all companies were asking for at least six months experience. I have all endorsements except for “passenger”. My goal is to one day drive fuel tankers. For now I’m looking for something with decent pay, regional or local, and even night driving. Any ideas on companies that would be willing to give a 50 year old rookie driver? I’m in San Bernardino, Ca.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.