Just Got My CDL. I Live In FL.

Can anybody tell me what to expect? I went through driver solutions and I'm set up to go to PAM.

Congrats man. You can search PAM here on TT, I believe one guy posted about his experience recently. There's also a link here somewhere with a full review of the company.

I appreciate it, being from FL. I'm not sure what to expect starting driving this time of year.

I too live in Florida. As a matter of fact I'm there right now finding up my home time. If you have lived here all your life, you are in for quite a shock add you head north.

It won't be long before you hit temperatures you haven't experienced down here. Make sure you bring warm clothing. It is going to be quite an adjustment for you dealing with those temps, but it will be doable as long as you dress appropriately for the weather.

As far as driving goes, yes you will end up driving in weather you've probably never encountered down here. But that is the best thing about starting now. You will be in training for a bit when you start and will have the advantage of having a trainer with you when you hit that weather.

I'm not sweating the weather too much, I was being a bit of a girl about it for a minute, but I adjust to temperatures pretty well when the temp drops around here. I just started a new relationship and I ship out on the first that's what was bothering me more than anything. The training pay is getting to me, but it is what it is after I get my first year in the pay will get much better. Excited about traveling around and being on the highway.

How's it been for you man? Your still a rookie right?

Yep, I've been driving less than year yet. It gets a little rough being away from my wife at times, but we deal.

Like you said, the training pay isn't much, though it varies from company to company. Once I was out of training, I went through a rough patch with a temporally assigned truck that kept needing repairs. After that, it's been going pretty good. I work hard, don't complain, and make sure I'm on time and my fleet manager doors his best to keep me moving.

That's a there you will see repeated often on this forum about attitude and work ethic being the keys to being successful. It's been my experience so far (and I don't see it changing) that it is true.

The only impact living in Florida has made on me is my company, Werner, doesn't have a lot of freight going into Florida so they sometimes have to work a little magic here and there to get me home. I make sure to let them know as far in advance as possible when I need home time. This allows them to plan in advance and I haven't had any tall difficulties getting home.

Yea man, I'm excited about hitting the road. I thought about going with werner, they told me two weeks out 3 days home right here outta lakeland.

Congrats! I hope everything works well for you.

Yea man, I'm excited about hitting the road. I thought about going with werner, they told me two weeks out 3 days home right here outta lakeland.

Yeah that's where I did my orientation. It's also where I drop my empty trailers when I'm heading home. I have a place near my house to park my tractor, but no room for a trailer.