Flatbed Tow Truck Operator Looking To Become Trucker

I’ve scrolled through the forums here and it seems everything I'm looking for is outdated by many years. To make a long story short I live in Tampa Bay Area Florida. I was looking at cypress trucking and I was looking at schneider. They both offer paid cdl training or did at one time or another. I don’t even have a CDP so I’m very new. Are there any companies that will train someone from Florida OTR or Local?

I just need help getting my boot in the door. I don’t really want to depend on the big name carriers. I don’t want to be showed the basics and then put out to pasture. I want a fair chance, and I want to be taught right. Any guidance will be much appreciated

What information in particular are you seeing that's out dated?

Have you used this link to Apply For Paid CDL Training? Fill out one application and your information will be sent to several companies. You could also check out Swift, CFI, and CR England but I'm unsure if they hire from your zip code. Often times carriers don't hire south of I10 and even less hire south of I4. There's just not enough freight coming out I'd those areas to get you home frequently. Prime for instance every couple years it seems puts a freeze on hiring anyone from FL. With freight being slow companies have cut back on training as many drivers. You can still land a job but it may take a little longer than a year ago. If you're still having trouble give the school's in Tampa/St Pete a call and see what schools they partner with. Id looked into Pinellas Tech when i lived down there 8 years ago and thought it looked decent. You could apply directly with those companies for schooling. The other option is going through the school and filling out apps. When I inquired with roadmaster in Tampa, as well as when I actually went to school elsewhere before enrolling you filled out paperwork and paired up with a company that paid your tuition if you signed a contract to work for them for atleast 1 year.

I just need help getting my boot in the door. I don’t really want to depend on the big name carriers. I don’t want to be showed the basics and then put out to pasture. I want a fair chance, and I want to be taught right. Any guidance will be much appreciated

This is something we see alot. The reality is that is most of the big name carriers that have the financial means to provide the training. Starting out you're a big liability. You're inexperienced and not as efficient as other drivers meaning you're not running as many miles or making as much money for the company. We can all agree that training could be improved greatly. But how do we do that? People that would make excellent trainers often have no interest in it. Even with the trainer earning additional money their paycheck is still smaller because they're not turning as many miles whether it's the trainee doesn't have the stamina to pound the miles out, stopping more frequently, longer backing up, or just needing to move slower to explain things and then add in allowing a stranger into your truck (home). Unfortunately many trainers are into it strictly for the money. Some companies the trainers are lease ops struggling to pay the bills so they figure bringing in cheap labor (trainee) to keep the truck going nonstop is the solution. The trainee suffers because the trainer views them as just a warm body in the seat. This isn't the case for everybody but it's one we see discussed far too often.

We all felt we needed more training. Really though what are you going to be trained on after a couple weeks? Getting started is scary. Training is expensive and many carriers can't afford it. Prime Inc has possibly the longest training time. Last I knew it was 10k miles with your permit with the trainer in the passenger seat. Then it's 40k miles running teams. That probably ends up being 3 to 4 months or more. We still have people pop in saying they don't feel they're ready. Once you're shown the basics it really is just a matter of time. Your backing will likely take 6 months to really click to where you're confident. Just take things slow, don't be afraid to G.O.A.L. and take every opportunity to practice backing. Sitting at the truck stop waiting on your next assignment? Head to the back of the lot and try different setups to get backed into a certain spot.

The other advantage of the big name carriers is statistically speaking you will hit something your first year. Whether it's backing or not watching your mirrors while turning it happens alot. They're able to absorb the cost much easier. We've seen countless drivers come in here after being fired from a smaller carrier or local company for backing into another trailer. In this industry the insurance companies are basically in control of who can be hired.

Hello Jack, and welcome to our forum!

I understand your frustration in looking into how to get started in the trucking industry. The internet can be a great place for information, but in my opinion it is full of nonsense when it comes to starting a trucking career. Let me explain why it is that way, and maybe offer you a little insight from a guy who ended up getting a great start and has continued enjoying a long career.

Here is the first thing wrong with the information on the internet. About 98% percent of the information about starting a trucking career on the internet is written by the folks who failed when they started! That's right! Think about it - all you ever hear is how they were mistreated and taken advantage of. Some of them are even so bold to refer to the trucking career as modern day slavery! Haha, I have to laugh when I read most of that garbage. That is what it is. It is total garbage.

They put fear and doubt into every person who reads their silly accounts of why they tried trucking and then fled as fast as they could. You absolutely have to quit reading that nonsense, determine what you want, and then make it happen. How do you do that? You commit yourself to success, and you endure a few difficulties while proving your worth to the folks who are willing to give you a shot at success. That's all a trucking company can do with a new rookie - give them a chance. That is where most people screw up. They blow their chance.

We have them in here all the time. We hear their sad stories of how they had three accidents in three weeks and then got fired. They want to blame it on the fact that they are new, and should be granted leniency. Yes that is part of it, but once you've messed up in trucking, you have got to recognize what happened and correct it. Trucking is full of liabilities. They need dependable, responsible individuals behind the wheel. They will give just about anyone a chance, but they expect results. Longevity in trucking really boils down to three things...

• Accountability
• Productivity
• Safety

I am making some assumptions about you just from reading your comments. When you say things like this...

I just need help getting my boot in the door. I don’t really want to depend on the big name carriers. I don’t want to be showed the basics and then put out to pasture. I want a fair chance

It makes me think you have literally scared yourself from trying some of the very best ways to make this start. You have probably been reading the never ending comments from the "peanut gallery" of losers who didn't have the gumption to make it in trucking anyway. That is why they got shown the door. Well, you know how social media is; nobody wants to admit to a mistake. Everything you hear about is blamed on somebody else. Remember the first thing on my list above? Accountability. Personal responsibility is paramount in trucking, especially during the training phase. Focus on your responsibility - not on the employer's. That is your ticket to success at this.

I can speak confidently and with authority on all this. I got my start at a company that had absolutely frightening reviews. Nobody would even apply there unless they had no other choices for getting started. Guess what I discovered? It was actually a great place to work, and I had a lot of success there. I built a strong foundation for my trucking career, and when I decided to change to another company, I did it with reluctance.

Trucking careers are not made by trucking companies. Careers are made by responsible drivers who apply themselves to learning how to succeed at this stuff. That is a tall challenge that very few ever grasp. If you want success out here, you must be personally responsible for it. Nobody holds your hand, nobody has your back. You are given a chance to prove yourself. From that point on, the ball is in your court. You are responsible for scoring.

Any guidance will be much appreciated.

The best way for you to get started is to go through a Paid CDL Training Program. There are a lot of them, but you may be limited by your location. Florida is not exactly a hot spot for hiring into the trucking career. Fortunately you are not south of I-4, that is helpful, but you are still somewhat limited. You mentioned two good places to start. I highly recommend Cypress, and I also think Schneider would be a great place to start. Both Knight and Swift have terminals in Florida, and they would also be great places to make a start. Don't let all the stupid comments on the internet deter you or give you pause.

Trucking is very similar no matter where you go. You have to take a chance when you start with a company, just as much as they take a chance when they hire you into a training program. Both of you take a chance. All you have to do is prove you are worth it when they take a shot on you.

I started with Maverick in their refrigerated division. Three years later they discontinued that division and are now basically flatbed only.

I chose to find something refrigerated and local that had me home everyday and did not persue a flatbed career with them.

However, if you're ok with flatbed I highly recommend them. You will get excellent training and decent pay from the start. And their equipment is not old junk.

https://www.maverickusa.com/driving-jobs/cdl-sponsorship-program/

If you're dead set on not going with a mega carrier you could look into Heyl or Windy Hill Foliage. I've not worked for either nor have I talked to their drivers but I know Heyl has a terminal in Zephyrhills and Windy Hill has one in Eustis. Both hire recent grads so you'd need to go through a private school. I do not know if they do tuition reimbursement.