So I Got My CDL Now What?

      Now that you passed all your exams and recieved your official state CDL license, now what? OK, let's find a job in your local area where I can make good money and be home with the family every night. Unfortunalty trucking is not a 9 to 5 job, you will be spending time away from your family home life. If you've been searching and filling out job applications you know not everyone will be interested in you without any real experience. You might get lucky and find a local company who may hire and train you. Maybe a friend or relative may get you into their company. But the reality is there's just not many companies that will hire a rookie. Mainly because of insurance and the fact that the you will be driving a very expensive piece of machinery not to mention transporting some expensive merchandise. Almost all want some experience from say 3 mo. to 3 years. So the only option is a national company like Schneider, U.S. Express, Werner, Swift and many others who cater to entry level student trainees. They will help you get started but you will have to go on the road with a trainer. So be prepared to be away from your normal home life while you train and then afterwards when you get hired. 

       

          All companies work differently. Some will have you train from 3 to 6 weeks coming home occasionally. After training your work schedule will be either:

• Over The Road (OTR)  - if you don't mind being away from home 3 or 4 weeks at a time then this may be for you. Some trucking companies will keep new drivers out as much as 5 or 6 weeks.
• Regional - usually go out 2 or 3 states from their local terminal. If their local terminal is at home then they usually get home after being out every 2 or 3 days, may be home every weekend.
• Dedicated - Dedicated trucking jobs are perfect for some drivers. Those drivers that need to be home more often might find a trucking company with routes that go out and come back in 2 or more times a week or out all week and back in the weekend. 

      I will be starting with Schneider in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are sending me there for 3 weeks to train. They are paying the Greyhound bus to Green Bay and lodging and meals for a week. After a week it's on the road with a trainer sleeping in the truck for 2 weeks then home for a few days. Then I will work out of Gary, Indiana since I live in Chicago, Illinois and assigned a truck. I asked for a regional run so I will work one week out and home weekends I hope. So make sure you do your research and find a company that is right for you.