Profile For Train Wreck

I completely agree it wouldn't be wasteful, I do plan on getting my doubles/triples and hazmat for sure, I'm just strapped for cash and I'm on a time crunch as well. I have to be at orientation in less that a week and from what I understand it could be a very long bus ride so I may end up having to leave this Saturday, I really dont want to bus in, I'd rather fly,but that's an entirely different story haha! I appreciate all the feedback from everyone, more than you can imagine!

It's safe to say I will probably be asking a ton more questions and going through forums in the next few weeks/months once everything starts bombarding me, thanks again everyone! This new driver appreciates it a lot!

If he's light on funds why waste $100+ on something that might not be needed? Just remember it can take 30 days ( mine took less than a week back in August) for TSA approval to come in.

I would say our views express the difference between getting by in the short-term or building a career for the long term.

You're thinking short-term; do the bare minimum to get by. I get that. Sometimes we're seriously strapped for cash or in a time crunch so we have to make sacrifices. Unfortunately, every time you sacrifice the long term to appease the short term, you make things more difficult later on. People who live that way do what I call, "bouncing along the bottom" or "returning to zero" because they get nowhere in life. They're building nothing for the future, they're just surviving for now.

Building a career (or any part of your life) for the long-term means making sacrifices in the short term to make things better down the road. If you live that way consistently things will keep getting better for you. You will build a resume that keeps getting better and finances that keep getting stronger.

He wouldn't be wasting $100. He would be investing in himself by increasing the number of available opportunities in a career where he has the potential to make over $50,000 in his first year and $75,000 by the end of his third year.

Look at the risk/reward ratio. In the grand scheme of things, how much does he stand to gain versus how much does he stand to lose? He might make an extra $10,000/year with that endorsement, or he might lose $100 if he doesn't use it at all. Do you really want to save $100 at the risk of limiting your career and costing yourself thousands?

Investing in yourself is the best money you can spend. Anything you can do to make yourself better will pay off in some way down the road.

I honestly can't afford any at this point, especially my hazmat, I know it will be a stressful time, I honestly have no other choice than to wait though, hopefully even under pressure I'm able to accomplish getting the hazmat and doubles/triples, time will tell. Wish me luck,haha!

once I start I'm going to check with the company to see if I can get hazmat and triple on their dime.

I would highly recommend you get them now if you can afford to. Trust me, you'll be very busy and under some pressure once training begins at your new company. Getting your CDL was the easy part. Now it's about to get real. Take this time to get those endorsements.

The only endorsement I got was tanker, I thought about getting my doubles and triples but haven't, once I start I'm going to check with the company to see if I can get hazmat and triple on their dime.

Did you get all the endorsements while you were getting? Hazmat, tanker, Doubles and triples?

Well it's been quite a month and now it's time for me to fill you guys in. So I went to a company sponsored CDL program out of state and was very excited to get this opportunity, I was there for a couple of days and all was going well, that is until my third day there. I needed to change my license to the state in which I was going to get my training, so we head to the DMV and they hit a snag! I was informed that my state would not let me transfer my license! So I called up my home state and they say there was nothing hindering my ability to transfer my license to another state on their end and my MVR was impeccable. So I printed off an MVR and returned to the out of state DMV and tried again, and still the same issue, so basically I could not stay due to this! So I pack and come home, once back home I attended an in state CDL training program, and as of Friday (11/29) I completed the program and I head to orientation on Monday(12/9). It has been a hectic month or so, but I have finally achieved the first step. Tomorrow I go get my CDL at my local DMV with my training papers! I will be heading to Total Transportation in a week, and I'm excited for the journey ahead. Any help from the veterans of trucking is welcomed and appreciated! Hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season and a safe new year!

Josh. (Trainwreck)

I definitely will, I'm honestly willing to drive flatbed,dry van,or reefer brother! US Xpress, landair(Greenville tn), and Total are options for me as well, but as soon as everything gets rolling and I get a date and a company i will let you all know! Looking forward to what's ahead

Definitely give an update when you get a start date. I guess you want to drive flatbed?

Just a quick update for those that helped me out! I should start driving school within the next couple weeks, and it looks as though Maverick and TMC more and more for this guy,I will update once I'm enrolled and everyone! Thank you all again for the help,its much appreciated!!

Hey guys, so I go Friday to take my states CDL A permit test, I figure I may as well go ahead and get that before I attend training, I got my med card so I'm good there, and I think I've narrower it down to a few different companies, so I want to ask if anyone has any experience with Us Xpress, Maverick, or CFI ? If names aren't allowed I do apologize and I'm sure a moderator will correct the issue, thanks for taking the time to help me out, I'm 34 and this is all new and kinda scary to me! Thanks again guys and gals! Look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks so much brother! I appreciate all the responses! I'm going to try to make my final decision on school/company this week, I will look through the links you have provided! Thanks for reaching out.

Jdad, you've already discovered that school or terminal location is a minor issue. When I started out, I chose Swift because both the school and terminal are nearby. After I went OTR, I finished the biggest benefit of a local terminal was free parking. Woo-hoo!

Since you seem to be new to trucking, I'll post several links for you to research. This web site (Trucking Truth) is designed for those interested in this industry, and we want to give you a leg up.

Start here:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Help for looking at CDL school:

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
• Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"
• Apply For Paid CDL Training

There's tons more. At the top left is a three-bar menu that opens up the whole web site.

Thanks! I'm gonna start making calls today and see what information I can get,hopefully I can respond soon with good news!

"I'm not looking for negativity so let me apologize if I misled anyone,I'm just looking for the best possible option for me"

No worries, Jdad. Your question is one everyone has. The answer just requires more information.

Im pretty sure there are plenty of companies that provide regional OTR gigs. Staying in the Southeast region should help you get home every two weeks. A general rule for OTR drivers is that you earn 1 day off for every week out.

I know for a fact that Prime and US Xpress have Southeast regional jobs because I worked for both companies. US Xpress is based in Chattanooga. Other drivers can tell you if their companies offer Southeast regional routes.

You can also contact the companies in this link and see what they might have for you: Paid CDL Training Programs

Yes,does have to be paid,but I was just putting my ideal situation out there is all. As for local driving gigs I'd definitely be willing to take one but I'm thinking more so along the lines of a regional job or a local company that would put me on the road for 5 days and me be home for 2. But I realize that would be harder to do at this point,just trying to give as much info as possible man.

I guess I'm just looking for a good scenario to fit my lifestyle, as we all are, I'm married and have 3 children so my major concern is income and home time, I would prefer to be home at least every other weekend, if not every weekend, and I just need to make a living to provide, not looking to get rich just looking to be stable.

Sounds pretty good to me. But..... We really gotta pay our dues OTR. I am also married with children and pets. A local gig sounds scary to me currently. Traffic, tight spaces, random unexpected's from local customers. Highways are big and open with space to move, learn, and grow your abilities. Would love to spend weekends with family but wouldn't want to jeopardize my career by being in over my head from the start. Just my thoughts everyone's expectations are different.