Graduated Today

Yay that parts over, but heres the thing. I got a job offer while in school unrelated to truck driving and I want to experience that first. I am nervous however because I will lapse some time if the job doesn't pan out and I want to go on the road. I need advice here because I don't want to screw myself getting a trucking job in the future by taking this job first. I was told by a recruiter that companies give new grads 30 days to start or else your screwed is this true? If so then I need to make a big decision quick. I just don't feel i'm ready to hit the road just yet and that's why I took this other job. Any help will be much appreciated

I just got my CDL though Swift, i have 30 days to go to orientation or i have to re do the Swift academy and have to pay for it again.

Yay that parts over, but heres the thing. I got a job offer while in school unrelated to truck driving and I want to experience that first. I am nervous however because I will lapse some time if the job doesn't pan out and I want to go on the road. I need advice here because I don't want to screw myself getting a trucking job in the future by taking this job first. I was told by a recruiter that companies give new grads 30 days to start or else your screwed is this true? If so then I need to make a big decision quick. I just don't feel i'm ready to hit the road just yet and that's why I took this other job. Any help will be much appreciated

I know that the recruiter from Schneider said I could go with them up to 4 months after graduating and still get tuition reimbursement, so I'm pretty sure you have sometime.....you just don't want to wait too long and lose the skills you've gained.

Is there any kind of refresher style training that I can do. I mean I have the license now so I shouldn't have to redo the cdl that's asinine. So I may have to sit through this one more time then

I will also know whether the job I took will be a keeper or not in 2 months as its a sales position and I want to give it a crack as I have the skills needed in that profession

I will also know whether the job I took will be a keeper or not in 2 months as its a sales position and I want to give it a crack as I have the skills needed in that profession

I would keep the ball rolling with the CDL.

You can do sales at any point in your life. The DOT physicals are doing nothing but getting harder and more exclusive.

I will also know whether the job I took will be a keeper or not in 2 months as its a sales position and I want to give it a crack as I have the skills needed in that profession

I would keep the ball rolling with the CDL.

You can do sales at any point in your life. The DOT physicals are doing nothing but getting harder and more exclusive.

Sound advice! You have a lot invested both in terms of your time AND money. Sales can be done later, keep going with your trucking career. You will build confidence. I haven't even been through school yet and certainly I'm frightened but excited too.

I would keep the ball rolling with the CDL.

You can do sales at any point in your life.

I completely agree. You've come this far already and now you might toss it aside for a sales job? That makes no sense. As long as there is money in the world there will be mountains of sales jobs. And besides money, what about lifestyle? Life on the road is an amazing adventure. You'll never hear anyone say, "Boy, think about how much I would have missed out on in life if not for the experience I had working in a cubicle selling things. I really feel alive!"

James,

Not to discourage you but I have been in sales my entire life from vacuum cleaners to jewelry and Cars... I can tell you first hand that it is a thankless job and you will find that it takes AT LEAST 2 years to build a clientele and 2 months is not enough time to establish whether you will flourish or not. In sales you will find that it is feast or famine meaning one month you could make a killing and the next NOTHING...If you are thinking about getting into selling cars I can tell you right now DON'T do it... Cars are the hardest thing out there to sell...

Think about it this way... What other product can you go online and find out " what the website says" is how much the retailer paid for a said vehicle. And people are Jerks about it. They will call you a liar to your face. Expect Kelley Blue books top price for their trade and want to pay the bare minimum for the car you are selling. When i sold cars i worked 12 hours a day 6 days a week and guess what, if you don't sell a car that day cause the weather sucks and nobody comes in, you made exactly $0.00 an hour that day... Sure you take the draw but then you gotta pay that back out of your nest check.

I will tell you that the only sales worth getting into at this time would be pharmaceutical sales and then you are traveling like mad anyways and hoping you make a check... Sales is dying because whatever you are selling, people can find it online and most of the time for less money then you can offer it to them. Guess what, then a truck driver will deliver it... LOL..

Just my 2 cents on the sales experience I have had. The future doesn't look to bright for the salesman!

I will also know whether the job I took will be a keeper or not in 2 months as its a sales position and I want to give it a crack as I have the skills needed in that profession

I would keep the ball rolling with the CDL.

You can do sales at any point in your life. The DOT physicals are doing nothing but getting harder and more exclusive.

Excuse my butting in here ... But I'm wondering what you mean about the DOT physical getting more exclusive. I'm turning 48 in a couple of weeks and planning to get my CDL next year.

Are there DOT health benchmarks published somewhere that one might check to see if they're ready for the physical?

Thanks!

Long time lurker, by the way ... Really like this website!