New Truck Driver Career Plan | FROM 8 YEAR VETERAN

If I had to become a new truck driver again, this is how I would do it. Being a new truck driver is never easy so I hope some of these pointers help! Stay Driven!

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[OG_HakunaMatata]

Great information man! I tried to go through swift to get my CDL but im glad I didn't. I got a $5, 500 school loan through a credit union. I got hazmat course for free as well since the owner of the trucking school saw how serious and ambitiousI was to start learning. I Passed my CDL driving test after the second try 2 1 week ago and I did this all within 1 month and I had no prior experience with manual transmission either. To anyone reading my comment, this guy is my top 3 Youtuber's for trucking information and have been learning a lot 👌🏽

[mikeleggiero]

More you work the trailer the more money you will make. Did the heavy hual for about 14 yrs . Open deck for almost 30yr now. As far as trucks start with a cheap truck and dont think getting a custom sleeper truck to you learn the freight you want to hual. Remember only 7 days in a week want to get payed for 7 and work 3 to 4 days. Keep the miles low and keep the revenue high. Of you can avg 500 dollars a day if the truck moves or not. Thats 182500 a yr this to the truck not to the company.

[mr.butterworth]

As far as CDL school, a local college program is by far the best option. It’s cheaper, good quality, and accredited.Grants can also be an option.

[ElDisla]

I just saved this video to my watchlist, I just passed my Permit test and I really like the way you planned this. It’s like a bulletproof formula for starting in the industry. I’m in the east coast, so different companies and different training means but I will apply as much of this precious knowledge as possible. Thanks you.

[michelejonjock]

I was able to get a grant through the state and got my CDLs with 160 driving academy. They have locations nation wide. The grant paid for everything up to 5000. The school alone is 4500$ in West Virginia but it is a bit more expensive in other locations. Just check them out. They will also connect you with a job after. Its an independent school. Hope this helps someone

[ponchohernandez]

I am not a trucker but I enjoy your videos about a truckers life and problems on the road and so on. For me it's educational to know a little about trucking!! Thanks

[ghostbuilder]

Got my cdl through a third party state certified and approved company. If you know the truck and don’t wanna waste time with a trucking school and taking this avenue is great way for truck mechanics to get a cdl and at the end of the day if you wanna stop turning wrenches for a while and turn truck driver you can do it. Taking this avenue costed me 450.00 for the course, 100.00 for driver physical, then paying for the new copy of the license which was 80.00 so for a little more than 600.00 bucks I got a class a cdl and I’m making plenty money with it right now. I’m a road tech and back-up driver. Loving it.

[jered]

That is going to be interesting to watch you start heavy haul. Good luck

[christopherplecker]

Quit the job hopping as well. On a weekly basis at fuel islands I have people asking how it is for the company I drive for and want to get on. They’ve been with more carriers than they have been with women. It’s all the same when you jump from this giant carrier to that one. My best advice as you said is to find a company that can get you your CDL and choose one that has freight and/or a terminal or drop yard close to where you live. Other than that stay there the whole year or 15 months or however long it is and just deal with it. Get experience. And once you’ve committed to that contract and completed it then move on if you want. I see a lot of drivers jumping from Schneider to Crete to JB Hunt to Prime to Roehl to Schneider again and they are just never satisfied. Just quit trucking at that point.

[williamchevalier]

I learned my diesal mechanics growing up around a dump truck and heavy equipment business

[mightymurph]

Back when i worked as a case manager, i had to drive all over my city, and even different counties and loved (practically ran) getting out the office so i can get in my car and go. This beats a desk job any day imo

[willmann]

Excellent info. If you can afford to buy a 15-25k truck cash definitely have that engine, drive line, suspension and electrical components put underload to gauge what needs attention. Stay local (300 mile radius) so if any issues come about you can afford to get it to your "trusted" shop for repairs. And that info on lower overhead and not going in debt?...💯💯💯💯! Thanks bro.

[johndoran]

I’m asked this same thing from time to time. Things are very different from when I started driving. I learned to drive from family. I bought a cheap piece of crap truck and went out into the world hauling freight. I lied my ass off about what I knew how to do like flat bedding and hauling equipment and figured it out along the way. I never drove a company truck so I can’t comment on the pros and cons of it, but I do think that if I was just starting out now, , , I’d go to college and be anything but a truck driver.

[Bigrawr]

I drive for System Transport and was able to get into their heavy haul training off the bat, similar to TMC but smaller, they run a great show and have taken damn good care of me here, I love i.

[outinthemud]

Very interesting point of view. All good points to look at. I started out at System, and moved to a small company. I've found my forever home and once my house is paid off I plan on adventuring on buying my own truck.

[raycecil]

Ive been a Design Engineer since 2007. (17 years). Back in 2004 or 2005 I had a huge interest in becoming a truck driver. Im glad I didn't do it then, as I have created a very good life, and I don't think I would have met my wonderful wife if I had just been on the road all this time. But here I am, always watching trucking videos. Always dreaming about hitting the road. Ive had a great career in engineering, but I always come back to truck driving. Something about those Big Shiny Peterbilts that just drives me crazy. Im tired of sitting behind a computer all the dang time. I have nothing to complain about AT ALL. Im very blessed. I just need some adventure. I make $98k, I am not a degreed engineer, just worked my way into it from being a drafter/designer. So, I know Id be taking a hit, but I am not sure if I will ever forgive myself if I don't do trucking at least for a couple years, as a break. I can always fall back into Mechanical Engineering.

[fireball]

Thank you. This was exactly the video I was looking for. Going to start saving up for trucking school as soon as I'm debt free.

[jodyodette]

Thanks for the info boss! One of my favorite channels! I’m new to trucking!

[saywhat]

Respect for you oversize haulers out there I couldn’t deal with that sorta headache day in day out, I’ll stick to bumping docks but I do have to say it’s kinda ridiculous to even get into heavy haul unless you know someone or have family doing it good luck getting on at a heavy haul company

[TheTrueHardcorefrk]

Make sure your cdl school gives you manual training also. My school was auto only so now I have a restriction on my cdl that I'll have to retest to get cleared.