Bad time to get a CDL?

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clevertext@reddit

Pay has never been lower. There are too many drivers, no matter what anyone says. Would I still drive? Yup. It's fun.

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bobodaffedil@reddit

definitely NOT too many drivers! shortages everywhere.

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Please do tell! I want to know of a company that needs drivers so bad, they'll pay me a guaranteed minimum of $2400/week before taxes and benefits. Companies like mine complain all the time about a "driver shortage" and then they pay way less than is fair. I've been around the block a few times... I know that companies lie through their facade and sleep well at night knowing they make more money when they pay their drivers less than is fair. If mileage, give me no less than 77cpm. If hourly, c'mon let's shoot for the moon at $40/hr. They won't do this because they spend too much money on hr and corporate garbage, and their operations are too expensive to pay this, and more. I'd work a job like this with a smile every day, all day.

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bobodaffedil@reddit

wouldn't everyone?

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clevertext@reddit

Trust me man, I mean... I don't know if you're really joking or not... but there is absolutely no driver shortage. This market is over saturated with drivers. Rates don't drop with driver shortages, and rates have definitely not gone up!!!

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bobodaffedil@reddit

Here in central Illinois, there IS a driver shortage. I know first hand.

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clevertext@reddit

If driver pay doesn't raise, there is no driver shortage. There is no excuse for underpaying drivers. You'll have to further elaborate on this "driver shortage" you claim. That being said, higher crime areas SHOULD have driver shortages.

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spyder7723@reddit

>Pay has never been lower. You haven't been driving long have you? Today's drivers are paid great compared to the late 90s and early 2000s where 23 cpm was common.

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clevertext@reddit

Yeah? Then why can't I afford a house when I make over four times the national minimum wage? Why are drivers who have been driving since the 70's and 80's constantly complaining about how the money doesn't go as far anymore? Why are drivers who have driven since the 70's and 80's living with multiple houses and enjoying life even in this awful economy *that they admit is terrible* ????????? Higher pay is completely irrelevant when your government is happily inflating the currency you work so hard for... one dollar today is worth LESS tomorrow, EVERY DAY. 22cpm back then would be the equivalent to several dollars today, plus inflation wasn't like it is today so it went even further. You can't honestly believe drivers are paid better in 2024 than in decades before this unless you're willfully playing mental gymnastics to reject reality ....

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shorties_with_mp40s@reddit

I’m making more these past two years than I have in the previous 8. Just like any other job out there the pay is only low because you choose to keep yourself stuck at a dead end version of it.

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clevertext@reddit

Yup my company only gives raises to drivers with many years of experience. A couple years? No raise for sure. I'm getting ready to leave for a company willing to pay me closer to or above the six figure mark.

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gottabecrazy111@reddit

Beware, the grass isn't usually greener. Hubby left jobs on promises of better miles , better pay etc a few times. In retrospect only a few times things kinda improved. 18 years he has driven. 16 for me. Sometimes it's better to stay put, unless it's safety issues.

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Murky_Jeweler3539@reddit

UPS is currently at a rate of $44/hr. Will be $49/hr by 2027.

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gottabecrazy111@reddit

A couple of years ago, UPS told us they only hire off their docks. I said bullshit. I am not working years on their docks nor will I be driving a truck in 2027.

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Murky_Jeweler3539@reddit

Yup, they rarely hire off the street, it happens only if absolutely no one in the warehouse wants the job. It’s a desired job typically as it normally takes 2-10 years in the warehouse first which is BS. The pay and benefits are good tho.

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clevertext@reddit

It's mostly for safety, but it's a lot easier to research companies and check their integrity today than way back when your husband switched. I'm also taking about leaving a job where I know what pay I get for a job I know will be minimum $90k to $100k after all taxes and expenses.

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International-Sky16@reddit

I just started my first trucking job back in February. Making 1900 a week working 45-50 hours a week. Go to the same place everyday and home every night. Life’s good. It’s just a matter of the job you land. If you can’t find a good one get the experience and move around until you find what works for you.

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Super1003@reddit

I’ve been apart of this sub for like 2 years or so, and apparently the market is always trash. I’d say if you’re thinking about doing it just do it someone’s hiring somewhere.

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galacticwonderer@reddit

There was a time when the trucking industry was regulated and it worked VERY well. Every route had the drivers pay built in. No race to the bottom. No extreme boom and bust cycles.

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Extreme-You6235@reddit

The boom and bust cycles are overhyped. Freight and oilfield always have cycles. They get busy and then slow. Hire a bunch of people and then lay them off. For the vast majority of trucking jobs unrelated to the sectors above: they always need people either because the pay sucks, the work is hard, hours/schedule is shit or a combination of the 3. It’s always been like this more or less, and in fact, there used to be less DOT regulation so I don’t know what you mean by that.

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spyder7723@reddit

He is taking about when freight rates and lanes were regulated. A ridiculous system that kept goods artificially high because there was no competition among trucking companies. A company would need ICC authority for every type of product they hauled and every lane they hailed it on. Deregulation began in the mid 70s under nixon, got expanded greatly under Carter, and was finally completed in the first couple years of the reagon administration. The funny thing about everyone crying about deregulation.... they aren't old enough to have experienced trucking in the regulated era.

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Extreme-You6235@reddit

Ah okay makes sense, my bad then.

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Meaty_stick@reddit

The market IS trash after covid and post inflation, put two and two together before making snarky remarks.

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Super1003@reddit

Maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way, but as a company driver that started just before the pandemic I still think it’s the best thing I could’ve done. My pay has only gone up, though sometimes not as much as I’d like and it’s still way better than anything I’ve done before. I didn’t mean to be snarky just my view and that’s all.

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RichRatio3163@reddit

Northeast ohio hiring local all over

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Ok_Minute_6201@reddit

I just got my CDL and am looking for a job. I m based near Defiance OH.

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RichRatio3163@reddit

I'm out of garfield heights. That's a bit of a hike for your daily commute. Be about an hour and a half one way for ya. I'm not super familiar with your area, but good luck!

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sKamJam@reddit

Do trash, local, flatbed, oil and gas, water transfer, dairy, dump truck, cement etc. Depends where you live but here in Northern Colorado there is always a shortage of drivers. Maybe it’s because of the legal weed?🤷

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Upbeat_Bed_7449@reddit

Cements pretty slow ATM, at least for the company I'm working for.

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sKamJam@reddit

What state?

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Upbeat_Bed_7449@reddit

PA

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spyder7723@reddit

It's definately the legal weed. A labor shortage popped up immediately after that bill was passed. And not just drivers... any job requiring drug testing, be it law, Osha or insurance requirements.

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Doerrr@reddit

Probably because of the weather. Always icy there

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sKamJam@reddit

Nah… we get a lot more sun than people think. Th

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flatabale@reddit

Central Florida or any of Florida kinda sucks to have a Cdl. You’ll have to start off over the road or do food service. I started with my Cdl in central florida and I wouldn’t change a thing though. I will admit life gets exponentially better when you leave that state.

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Eagle_307@reddit

It just depends where you want to work and what you want to haul. Oilfield trucking jobs are plentiful in places like Wyoming, Colorado, and North Dakota, and those jobs pay pretty well.

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flatninthbird@reddit

Can you name some companies to look into in Colorado?

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Old-Register-6102@reddit

Basically you need to ask yourself, do you want to be kicked in the nuts every day, pay someone to do it, and be ripped away him your life and family to deliver spicy tuna to ungrateful fucks who will cut you off on the roads daily?

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Bibbimbopp@reddit

I like spicy tuna.

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Old-Register-6102@reddit

Cool, maybe ensure that driver does shit himself because you missed your exit on the highway

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jose_guapo_@reddit

Lmao basically

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bradinthecreek@reddit

Understand that no matter the sub or subject, reddit bends toward doom and gloom.

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Playful-Excuse-272@reddit

Don’t. I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again. Find another trade. The market is so saturated right now. Electrician, diesel mechanic, plumber…

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spyder7723@reddit

> Electrician, diesel mechanic, plumber… Those take years to learn. Need to eat in the mean time. The beauty, and curse, of truck driving is it only takes a few short weeks from beginning training to having a job making decent money. It is without a doubt the best paying unskilled labor job a person can get. Now, unskilled labor is not saying it doesn't take skill to drive, it's a term about the training time. Skilled labor takes several years. A licensed electrician for example... that's a ten year journey moving your way up from airbrush to journeymen to licensed electrician.

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GR4C3FUL@reddit

If you want to make decent money, always have work to do, and don’t care about what all these other negatives have to say - get your CDL and work. You’ll make your money, and if that’s your main goal, you’ll achieve it.

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Ok_Minute_6201@reddit

Just go for it. Don't listen to people. I have a masters in international Ed, a PhD in humanities, and speak 4 languages, and have been jobless for the past year. My father was a trucker in Morocco. He actually told me years ago to get my CDL as a backup, in case, things go wrong, he also knows that I enjoy driving and hate working 9-5 jobs. I got my CDL recently and wish I had done it a year ago when I was applying for those 9-5 jobs.

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Desperate-Garden7859@reddit

Realize truckers are regular people and have no concept of things like how to manage money. Rates high: Buy a bunch of dumbshit and increase their expenses because high rates will never go away. Rates Low: The world has ended because I didn’t put anything back and blew all the money and maxed my credit when it was good. It’s the same in every profession.

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americandoom@reddit

Foodservice is where the money is at currently

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Proxymal@reddit

Reach out to your local workforce center. Many have grants that will pay for your CDL in full. Got my $5,500 schooling paid for and didn't spend a dime. Been driving a year now and make good money.

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Duende_Hunter122@reddit

If you get a Cdl strictly for the money . You are going to get to hate it . In my view trucking is just as much a lifestyle as it is a career. Going on ten years on the road!!

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Budget_Foundation747@reddit

Something the puppy mills don't tell the class, will never tell the class. "Pay goes both ways in this industry"

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crazy-carebear@reddit

They tell it in the cdl mills, problem is no one in class can speak English enough to understand what they just said.

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ElectronicGarden5536@reddit

I agree. Get off the truck and see what there is, lyft or uber around, save up what you can for the next move. Some of my most vivid memories were camping out of my truck in lompoc CA at spacex or in the new mexico desert on a frac site. Moved on to better things.

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chrisp_ape@reddit

Man if I would of listened to everyone I would be homeless. I’ve had my license since Jan 2024 I’m on my second trucking job and on track to making over 90k this year. Go for it don’t wait for the perfect time. Because there is no perfect time

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Wildwildleft@reddit

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.

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chrisp_ape@reddit

Wise words my friend

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phil_mycock_69@reddit

Good going, glad it worked out for you

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chrisp_ape@reddit

Thanks man ! It was hard work but it’s paying off

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unclenatelovestrains@reddit

It depends on where you are in life and what you're looking for. Have a family with kids? You'll be gone weeks at a time to start most like. You need social interaction? Don't do it. This is a isolated job. It's why I love it but it's not for everyone. Money, you'll hear 101 answers from 100 different truckers. You have to get experience sometime and you're building a career. Look at the training schools where you drive for a year. If its enough money for you then try it.

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Connor4543@reddit

There’s always a bunch of posts about getting your cdl on your own and not under contract. I did mine under contract and had a job waiting for me after I passed my test. I’ve been pretty happy with it all. If you want to get your cdl I say go for it

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Red_Leader_86@reddit

I am a cdl instructor and am always on the lookout for potential jobs for my students. Companies are always hiring. Just gotta pound the pavement (or internet) and always keep searching. One search you can try for your area is "truck driver jobs new cdl graduate." That should give you a healthy mix of local and over the road jobs My advice while you are in school is to study your ass off. Don't get caught up with the other people attending the school who are lazy or just trying to ride others' coat tails. Look out for yourself, and you do you, and you put yourself in a better position to acquire the skills to put yourself ahead of the competition

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SnooBananas2664@reddit

Im not against immigrating to the USA as i am one, but due to the recent surge of migrating to USA thats one of the major sought out jobs for immigrants.

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darthcaedusiiii@reddit

You can rent out your door dash/Uber account online. No doubt you can do something similar with cdls.

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SnooBananas2664@reddit

Lmao what happens when they get pulled over, they gonna show a cdl loan agreement? 😂😂😂

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Rat_King1972@reddit

Fake CDLs, yes like having a fake to get in a bar when you were a kid. I work local distribution and the amount of dudes pulling in who obviously aren’t legal is insane. Idk if they’re just banking on not getting pulled over or what, but tons of dudes show up to drop off not speaking a lick of English ect. Mostly in B class vehicles though.

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SnooBananas2664@reddit

Thats insane and we share the same roads 😞

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Rat_King1972@reddit

Yup, there’s also the case of illegals coming over and paying off dmv testers under the table for liscenses. Happened in colorado a dude got a CDL before ever stepping foot in a truck and got some people killed. Generally people come across the border because they’ve got family or friends that will give them work. They get put in a bought out penkse truck or something like that and haul over their weight limit with no clue what theyre doing or knowing proper loading/tie downs. Real pain in the ass when they show up to a dock in a truck that we can’t put a lift truck on and no pallet Jack with material thrown all over the place. I work in construction materials distribution so a lot of stuff flies, and I don’t even blame the drivers. If I were in their situation I might do the same. The reality is there’s no enforcement, especially for any straight truck/B class.

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SnooBananas2664@reddit

Thats how it is back in my country, pay the government institutes to get what you want. We are slowly turning into a 3rd world country with no regards to the supreme law ( our constitution).

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SlightRun8550@reddit

Uship

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Exact-Contest8573@reddit

Maybe Florida yes , because so easy to get CdL and many immigrants right there but another states I don’t think so

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stephenforbes@reddit

If you like working 70 hours a week and living in a truck for around 1K after taxes go for it.

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DankDarko@reddit

yes, its the new IT field. Every worker displacement program is pouring bodies into the industry and its getting watered down fast.

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brsrafal@reddit

If you want to be an owner operator yes don't even think about it if you want to be a company driver it's just a time like any other. Be ready for f***** up shift crazy hours unpredictable home time I'm looking for a way out 12 years trucker good luck buddy

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ReceptionMuch3790@reddit

Meanwhile my trucking school says drivers are in such high demand they will find me and hire me. I also went to a garbage trucking school. (garbage like there was tons of bs, not driving a garbage truck)

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Elderado12443@reddit

Don’t do it

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Chestlookeratter@reddit

Thing ain't getting better. Get it before it too late

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Detective-Miller@reddit

I've been otr for 6 months now. Bring home about 1k a week normally. I'm still enjoying it most days.

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KylonRenKardashian@reddit

having a CDL looks good on the resume. say you want to work for the railroad, oil fields, water department, power company, public works, gas company then having your CDL will make you a more desirable candidate

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Recipe_Critical@reddit

I get my license next week, been debating just not brining up my pending charge. Haven’t been ordered to court yet i guess they behind cus covid and the incident occurred March 2021. Not drug related but aggravated assault. I Applied for a teaching job back in 2021 and it popped up but not sure how serious truck companies check backgrounds

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crapslock@reddit

Aggravated assault. That is a felony right? It will come up but there are plenty if companies that will work with you.

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Recipe_Critical@reddit

Yes sir Ok ty

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Late_Temperature_388@reddit

Mistermener in Louisiana !!!

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Cute-Roll2849@reddit

They will do a background check…at least any carrier worth driving for will.

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Embarrassed-Change40@reddit

Floridas is an even more especially difficult market…. Unless you do reefer (refrigerated trailers) that’s not many loads going out of Florida so you may end up dead heading a lot of miles to find work.

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darthcaedusiiii@reddit

Everyone and their mother hiring school bus drivers. There's a reason for that but it's a job.

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Sea_Masterpiece2249@reddit

Yes it is a horrible time to get a CDL. Companies are laying drivers off, going out of business. Driverless trucks are coming on line fast and furious. Plus the megas are still importing cheap, exploitable foreign labor, further depressing wages and working conditions. Plus the diesel police know their time is nearly up being they cannot enforce ANY laws, rules or regulations on driverless trucks. They are coming hot and heavy for human operators now.

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kiddosmtg@reddit

Would love to see a driverless truck pulling hazmat such as fuel, lpg, and other flammable liquids…don’t think that’s happening anytime soon

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Cute-Roll2849@reddit

If you think you will see a driverless truck running down I 40 anytime soon, I got a bridge to sell you.

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PositionBest9389@reddit

But you’ll find a job way easier than a new white collared grad. Trucking has saved my ass so many times. Will you make top dollar in this market? God no - but you’ll find respectable work that’ll only get better from here.

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mwdiver9@reddit

If you are OK with physical work, food service pays well. Most are home daily or almost daily. There are well paying jobs out there.

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Cold-Chef1714@reddit

Florida is a dead head market. Loads go into Florida and barely anything comes out; therefore companies are highly reluctant to hire drivers from Florida. You’re correct about new drivers. Too many experienced drivers looking for work and too little freight for them to move. Consider another line of work.

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Lower_Skin_3683@reddit

Talk to Saddlecreek Logistics in Lakeland. Hourly pay. Home daily. No touch freight.

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krusteePickleCheeze@reddit

I just got mine and started my first driving job Jan 1st. I like it, I make good money, I think. I had a hard time finding a job because of my criminal record and being a new driver. But I got lucky with the company that took the chance on me.

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Airstrikeayers@reddit

Sent you dm

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vtddy@reddit

Plenty of local jobs. Too many people piss and moan and live beyond their means.

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