Is It A Mistake To Get My CDL Right Now?
Topic 34792 | Page 3
LTL companies like OD typically are quite hard to get into without experience. There's a good reason for that though. They mainly only offer two types of positions. Line haul or P&D. Local work, even in a day cab can be quite a bit more difficult than OTR. You're constantly driving in tight conditions and backing into areas that are less than ideal for a tractor trailer. Food service is another part of the industry that will often take new drivers. They often advertise great pay but the work load and driving conditions are often not worth it.
I speak from experience as I started my career in a day cab and refused to go OTR. I paid for my own CDL at a local tech school. Like you I didn't want to be away from my wife and kids that long. I was able to make it work but I had many challenges and made mistakes along the way.
The general consensus is that you have to "pay your dues" with some sort of OTR gig and really learn how to handle the truck in many different environments. After that, as long as you've kept a good service record and clean driving record, the opportunities for something closer to home should start to open up. That said though I encourage anyone to try and find a company and career path that works for them. Your family should be you priority. If trucking could put your relationships at risk than it may not be worth it.
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.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
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.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Line Haul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Thanks for the feedback. My wife and I have a very strong relationship, so that's not a risk, but it's still smart to keep that at the forefront of my mind.
Roehl called me today and made an exception to hire me for Regional outside of their normal hiring zone. They have a terminal that is 20 minutes away. By far the closest terminal out of every company I could possibly think of.
Maverick is also blowing up my phone, as well as Landair (National 11-14 days). The choices are overwhelming, and I have no idea which direction to go lol.
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.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Roehl pays 500 a week during training the also pay for lodging the hotel has breakfast everyday and Roehl gives you lunch at the terminal dinner is on you.
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.
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Great information. I really appreciate it. I have taken my search to a new level. I have spoken to several local companies about doing local work around the house. TCW and OD specifically. But they seem to be hard to get into. My wife is dead set on regional (home weekly) or better. She doesn't want me to be gone more than one week at a time. And she reserves the right to pull the plug on this whole endeavor if she is not happy with it. After 20 years of marriage, no amount of money is worth me losing her lol.
I was told to look at Marvin Keller for the 4 on 4 off schedule. I know I would make less money, but how much less? Does anyone know anyone or have personal experience with MK?
I have an interview with Miller Motte Monday to see about getting my CDL from a 3rd party, then an interview with Roehl on Wednesday, then another with Maverick (not scheduled yet).
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.