Thinking about getting my CDL

[xray138]

I am 36, college educated, and have tried every office job in the world. This summer I worked for a company that moved cars across country. I loved it!! I loved being in different places and having the company pay for my motels, gas. Meals I had to pay for of course.

This company was good, but bad. They did stiff me on some of my pay. This is why I quit after a few months of their nonsense. The only cool thing about it was that I was not satelite tracked, and did not have to have a log book. Just needed to get the company cars where they were supposed to be in the shortest amount of time. I am also a photographer, and was able to stop at places along the way and take photos (I like to punch the pixels).

Anyway, have a squeaky clean MVR, no accidents DUI's, DWI's etc....clean background US Citizen etc...I want to get my CDL to drive "hotshot" loads. I don't want the responsibility to drive a tractor trailer, just a step smaller type of truck.

I live in the south suburbs of Chicago, IL, and would like to know the cheapest way to get my CDL so that I can get hired by an expediter. The transportation business is new to me, and I need a helping hand getting into the understanding of how to profit from the system. The main point is I LOVE being on the road and seeing different places in the US. I also want to make money, and eventually relocate to Phoenix to be with my girlfriend. Does anyone have advice for me. I would love to hear it!

 

[rangell218]

I wish you the best, you will not be the only college educated person that has decided to go into driving or getting a cdl. if you love the road and traveling, and will enjoy being away weeks at a time. i say go for it, you said you have tried all kinds of office jobs then give this a try. you will see some nice county and meet alot of very nice people s well as drivers willing to help. i would say before you decide read last years forums at least one year back all the way until current and ask drivers as many questions as possible. and if still wanting to go for it, drive for an owner and check the owner out you wish to drive for as well as you are checking this profession out, for awhile before you decide to buy yourown truck (if this is your plan) of course this is only my opinion and reseach very thing.

 

[LDB]

Well, the first advice is you need to read back at least one year in the general, newbies and recruiter forums to learn what expediting is and isn't. That doesn't mean read every word of every post. It means check out threads and if they seem interesting or educational read those. That will give you enough foundation of this business to know what you need to ask about, consider in decision making, be aware of and watch out for. Good luck.

 

[moose]

Xray138...
So far you are doing the right things.
keeping your credentials cleans , looking in the right places,and asking questions.

now , you need to get your priority's strait ,
the most important question you need to ask your self is :
what is my goals ?
are you seeing it as a job ,a work place ,a or something you are going to do for the next 10 years or so.
a CDL is not the shortest rout between Chicago and phoenix .
once you answer those questions ,we can help you more.
you can get your CDL for free at many Places , if you ask me , you will loose money doing so !
you can be cheap and get the minimum training just to past the test , and if you ask me ,well ,the same !
the more commitment you will pot into it , the more rewarding trucking,and expedite will be.
many of us on this forum are looking at trucking as a way of life ,its more then a lifestyle ,we make more money then we can any place els ,and we love doing Expedite.




Moose.

 

[FIS53]

We make more money doing this than anything else???? My carrier must have instituted a helluva hold back... wait till i get to the office....

Anywho as the others said read, read, read!! Learn as much as possible. Most of us look at this not only as a career but as a way of life due to the demands of the job. The amount of road time away from our houses and families makes this a unique job and of course very demanding. But most of us love it and would not trade it for anything. It takes a lot to get used to this if you haven't really done it before.

Remember if you don't ask the questions you don't get the answers.
Rob

 

[xray138]

Thanks guys! I will poke around on this site. Looking forward to getting on the road and making some money!

 

[Turtle]

Looking forward to getting on the road and making some money!

You can do one or the other, not both.

 

[xray138]

I checked with my local Illinois DMV, I got the CDL training booklet. I have started reading it etc. Now, would it be better getting involved in a CDL training school? Or should I study, and take the 30 question Illinois CDL test. Not sure though if that 30 questions test is for a CDL C CLass or higher though. I heard that I should go to Schneider, and train to get a CDL A Class. However, I am not sure if I am up to actually driving a tractor trailer. I heard that Jaguar II won't even hire me if I don't have a Class A. I just want to drive OTR Class B or smaller.

If anything I am trying not to be obligated to any company for my training, but that might be the best way to go to get introduced to companies....This board also has given me some really good tips. Lots of friendly folks here. Anyone have any advice on training companies?

 

[Turtle]

The CDL test is the CDL test. The Class is the vehicle type. Meaning, it's the same test for Class A, B and C. The only difference in the tests are that applicants for a Class A must answer an additional 20 questions (I think it's 20) on Combination Vehicles, and applicants driving vehicles with air brakes must answer an additional 25 questions (I think its 25) regarding air brakes. It should tell you this in the CDL Manual you just got from the state.

If all you want to do is drive OTR Class B, and not a tractor, then you don't need to waste the time (or the money) in obtaining a Class A. You can learn to drive a Class B vehicle simply by renting a U Haul or driving a friend's RV. Many people take their road test in a rented U Haul, as that's the same class of vehicle as a Class B. Yeah, there's a little more to driving an expedited straight truck than there is a U Haul, but not much.

 

[cheri1122]

A "little more" than driving a U Haul?
Like: logging every hour and staying within the legal limits of the Hours of Service, knowing the correct way to use the right equipment to secure freight, correct loading placement to avoid overweight tickets, knowing how to do a pre & post trip inspection of the truck to spot potential problems, knowing how Hazmat must be handled & when it needs placarded.
And being able to back up between two very costly chrome monster rigs at the truckstop. At night. In the rain, with near zero visibility. Without touching either of them.
Yeah, it's a little more challenging than driving a U Haul. But sometimes it's way more fun, too.

 

[Turtle]

Well, I was referring to the road test portions of the CDL B. Then again, I have never taken the road test for anything other than a Class C, so I'm not 100% positive what all they do on a CDL B road test. I'm about 99% sure, tho.