Just to give you folks a little background on me, I have no experience with trucking or obtaining a CDL...but I did have an interesting conversation a few days ago with a guy who got his start driving for Schneider Trucking. At this stage in my life, I don't have a wife or kids...so I'm considering giving this a shot for a few years.
Basically, I was just hoping to hear from folks on here who have or know someone who has their CDL, and drives for a living.
My main question is this: Is it better to work for a company who will pay for a new driver's CDL? Or is a bit smarter to go to school to get your CDL on your own and then find a job in the industry?
As always, any responses are appreciated!
Thanks,
Matt
Stay away from Truck Stop Hookers. Nasty, disease-ridden filth. 
Schneider and J.B. Hunt are the JC Whitney of truckers, less pay and benefits. With the cost of fuel I imagine it's hard to make a living.
I thought about it, but my wife says "I've seen you in a car".....
Rats.
Sign the contract, get the license, deal with the crap for a year or so, then look else-where.
There are actually many smaller companies that are desperate for drivers are the big ones.
ncjay
New Reader
1/19/09 4:14 p.m.
I drove OTR for a few years and got tired of it real fast. I would stay away from Schneider and JB Hunt, but it's your decision. You will sign a one year contract. If you get a good dispatcher that keeps you moving it's not bad. I did the math and figured out I was making $8 to $11 per hour. Not too good. The first year running OTR is the worst. After you get two years in with a clean driving record, you can write your own ticket and go to any company. Most trucking companies are lying, crooked, scumbags that will do whatever it takes to take money out of your pocket and put it in theirs. If it is something you really want to do, go do it while you're young. Save some money and go do what you really want to do after the trucking bug goes away. If you can handle tarping loads, flatbed drivers make more money, but it's not for everyone. Overall, trucking is not healthy. You sit still for hours on end, day after day, and you wind up eating truck stop food. Having a CDL is always a good thing. There are always jobs available. With some years under your belt, opportunities open up for better pay and different jobs. Much of the time it's rush, rush, rush, to get there and then sit waiting around. You don't get paid sitting still. Take your lumps for the first year and sign on with a company that will help you get a license. Understand going in, they are going to do what they can to annoy the crap out of you to find out what you'll put up with. My first year out I drove for Roehl. My complaints with this company are minimal. It just sucks they are based in Wisconsin with another main terminal in Gary, IN. Way too cold in the winter.
JB Schnider will get you your CDL but it is not free. You pay it back through the lose of your freedom. You will be weeks away on the road and basically go through some E36 M3 kind of like boot camp. Once you are through, the real opportunities will arrive.
If you are low on dough but can spare the time, go JB Schinder. If you have the money, go the school route.
I looked into this ten years ago to get my license. Talk to some of the drivers for different companies. Ask where the companies have terminals, places you will most often be sent as a rookie, how often the get home or close to it, anything else that concerns you about the job. Try to talk to a few people from each company, don't just go by what one person has to say. At the time I had narrowed it down to MS Carriers (now Swift) or NYC Bus. The bus company called first
My former brother in law got his CDL through a school, and now has a route for Pepsi driving a big-rig from their distribution warehouse to various drop-off locations. He drives and loads/unloads and makes a good living.
Freight is reaaaaaaaly slow right now. Lots of drivers are bailing out, it might not be the best time to be getting in.
