Is It A Mistake To Get My CDL Right Now?

Hey ya'll. I want a change in my life, and I need to take that step in a direction. I have long thought about trucking, but with all the negative media posts about tariffs and the crashing of the trucking industry... is it a bad time right now? I was thinking of hitting up Maverick or TMC for some flatbed training. Schneider is still a possible option as well.

Am I making a mistake?

I live in a reasonably cheap area (Chattanooga, TN area), all I need to "survive" is $700 a week. I have a job right now at this salary (Which is really good around here). Should I hang back and wait a while? Or should I jump into this now?

Hi AC and welcome. First let me start by saying it's never a bad time to get your CDL. While most people mainly think of the big OTR trucking companies there's so many opportunities that can open up with a clean CDL both nationally and locally. From dump truck to food and beverage to cross country. Getting your CDL is a great path to take especially when you're not sure what path your on for your life.

Secondly on your point to on the "crashing" of this industry. No that's not really something of huge concern. One reason is because this industry is always going through UPS and downs. And while tariffs could affect some things there's the counter point of companies losing a lot of drivers because of the English requirements being enforced. Then some people may talk about technology and self driving trucks. While some jobs in the future may be effected there's still going to be lots of jobs self driving trucks can't replace. Or at least won't replace for a long time IMO.

I would say that those companies you've mentioned could be great starting points for a career in trucking. Remember to always have a positive attitude and keep safety as a top priority and you'll do great. It's not always easy but it's rewarding.

Best of luck

There is never a bad time for your CDL. In my personal experience, a CDL will pay you more than most college educations ever will and without having to climb an arbitrary career ladder guarded by insecure managers trying to protect their jobs or having a student loan to pay back

Also, it may seem like it is, but the trucking market is not crashing. In a world of simple economics, if the population is growing, the demand for goods to be shipped is growing with it. Plus, the average American is programmed to consume. And consume we do and must.

Rest assured, if you demonstrate an aptitude for driving, have a good attitude, a determination to commit to delivering above-average service to your employer and customers, and can adapt to life on the road, you will soon be earning $700 by Wednesday when you start on a Monday.

Word of caution: trucking isn't for everyone. It's harder than most people ever expected.

Other than that, jump right in. And good luck.

Yes! Excellent replies, and I thank you both for giving me some encouragement. I have been praying and stumbling around this idea for several years. My family owned a trucking company that ran reefers on a dedicated route with 4 trucks years ago. But they sold the business as they got older. That being said, I have been picking their brains a lot lately.

I am 40 years old, a prior Marine and LEO, and have two kids, aged 17 and 11. My entire family supports me wholeheartedly, even though it means that 'daddy' won’t be home much anymore. This idea can be quite unsettling, which is why I have set a three-year plan for myself. There is a company nearby that runs fuel 4 days a week, although I can’t recall the pay at the moment, I remember it being considerably more than I make now, and ever have in my life. My goal is to gain 1-2 years of experience driving a regional flatbed truck (I don’t want to lead a sedentary lifestyle). After that, I plan to work on my endorsements for driving tankers so I can earn a good income while also being home more often.

I don't feel that this goal is too far-fetched. Easy? Not sure. If I can't make it happen in 3 years, I promised my wife I would pull the plug.

Opinions? Am I crazy?

No your not crazy at all. Actually your putting alot of thought into this rather than jumping in head first. That in itself puts you ahead of alot of folks.

Thank you for your service in both sectors. I was Navy and went LE and retired with a nice pension. Neither are easy on a family life. Congrats to you!!

Both Maverick and TMC are good companies, but not the only ones. Roehl has a flatbed division and outstanding training. McElroy is flatbed only with great training. There are several others as well.

TMC can be kinda quirky and seem to have to tarp alot more than some others.

With flatbed you will have 2 seperate and distinct learning curves. Driving in general and proper load securement. Spread axle trailers turn quite different than tandem axle trailers.

I’ve pulled general chemical tankers which is different but doable. Fuel tankers are even yet more diversified. Get your initial experience then go for what you want.

Put your mind to it and you should be able to accomplish it.

Some folks think I’m nuts for what I do, but it works for me. I haul spread axle flatbeds and/or 3 & 4 axle lowboys in/out of cemetaries. We are not all the same. Each of us have our own wants, needs, and desires.

Wishing you the very best at whatever you choose!!

I greatly appreciate all of the knowledge you are providing. PJ, thanks for the further encouragement and your services as well! I know asking for advise on a starter company is like asking whos butthole smells better. Everyone has their own opinion. But... I am going to ask anyway. I am not familiar with Roehl, but that should be easy to research. I have heard that TMC is oddly particular about tarping, and it doesn't scare me, but I have also never had to do it.

I have never heard of McElroy. Do they also have a CDL program? Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, I am unable to afford schooling and find employment. Going unpaid for even 2 weeks... It's bankruptcy waiting to happen.

Outside of these more obvious Mega carriers, do you have any specific recommendations worth researching?

Thanks again!

Roehl is a good company for new drivers.

AC I went through Roehl many years ago. I think they pay something now while in school, not sure. Call their recruting number and ask for Kim Calhoun. She is awesome and will give you straight info.

McElroy does their own training in Cuba Al.

I have also been looking into Roehl. I know I can't expect to make a lot of money right away. It's just not realistic. However, after conducting some research and searching YouTube, it's challenging to find any information about Roehl's flatbed division that's not dated from a year ago, when the freight was in poor condition. Seeing people with $500 paychecks scare me. I've heard some people say $700 is hard to get with mega carriers. However, I always hear that TMC averages 1,100-1,400 a week once you get acclimated. I am a Marine, but I don't want to be in a company with a reputation of being militant. And not having an APU blows my mind.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

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

Drivers are not all the same.

Many that write reviews on social media bashing companies are the ones that didn’t make the grade, or put forth a commitment. They blame the big bad company for all their problems. The drivers that figure the job out are not writing alot of reviews because they are too busy working making money. Take anything on social media with a big grain of salt.

New drivers learning will make less than good experienced drivers because they are slower and less efficient. As you learn the craft you will be more efficient and quicker, meaning you will get more loads, making more money.

At Roehl in 2013 I was taking home 600-700 a week for a full work week as a new driver.

New trucks generally have some type of electric system on them for bunk a/c and heat and the truck can be set to start when the batteries need charging.

Paul is with them he can answer questions how things are today. They are still a family owned company and the family is very good at what they do and treat people well.