Have CDL, no School, How do I get a job?

[kneescraper]

I had been driving on a CDL permit since last November. I had been driving with my Dad in his truck. I probably have 5-7k miles in the truck. I just took my test and got my CDL license a couple of days ago. I didn't go to any formal school, but I can drive better than most of the people that come out of them. I know how to fill out my logbook, I can back into any terminal, etc..

I want to get into a truck by myself, but am having a hard time. Most places want experience that I can't verify since I was driving under a permit and not actually for a company, or want a certified school.

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Uturn2001]

Try small companies.

Another possibility are companies with their own schools. They might be willing to hire you, send you through their school in exchange for a 1-2 year work commitment.

[kneescraper]

I can understand a work commitment if they had to help me get my CDL, but I have done all of that on my own. I am ready to hit the road. All they have to do is tell me Where, When, and maybe about their particular paperwork, but as far as driving, I have that part already.

[BigDiesel]

I had been driving on a CDL permit since last November. I had been driving with my Dad in his truck. I probably have 5-7k miles in the truck. I just took my test and got my CDL license a couple of days ago. I didn't go to any formal school, but I can drive better than most of the people that come out of them. I know how to fill out my logbook, I can back into any terminal, etc..

I want to get into a truck by myself, but am having a hard time. Most places want experience that I can't verify since I was driving under a permit and not actually for a company, or want a certified school.

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Yet another who is feeling the ramifications of trying to shortcut the system......:rolleyes:

[kneescraper]

I didn't try to shortcut the system. I got my license the old fashioned way. I got it the way that many people did long before there was anything like a "Truck Driving School". I was scared away from many of the schools by listening to many of the people here saying how they rip people off and such. Learning to drive a truck and getting your license in a week hardly seems like much of a system.

I have seen many drivers that have been through school that can't drive for crap. You can hear them grinding gears from miles away, or see them spend 1/2 hour trying to get into a tight dock. I have had to get out and guide a few Swift drivers for fear of them taking the side off of my truck......

If that is "the system", then your system is broken. I look at going to one of those schools as the shortcut. Those schools don't take you up and down Mountain Passes or find the pickup location with only a bad address and a phone number. They have you back into a fake loading dock with the other students and the instructor telling you to "Take your time, you will get it." That is a lot different from backing into a tight, overcrowded dock with other trucks waiting and you can hear them over the CB bitching about how long your taking and "Who taught this clown how to drive?"

I am by no means an expert trucker, but I am a damn site better than the average fresh graduate from school with no more experience than what he got in his week, or two.

[GTR SILVER]

I didn't try to shortcut the system. I got my license the old fashioned way. I got it the way that many people did long before there was anything like a "Truck Driving School". I was scared away from many of the schools by listening to many of the people here saying how they rip people off and such. Learning to drive a truck and getting your license in a week hardly seems like much of a system.

I have seen many drivers that have been through school that can't drive for crap. You can hear them grinding gears from miles away, or see them spend 1/2 hour trying to get into a tight dock. I have had to get out and guide a few Swift drivers for fear of them taking the side off of my truck......

If that is "the system", then your system is broken. I look at going to one of those schools as the shortcut. Those schools don't take you up and down Mountain Passes or find the pickup location with only a bad address and a phone number. They have you back into a fake loading dock with the other students and the instructor telling you to "Take your time, you will get it." That is a lot different from backing into a tight, overcrowded dock with other trucks waiting and you can hear them over the CB bitching about how long your taking and "Who taught this clown how to drive?"

I am by no means an expert trucker, but I am a damn site better than the average fresh graduate from school with no more experience than what he got in his week, or two.

try local construction & demo companys.....(dont' call...go in person...!!!!) BOL 2 ya...

[BigDiesel]

I didn't try to shortcut the system. I got my license the old fashioned way. I got it the way that many people did long before there was anything like a "Truck Driving School". I was scared away from many of the schools by listening to many of the people here saying how they rip people off and such. Learning to drive a truck and getting your license in a week hardly seems like much of a system.

I have seen many drivers that have been through school that can't drive for crap. You can hear them grinding gears from miles away, or see them spend 1/2 hour trying to get into a tight dock. I have had to get out and guide a few Swift drivers for fear of them taking the side off of my truck......

If that is "the system", then your system is broken. I look at going to one of those schools as the shortcut. Those schools don't take you up and down Mountain Passes or find the pickup location with only a bad address and a phone number. They have you back into a fake loading dock with the other students and the instructor telling you to "Take your time, you will get it." That is a lot different from backing into a tight, overcrowded dock with other trucks waiting and you can hear them over the CB bitching about how long your taking and "Who taught this clown how to drive?"

I am by no means an expert trucker, but I am a damn site better than the average fresh graduate from school with no more experience than what he got in his week, or two.

But those " fresh graduates " from a school are not having trouble finding a job or an insurance company to accept them either.....:rolleyes:

Just sayin..... but what do I know........

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

they hire hostlers/yard jockeys with no school or otr experience ...mostly because you hardly ever leave pirvate property and only need the cdl to go from 1 lot 2 another if leaving private property to do so...th warhouse here at miller-coors in golden,co hires guys with no school or otr ...

[boneebone]

You can't get hired because most companies, because of insurance reasons require a certain amount of hours of classroom and road instruction which you do not have from a Acredited Truck Driving School.

Looks like you might have to spend the dough to go.

I've seen plenty of drivers experienced and newbies take the side or front end off a truck backing up.

[Mackman]

Dont give up hope. My dad is a O/O thats how i got my cdl the same way you did. Just go to every company you know of and tell them your story. Forget the mega companys. Go to the small mom and pop outfits. Do not piss your money away on a school. All they do is get you on with 1/2 ass outfits like swift, cr england etc. There are other drivers on this forum that never went to school for a CDL. Me, Doulbe R and Jimpard. Doulbe R and Jimpard both have really good paying jobs. I am working on mine tryin to get in with a LTL outfit.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

You can't get hired because most companies, because of insurance reasons require a certain amount of hours of classroom and road instruction which you do not have from a Acredited Truck Driving School.

Looks like you might have to spend the dough to go.

I've seen plenty of drivers experienced and newbies take the side or front end off a truck backing up.

like I said they hire hostlers here at the brewery with a cdl obtained with no 3000k school requirded ...most hostler jobs are like that ...I've held off going to orientation at conway b/c I think hostling for 20hr with ability to work 7 days 8hrs a day most of the year will be more pay with 1-1/2 time and double time on 7th day plus it's set shift with set start/finish times and 16hrs free time everyday...it don't matter if i pull 100 trailers or 10 I still get paid ...Just saying i think you can get a job without the school or ever doing OTR ...At just $20hr drivers here have already grossed mid-high 40k and will exceed 50k by years end granted they have worked 8hr 7day weeks nearly 8 months straight but only 8hr set ****fs OTR you'll techncally be working 24/7 and much unpaid and maybe earn 50k with a couple days home every 4-6 wks ...And there are better local jobs with more experience .

[tweety bird]

I probably have 5-7k miles in the truck.

Thanks

Try small companies.

Another possibility are companies with their own schools. They might be willing to hire you, send you through their school in exchange for a 1-2 year work commitment.

5-7k miles is not a lot of miles. A solo driver can do that in 2 weeks- some guys will go 5k in a week (not saying they can log it... I'm not doing the math in my head- just saying there are those who do it). A team can easily do 7k in a week. If you were in the truck with your dad, that's just not a lot of miles. And it's unverified.

The advice (and reasoning) you're getting here is good. Insurance is a big deal. Just because YOU say you are a better driver than a guy who just graduated trucking school doesn't mean the insurance company believes you.

Uturn said to try small companies and that is my advice as well. Try a local company- don't know where you live but if you've got some decent companies in your area and you're a local boy that may be more attractive. They may be willing to put you in the truck with a trainer and, as long as s/he okays you, you'll be good to go. This also depends on their insurance.

A lot of companies will allow a husband who has been properly trained to train his wife. Generally, though, I think she is still required to go to school.

I never went to school- my husband went and worked for a company for 3 months and they allowed him to train me. I did wind up taking a refresher course when we changed companies just in case- it was like 3 days. I didn't wind up needing it though- go figure.

The advice to find a company that runs their own school is good advice.

Just don't get sucked into a lease purchase program. Even if you wind up with a so-so company job, you'll be able to survive until you can either afford to leave them (and pay them back) or until you complete the requirement. But if you do the lease purchase program you're liable to get the shaft.

If you're just looking for a job and not planning to go OTR, check out your options as a yard jockey (the day cab type truck that just moves trailers from one dock to the next- sometimes from one building to another- but not far). That's not likely to help you toward an OTR job, though- it's not OTR experience.

[rigidsporty]

Try food service... their desperate.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Try food service... their desperate.

10% driving 90% lumping .