Profile For Nick

I’m just going to be straight up blunt and honest with you. Listen to all of these replies, especially from these two wonderful ladies who have loads of experience to share. I am still very green, having only been working OTR for 6 months now but I will say, I am beyond grateful for the experience I have already gained just by doing so. I would have never felt as comfortable as I am now if I would have taken some local, home everyday type job right out of school. You just don’t get the same kind of experience. And once you have a year of verified OTR experience on your resume, it really opens the doors for you. I don’t plan on doing OTR forever and where I’m at now (one of the 3 mega carriers hauling bright orange trailers 😉), I’m grateful we have opportunities for me to switch to other contracts that will allow me to be home much more. I’m not even considering it until I at least have 100K+ miles of OTR under my belt. And that’s a minimum. I’d like more than that.

As someone who’s still very fresh in this industry, I’m beyond grateful to already have a job. Had I waited an extra few months to get my CDL, it would likely be very different. There’s 2,500 extra drivers with tons of experience looking for a job now. Who are these companies going to take? One of them who just wants to drive or someone who has a list of things they’d like before they consider employment?

So with that, I feel like I can offer some pretty decent advice as a newbie to another newbie. A vast majority of your requests/wants/desires are just not realistic. I’m a newbie who was in a similar situation just last year. It took me 3 months to find my job and it was a “here’s how it’s going to be; take it or leave it” situation. And that was going straight into OTR and coming to terms with the fact that I would likely be doing that for a year plus. You can’t be saying “I don’t want to be going to this state.” “I don’t want to go to that customer.” You’re new. You just kind of need to put your time in with no difficulties for the company and do whatever is expected of you. Your dispatchers learn VERY FAST who they’re “difficult to work with” drivers are. Trust me. That means going anywhere, at anytime, no matter the distance. You and your husband sort of need to get realistic of what’s actually going on. That’s just the honest truth. I am in no way trying to be mean or act like I have all this experience. I’m the first to admit that I don’t. But my reply here echos those who have tons of experience and they are all exactly right.

This is an extremely hard industry to get into right now. Having all these requests and demands and this sort of naive attitude towards the industry is going to be a major hurdle to overcome for you both.

I originally came on this site and asked all of my questions, too and got similar answers. No one is going to hand hold you and sugar coat it because how does that really help you in the end? It may not be what you were hoping to hear but this is “Trucker Truth” after all. So do you want the truth or do you want a watered down answer that makes you feel better.

I understand you’re helping your husband out here with making this post and trying to help with the job search and that’s great but he really needs to be putting in the work. Whose CDL is it in the end? I think once you both realize things aren’t going to be as you had hoped, it will be a little bit easier for him (and you) to get rolling.

From one newbie to another, this can be a very rewarding career and I still love it! Yes, there are certain days where I’d rather be doing just about anything else but that comes with any job. I’m on a permanent paid road trip vacation. I drive through the mountains of Colorado and say to myself “I can’t believe they’re paying me to do this right now.” I wish your husband all the best in finding something that works for the both of you but PLEASE, again as one newbie to another, listen to all of these replies, including mine, because they are right on the mark. Hope to see you out there!

Schneider was basically the same way. Report it on your physical but if it was over 3 years ago and they’re not in your system now or required for you to function, it’ll be fine. As long as you can pass a urine test and hair follicle test. I believe a vast majority of companies do the hair test now.

I hate to be the one to say it but 2,500 drivers looking for a job in this market right now is going to be quite an uphill battle. Makes me grateful for my job that is keeping me more than busy.

Ahhh! A fellow CDL holder from WA - or soon to be.

If I can offer some advice as someone who just obtained their CDL in WA last year (2024) and is now driving at one of the mega carriers.

I went to CDL school (unfortunately they went out of business due to some shady business practices us students weren’t aware of, but that’s beside the point for the sake of this post.) Your best bet is to find a CDL school here in WA and go through the whole program to get your CDL. I would recommend doing a search on Google for the best ones currently. Avoid CDS and 160 Driving Academy if you can.

I will also say WA state is VERY STRICT for getting a CDL. It is historically one of the most difficult states to obtain a CDL in. I’m not sure how that stacks up in 2025. But they are really on it. 4 weeks of school and then the state exam is pretty involved. They nitpick everything. KNOW YOUR PRE-TRIP inside and out. STUDY STUDY STUDY. I was a one and done who passed their exam first try with the state. I was then hired by Schneider running OTR out of their western WA terminal right out of school shortly after I graduated and got my CDL. To my knowledge, Schneider hasn’t been hiring much for this area anymore since I got hired but Swift and JB Hunt also run out of here so check them out.

Best thing is do your research. Lots of trucking companies in the western WA Seattle area but vast majority of them won’t hire without prior experience. Focus on getting the CDL first but just be aware that WA is a lot stricter than some other states to get your CDL in. Any school here will take your money. It’s up to you to pay attention and study and be prepared for the state exam.

Good luck!

What’s probably holding you up more than anything is that reckless driving from 6 years ago and not so much the charges from 15 years ago. Then again, they involve theft in some kind of way and that’s usually a deal breaker for any company when they’re trusting you with their truck and load. Add on a reckless driving charge and the fact that the market is saturated with applicants and these companies are being way more picky and only taking the best ones, it’s going to be a long uphill battle. Reckless driving is usually an automatic thanks but no thanks. Try Western Express.

I think any of “the big three” (Swift, Werner, and Schneider) are gonna turn you away at the door.

Thanks guys! Already have my first two doctors appointments in the coming days so hopefully back to work soon!

Well, breaking my right middle finger wasn’t exactly in the cards for ending 2024 and starting 2025 yet here I am! It was a non-work related injury on my own time during my Christmas break that I tried to go to work with but unfortunately it just didn’t work out. The pain became too unbearable and considering there’s a lot more to the job that requires both hands other than just holding onto the wheel, I had to wave the white flag. I was officially pulled out of service yesterday and placed on a medical leave of absence until CertDrive officially clears me to return to work. I’m not sure if I’m more bummed about breaking my finger and having to go out on a medical or the fact that I had to give up my brand new 2025 Cascadia since I’ll be unable to drive it. Lol! I’m just kidding… Maybe with a string of luck, they can find me another one once I’m ready to go again! Had a lot of cool adventures in that truck but it is what it is. I learned a lesson here. Your health comes first before any job and as my manager put it, take care of myself and get better. My job will be waiting for me when I return.

So I guess it’s a few weeks on the couch for me!

One of the things I’m grateful for working for Schneider. No inward facing cameras. And no plans to add them, either. Not that I do anything wrong but it’s nice not having that thing spying on you.

This seems to be the norm more and more recently. I’ve been on the road full time for 6 months and at this point, I’m honestly shocked at some of the “professional drivers” I have seen at truck stops and on the highways. Not pulling forward from the fuel island, taking a 30 min lunch AT the fuel island (one was even taking their 10 hour break on the fuel island at the Flying J in Mira Loma CA because there was “no parking and I ran out of time”, double and triple parking at the truck stops making it impossible to maneuver around them, speeding, texting and driving, no situational awareness, lack of basic comprehension and knowledge of their job… I often wonder how they managed to make it through CDL school and the drive test and how many of them even obtained a CDL legally. I worked incredibly hard and paid a pretty penny to have my CDL because this is what I wanna do and I get irritated at seeing drivers like this who make the ones like me, and all of you on here, and the other thousands of actual honest, professional drivers look bad and make a mockery of this profession. I may still be green but it doesn’t take long to figure this stuff out. After 30,000 + miles in a few months, I’ve seen a lot already.

Okay, rant over… Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Brett! I’ve been apart of this forum since the summer and have found it very helpful and useful. Glad to be here!

As a newbie at one of the US majors, about 6 months in now, I fully expected to be working today. I’m very grateful and happy to announce I put in to have the Christmas holiday off and it was approved almost immediately! I got back to my yard and parked my tractor mid day on 12/23 and am enjoying a nice few days at home for the holidays! Lots of relaxing on the couch with movies, hot chocolate, and of course eating good food today! I’m also a gamer so lots of video games will be played as well! I’m in charge of making the big Christmas feast for dinner. Something I cherish being able to do since good home cooked meals are far and few between nowadays.

I’m off until 12/29 before I’ll hit the road again. So 12/23-12/29 is a very generous and welcomed break for the Christmas holiday! I worked Thanksgiving so I’m gonna milk this week for all that it’s worth!

Merry Christmas everyone!