Getting My CDL On A Budget.

what about a farm boy who has been running grain around under the radar. Gets the day cab off the farm and passes his A CDL road test with ease. Can't he go ahead and hook up with a company as an owner operater?

Very unlikely. His insurance rate is going to be astronomical. He is still considered an inexperienced driver by the insurance underwriters. Everyone uses that one year of OTR as the gold standard.

You're still stuck in that mentality that says, "CDL equals job."

Try to think of it like this: 160 hour training certificate with CDL equals entry level OTR job.

You're still stuck in that mentality that says, "CDL equals job."

I didn't mean to come off that way. This site claims "friendliest site" and whatnot. I specifically said "out of curiosity". Also said "I'd never buy a tractor without experience ". So what's the deal. Can't be curious without feeling like an idiot here. That's enough. Thanks for the helpful replies.

Can't be curious without feeling like an idiot here

Ya know, some of the most talented, experienced, and knowledge drivers you'll find anywhere just donated hours of time out of their extremely busy day to answer every last question you had in a completely professional manner, and now you're going to cry about it like we weren't sensitive enough for you?

Talk about ungrateful and needy. Would you like a hug with your free advice? How about some flowers? Good grief. This is the "era of entitlement."

By the way, you're welcome.

Can't be curious without feeling like an idiot here

Ya know, some of the most talented, experienced, and knowledge drivers you'll find anywhere just donated hours of time out of their extremely busy day to answer every last question you had in a completely professional manner, and now you're going to cry about it like we weren't sensitive enough for you?

Talk about ungrateful and needy. Would you like a hug with your free advice? How about some flowers? Good grief. This is the "era of entitlement."

By the way, you're welcome.

I thanked them all at every turn. Wether it was what i wanted to hear or not. I truly meant it. I acknowledged the help and the time it took out of thier day. If you go back, you'll see that. Flowers? Come on now guy. There's no need for that. Just seems some inquiries are touchy for the real drivers and they get rubbed the wrong way. I never meant to offend anyone, but obviously did just that. Sorry guys. Never my intention. Stay safe.

"This is the era of entitlement." Our Drill SGT used to say something similar. We learned very fast that we were equally bottom of the barrel.

"By the way, you're welcome."

Ditto. Iraq '09.

These inquiries can spark some responses that might appear harsher or more direct because the readership here is vastly bigger than it appears based off posting rates-- that mean it is very important that misinformation, or questions that can leave a door open gets addressed clearly, thoroughly, and quickly. (like yours would for someone trying to avoid the path of doing their one year OTR , or someone who's maybe already bombed that and is trying to find *any* way in they can)

We're not out to make you feel stupid, there's just a general philosophy of straight answers, no horsing around.

So what's the deal. Can't be curious without feeling like an idiot here.

John, I'm completely confused. I had no intentions of making you "feel like an idiot." I thought I was just answering your question. Earlier, you stated yourself that you thought a CDL equaled a job. It just seemed to me you were still running in that same train of thought.

"This is the era of entitlement." Our Drill SGT used to say something similar. We learned very fast that we were equally bottom of the barrel.

"By the way, you're welcome."

Ditto. Iraq '09.

What's Iraq 09 got to do with anything?

We learned very fast that we were equally bottom of the barrel.

What do you think you will be on day one if you start a career in trucking, the cream of the crop? You will have no knowledge, no experience, and no skills. You will work your way up from the bottom like the rest of us have. So yes, you will be bottom of the barrel until you earn a higher standing.

If we have hurt your feelings with simple, straightforward, honest answers to your questions and genuine, heartfelt advice then you've definitely bought into today's "poor me" society where it's vogue to cry or complain at every perceived slight, real or otherwise. Personally, I don't buy into that "poor me" crap. I think you need to toughen up so we can talk to you like an adult without having to dance delicately around your tender toes. Trucking is a world for grown men and women, tough men and women, who know that one little mistake could kill an entire family. You will put in long days, endure an endless stream of challenges, and spend an awful lot of time alone trying to figure out how to do something you haven't learned how to do yet. It's tough as hell, so you have to be too.

Most people don't last long in trucking. We'll teach you what it takes to thrive in this career, and we'll put it to you straight. That's a blessing to anyone who cares about being successful. What we won't do is play this "treat me like a sensitive snowflake" game. Toughen up.

Now let's get on with this.

What do you think you will be on day one if you start a career in trucking, the cream of the crop? You will have no knowledge, no experience, and no skills. You will work your way up from the bottom like the rest of us have. So yes, you will be bottom of the barrel until you earn a higher standing.

Fully understood. And that's why I posted that bottom of the barrel comment. Thanks to this website and all the posters taking the time, I now understand that you have to climb the ladder. At least the one year ladder with a company. When I got my class B, ignorantly, I thought that was it. WRONG!

Old School- I didn't mean to make it out that I was trying to skip past the proper channels to trucking. I was honestly curious if a guy bought a truck, jumped through the hoops to be full authority, could he not be hauling freight off the load boards? Basically buying himself a job? Insurance seems like it would be the biggest obstacle.

I have an interview Monday with a company here in MN that I'd have to go through training again (real training this time) and eventually I hope I could make the switch to Class A with them. But the above question still floats around in my head.