Best Way To Get CDL Training And Not Be OTR All The Time.
Topic 34085 | Page 1
I love driving and have a passion for it but also a big family and young kids. Is there any other way to get help with CDL training and not have to be OTR all the time? I'm fine with driving for the company that trains me but is there any that is home more?
Hi Ronald, welcome aboard!
Yes, it is possible to do what you want but it may take some time and effort to find the right company and job. What is your location? That info might help get you some ideas here, as opportunities can be very “location” related.
When I was baby poop new to driving, I went OTR dry van. That was at Schneider. During training, there was a driver who came in and talked to the class about their intermodal division. He ran regularly from Green Bay to Chicago every day and was home almost every night. Intermodal also paid about 30% more than OTR, according to him. So that’s just one idea. I’m sure others here will post some additional ideas for you.
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.
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.
Intermodal:
Transporting freight using two or more transportation modes. An example would be freight that is moved by truck from the shipper's dock to the rail yard, then placed on a train to the next rail yard, and finally returned to a truck for delivery to the receiving customer.
In trucking when you hear someone refer to an intermodal job they're normally talking about hauling shipping containers to and from the shipyards and railyards.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.
I had the same problem. I ended up getting hired as a driver apprentice at FedEx freight 5 years ago. I've never not slept in my bed and I'm home everyday. There are options, they're just location specific and require some digging.
Check out restaurant food service, and beverage distributors.
Most McLane, US Food. Sysco, soda and distributors have many day routes.
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I love driving and have a passion for it but also a big family and young kids. Is there any other way to get help with CDL training and not have to be OTR all the time? I'm fine with driving for the company that trains me but is there any that is home more?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.