Is It Better To Get The CDL Before Or After Moving To Another State?

Hi, first of all please excuse my English, it ain't my native language. I've been a member of the forum for some time but that's my first post.

My situation is a bit unusual, so please bear with me: I recently moved to the US from Europe, to follow my wife who is a US citizen and had wanted to come home after working abroad for a long time. I have been living in New England for a few months, I have my Green Card and my local driving license. I currently work remotely, through Skype and phone conferences, for my previous employer in Europe until they find someone to replace me. It's only a part-time job, and it will end in a few months (May 2017). So I decided to use this big turning point in my life to change things completely and trade my desk-jockey job for a life on the road.

To summarize, I want to see the country (everything here is new to my eyes), I want to do something else than watching computers all day, I love driving (had up to 8 cars at a time back in Europe), and I don't mind being away from home (no kids, my wife has to take care of her elderly father, and we've been living in different countries in Europe for multiple years, so she don't mind not having me at home every evening). Also, I have no friends in this country, and can't enjoy any of the things I enjoyed in Europe (it's either banned, too expensive or too constraining here). At least if I'm a trucker, being alone and having no time for any hobby will just be part of the job! And at least having this life on the road in common with other drivers means that I may make new friends among them (some kinda "brotherhood of truckers", if it still exists), as it can be difficult to make friends otherwise, when I have nothing in common with the people around me (different language, different culture & customs, different upbringing & education...).

Anyway, I more or less hate it here in New England. My family is willing to relocate to Tennessee. Neither my wife or father-in-law work anymore, so we thought I would go to a private CDL school close-by (AllState CDTS in Seymour, CT), which allows 1-on-1 training sessions with a flexible schedule (compatible with my current part-time job), get my CDL at the end of my current contract and find a job with a big nation-wide trucking company, so that perhaps I after a few months I could be transferred to another terminal in TN, while staying with the same company (as you folks recommend here at TruckingTruth, I'm willing to stay at least 1 year, to get the most experience out of that first job, and to get the tuition reimbursed if possible). So this way I get the CDL locally, get a job locally, get transferred to TN and then we move there.

However I have noticed that TN offers many more trucking jobs, many more trucking schools, and that among them is the Chattanooga State Community College which offers the CDL Class A training for less than $1800 in less than 2 months: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/commercial-truck-driving As a comparison the cost of the school near me here is nearly $5000, but it relies on 1-on-1, 1h30-long sessions where I'll be alone with the trainer in the truck, not sharing the truck with other trainees, and I have a good feeling about the school. After I get my CLP , it would take about 6 weeks to get the CDL with them (taking into account my part-time job). They hold regular job fairs with people from about 15 companies coming to recruit drivers (including Schneider and Lily).

As I'm getting more and more fed up with New England, its weather, high cost of living and politics, I'm considering moving first to TN, and getting my CDL training down there for cheaper, before looking for a job there. The advantages would be reduced cost of the training, potentially more trucking companies to choose from, and perhaps the fact that TN companies might favor a TN CDL obtained in a TN community college, rather than a CT CDL obtained in a CT private school. And I'd get out of New England faster!

My question (for those of you who have managed to read me all the way!) is as follows: Would you advise me to get everything locally first, in CT, and then try to find a job in TN and move there after I've started getting some experience? Or would you think it's doable to move first, and get my CDL and my first job directly in TN?

Also, as I'm new not only to the trucking world, but also to this whole country and continent, and its many strange ways, I'd gladly take any advice/comment/critic on any subject.

As for the career I envision, I'd favor bulk or tanker (Hazmat or not) on regional loads (or OTR preferentially away from the East Coast), if I could be picky. As I probably won't be able to be picky for a few years I'll settle for what I can find!

Ideally I'd get myself a glider kit Western Star 4900EX after putting money aside for as long as it will take (house is paid though, and no kids, so hopefully I'll be able to save).

Best regards to all and sorry for the very long first post. I talk too much! Frank

Generally you will need a US license for at least one year before any trucking company will hire you. You will need your CDL permit and license from whatever state you live in. You can transfer it. Have you looked at these?

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

Hi Scott,

I had heard of that 1-year rule but when I specifically asked multiple companies at the AllState school job fair, all of them answered they did not have such a rule, and some said they already had foreign-born drivers and never cared about a US-specific licence as far as cars DL were concerned. When I looked online for the requirements of several dozen companies (mainly using the info compiled on TruckingTruth and checking the companies websites), I only saw it mentioned once or twice.

Usually when they mention the driving experience (car-driving, not CMV driving or CDL experience), they want a certain number of years without accidents, DUI , DWI , etc... I have had my driving licence since 2000 (and I still have it as a proof, as in my country the DL is for life, and not renewed every few years like in the US, so it still has the original date of delivery and my picture as of then!). Amazingly enough, the CT DMV just gave me a CT DL when I showed them my foreign DL and paid the fee, as there is a reciprocity agreement between my country of origin and the state of CT. So I have both DLs, CT and foreign. I never had a responsible accident, was rear-ended once when stopped at a red-light so I wasn't at fault, and never drove after drinking so no DUI/DWI. Haven't had a speeding ticket in more than 3 years (and have the European papers to prove it if need be).

Regarding the resources you mentioned, yes I have started using them to train for the CLP and endorsements. I intend to get as many endorsements as possible (although I have to check for HazMat and the TWIC card, as I think I need to get cleared by Homeland Security to get them - shouldn't be a problem as I already underwent that background check when applying for my Green Card). I think I have to go through that background check before being tested for the endorsement at the DMV, am I right? That would mean I get all the other endorsements first, then when I get the background results for the HazMat I can go back to the DMV to pass only the remaining HazMat endorsement, right?

By the way, this forum, and all the information offered on the TruckingTruth website, is amazing.

Many thanks to Brett and all the other guys who contribute and moderate.

Frank