Robert. Welcome and thanks for protecting and serving. Local can be possible but isn’t generally recommended for inexperienced drivers due to the fact that they generally have you getting in tight situations with multiple drops per day. Regional is more doable. Lots of companies offer regional and home either weekly or bi weekly. I have noticed a lot of flatbed carriers offer that option. Lot of folks start after 50. As long as YOU don’t mind being a rookie at something again , neither will the trucking companies.
Whether you pay for your own cdl or not is up to you. This site recommends finding company sponsored training for a few reasons. Mostly, having a cdl doesn’t guarantee employment. And if a company puts you through their training they Want to get you into one of their trucks. This generally requires you to fulfill a contractual obligation which is around a year if I’m not mistaken. But that’s not a big deal because it’s recommended to stay at your first company for at least a year anyways. That’s not the route you have to take but it is suggested.
Do you know what type of freight you want to haul? Have you applied anywhere yet?
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
I have the means to pay for my own CDL training at a local community college. Do you think my employment options would be greater if I have a CDL in hand?
Hello Robert! Thanks for introducing yourself to us, and thanks a lot for your service to us as a police officer - we salute you!
We cover this subject about employment options quite often. It is greatly misunderstood by most newbies thinking about starting a trucking career. It's kind of confusing when you hear about all this demand for drivers. It makes people think, "If I just had a CDL, I could write my own ticket out here. Every trucking company seems to really be needing drivers." When you hear about driver demand it is mostly for experienced drivers who can jump right in and start producing a strong contribution to the team. Unfortunately, rookie drivers do not have that reputation. It takes just about a year to bring anew guy up to speed so that they can really be helping out. If you think about your career in law enforcement, I'll bet you know what I mean. There are just so many things for the new guys to learn. It just takes time for the rookies to get where they need to be.
I don't have a lot of time right now to spend on the subject, but I do want you to take the time to read this article. I think it will help you understand a few things about options and training programs. Please check it out and then let's see if we can get together and discuss it some more tomorrow.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
Old school, how old were you when you got into the “biz”?
I started at the age of 53. What's really amazing is the day that I got hired that same company hired a guy who was 73!
I started at the age of 53. What's really amazing is the day that I got hired that same company hired a guy who was 73!
Was that PJ ?!? (OMIGOSH.. now I'm in WAY more trouble than Rickipedia, haha! ) Just kidding, Mr. Pat J. . . . cops to cuffs to confluence, right??? LoLoL... (xoxo sorry!)
Seriously, @Robert W. (O/P)
Welcome to Trucking Truth . . many LEO's and formers on here! Too many to list, actually.
Look up Tortuga, for instance. Chris M., for second instance.
I'd run out of characters, but here's our PJ 's link:
PJ . . . from busting drivers to becoming one!
Wishing you the best, good sir. Don't be a stranger, and READ Brett's BOOK... here:
Best wishes; stop back soon!
~ Anne ~
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Welcome Robert. Thank you for your service sir!!!! My sincere gratitude to those men and women that serve in today’s enviroment.
Your age is absoutely not a issue. I got my cdl at 53. After a year of retirement I got bored and jumped into driving. The biggest obstacle older drivers face is qualifying on the physical. As long as you can get a med card your good. My job is a little different in that I have to wear a respirator and that is another set of hurdles.
Not sure where you are or your situation but going regional or local after you get a year or two of experience can be doable.
Schooling is a double edge sword. You just need to figure out which suits you best. I went company sponsored with Roehl. Great training but fast paced. Some folks struggle with that enviroment. These companies training want you too succeed. They give you a job on graduation. Upside is they have an investment with you and tend to be more foregiving. Fullfill a contract and training is paid for.
Private school will gladly take your money and give you the bare minimum to obtain your cdl. That’s all you get. Most work with carriers, but in no way guarantee a job. As old school said there is no shortage of new drivers, the shortage is experienced drivers.
The site has alot of great advice and resources for you to get a better insight as to what you are looking to get into. Ask questions anytime. Alot of us sometimes take a bit to get online, just based on our schedules.
Anne is very kind and a smart cookie as well as our lead cheerleader, lol.
Anne: Thanks for all you do around here ma’am. Much appreciated.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
Robert, Welcome!!! I did 28 and retired to drive. I was 52 when I started, and love what I do. I miss the clowns, but SURE dont miss the circus. I was OTR regional with my first company, left there to go local, and went back to OTR regional after about 1.5 year. The things we lived as cops are HUGE benefits as a driver. Self initiative, reliability, working without immediate micromanaging supervision (once you get settled and show what you are), ability AND willingness to follow rules, policies, and laws, ability to process situations and make reasonable decisions in a short amount of time. Personal accountability and pride. While this job is unlike anything you've done in your previous 28, it is loaded with opportunity for you to "ride for the brand" of the outfit you work for, and be a star.
The only drama that you will be forcwd to deal with is the drama you create or invite. If you ever got Verbal Judo / Tactical Commo training, you will find that stuff works well on all of the people around you. Nodding your head, arching your eyebrows, smiling, and palms up gestures are your friends in trucking as much as in policing, with the distinct difference that you truly ARE their to help them and solve their problem (and most fundamemtally understand, even if they seem unyielding) - moving freight. I enjoy the lack of drama immensely.
I was a self pay for my CDL. The recommendations here to go thru a company's cdl training are sound. You learn the mechanics of driving while also learning the nuances and culture of your new outfit. And while you may have a contract to fulfill, you'll want to stick around for at least a year before even thinking about leaving. It will take you at least that long to develop true efficiency and proficiency.
The desire to go local is understandable. However, as a local driver, u will likely be on a fixed start time, and you may work right up to the 14 hour point every work day. If so, you have to be back to your truck ready to roll ten hours later. Including travel to and from home and food, sleep, and family time. I found it to be as fatiguing as four consecutive 13 hour shifts. If you're not a young man, it could wear on you quickly. I actually got better sleep when my bed was 3 feet away, rather than 35 minutes away.
Good fortune to you, keep us posted on your progress thru the decision making process, and your training!!
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Thanks Papa P and Old School for your advice! I don't mind being a rookie. I'm still learning in my current job. I haven't applied anywhere yet. I've just been researching via the internet. This is the first time I've spoken to real truck drivers for advice. It's good to know that Old School started at 53! I'm very thankful to both of you. I certainly understand that local driving would require greater skills. Thanks, Papa P for pointing that out. I also read the article you mentioned, Old School. That makes good sense as well. And you're also right about rookies in my line of work. They require a lot of attention during year one to get them on their feet and to build confidence. You two have been very helpful. I'm sure that I will have a lot more questions to ask. I appreciate your patience. Stay safe fellas and thanks again for listening.
Thanks Papa P and Old School for your advice! I don't mind being a rookie. I'm still learning in my current job. I haven't applied anywhere yet. I've just been researching via the internet. This is the first time I've spoken to real truck drivers for advice. It's good to know that Old School started at 53! I'm very thankful to both of you. I certainly understand that local driving would require greater skills. Thanks, Papa P for pointing that out. I also read the article you mentioned, Old School. That makes good sense as well. And you're also right about rookies in my line of work. They require a lot of attention during year one to get them on their feet and to build confidence. You two have been very helpful. I'm sure that I will have a lot more questions to ask. I appreciate your patience. Stay safe fellas and thanks again for listening.
Stick around, Robert.
Again, thanks for your service .. and for sharing!
PJ, thank YOU good sir!
Anne is very kind and a smart cookie as well as our lead cheerleader, lol.
Anne: Thanks for all you do around here ma’am. Much appreciated.
^^^ Now if PJ really appreciated me, he'd put the PETERCAR avatar back, haha! (Bobcat Bob needs his OD back, as well, LoL!) Just kidding, PJ . . . i apprecieate the luvin heck outta YOU, too!!!! TYSM!
Robert, I'll hope for your continued sharing and questions/comments in the forum, good sir.
~ Anne ~
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I'm almost 50 and thinking about a career change. I've been in law enforcement for 28 years. It's a great job, but it definitely takes a toll on you. Am I too old to think about being a rookie truck driver? I have a clean driving record, and obviously, no worries with the drug test. I understand that OTR is the norm for the new guys, but is it reasonable to assume I could get a local or at least regional job within a few years? Also, I have the means to pay for my own CDL training at a local community college. Do you think my employment options would be greater if I have a CDL in hand? Thanks in advance for any advice you all have to offer.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.