How did getting a cdl changed your life?
Posted by LeadGlad4961@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 62 comments
Me personally I had a delivery job. They saw I put alot of effort into it and send me to get my cdl and they payed for it. I never once’s asked for it nor was expecting it. But thankful they did. I used to put in about 40-48 hrs weekly at 24 a hr. Plus around 8 hr overtime.
Since I got my cdl im the go to guy now. They gave me a 5 dllr raise instantly. I pretty much never say no to anything they ask of me. and I put well over 50hrs a week now. Sometimes 15-20 hrs overtime a week. Seeing a huge difference in my paycheck.
I also stopped partying, (just light drinker not any drugs) stoped hanging out with negative people. I now have more money in my bank account I can comfortably take car of my bills and still have a huge chunk left from my paycheck. Where’s before my whole check went to bills. Also been seen differently by people who know I have a cdl. I can comfortably take my gf out anywhere I want now without worrying about prices that much.
Ps. I know I might get payed a little. But like mention. I started in this company with no cdl and they payed for it for me (without me asking once)I’m also getting experience and they instantly gave me a raise and lots of overtime.. Therefore I can’t complain.
Would love to hear your story’s.
TemporaryOk9310@reddit
I make more than i can spend. Its nice. Im out of shit to buy. Im also a teamster
TypicalOcelot7933@reddit
Is it possible for a new cdl holder to get on with them?
TemporaryOk9310@reddit
Right before summer i can almost gaurentee any beverage is hiring its peak season
TypicalOcelot7933@reddit
Is it back breaking work? Im older
TemporaryOk9310@reddit
Yes and no. Check out videos of driver merchandizers or food service delivery drivers. People film their days and decide for yourself. I do soda. Around 15k steps a day, medium intensity labor most days.
DoubleSundae256@reddit
At Mclane, feel like I’d rather be at a union spot honestly but it’s good so far and my seniority means something at least. Would be cool if UPS hires without having to do warehouse, PT work
TemporaryOk9310@reddit
Yes. Depending on loc, coke pepsi, sysco etc. its all touch freight but you make more than most who bump docks. My barn hires fresh cdl graduates
brandmonkey@reddit
How does one find a union trucking job. Are there union OTR jobs?
TemporaryOk9310@reddit
Check your local teamsters website
akeithwill33088@reddit
I was a teamster driver for 10 years at Yellow.
LeadGlad4961@reddit (OP)
Same here. Before when I was paycheck to paycheck I wanted everything. Now that I can comfortably buy anything. I don’t have a desire to.
In other words if my gf was in charge of my paycheck. I know she can blow it off in a visit to the mall.
shiddabrik@reddit
Union strong ✊
Strife3dx@reddit
Lost 10 years of my life chasing money and hookers as a owner operator. I think I had fun
brandmonkey@reddit
I was homeless. Living in my car and managing night shift at McDonald's. Now I'm still homeless, I live in my truck full time, but I have a lot more leg room and my bills are paid and my shoes are nicer.
llkey2@reddit
You’re not homeless. You’re in a mobile home!
Heck. Next upgrade might be a mobile home and a local gig! :)
llkey2@reddit
I hope you have good PTO and benefits. Sounds like great gig!
Don’t burn yourself out and take time for yourself!
GxFr84@reddit
I love seeing posts like this. I have to wait until June 20 so like the 22 is when I can go to school. I know that I’m making the right decision, really excited for where this new path will take me.
THE_CAT_WHO_SHAT@reddit
I'm waiting for an orientation call (it's a program through a local community college) soon and I CAN'T WAIT!
wehavetime@reddit
Allowed me to see parts of the country I never imagined I would ever see. Meet different walks of life and experience life in a different way.
RackingUpTheMiles@reddit
I was working at a factory for 2 years prior. It was going absolutely nowhere and I was only making $16 an hour. A local vocational school expanded their CDL program to the location in my town and I was one of the first students in the newly expanded program. I had been planning on doing it, but I didn't want to get stuck working for a company in exchange and I didn't want to quit my job in case I didn't find a trucking job right away. I got my first job in August and I ended up making $0.80 cpm after getting on a regional route and I can get home weekly if I want. I've easily doubled if not tripled my weekly paycheck.
Reddit_Is_a_jokee@reddit
Pay sky rocketed but physical health tanked. I'm grateful for trucking but it's time for me to move on. Save and invest everything you can.
ToyotaYaristotle@reddit
From a cold basement room and sharing a kitchen and bathroom with five housemates, to my own apartment.
From trying and failing to stretch $80 in grocery money out every week, to buying whatever the hell I want.
From feeling guilty about spending $15 on fast food because I’m lazy and hungry, to deciding whether to splurge on sushi, because I can.
From trying not to think about my student loans, to actually having a plan to pay them back.
From living paycheck to paycheck, to having a 401k, stock portfolio, and rainy day fund.
From having free time but no energy or money to do anything besides basic necessities or doomscrolling, to having only two nights off a week but filling the time with stuff I love doing.
From using weed to self medicate, to not being able to touch it, and despite missing it, knowing that this is the best thing for me and feeling like I need it less, because while my life isn’t perfect, i feel like a tremendous weight has come off of my shoulders.
baraboo00@reddit
I’m not a trucker, but I have a cdl because of my past job (diesel mechanic) and now my current job I also utilize my cdl (ljneman) it’s allowed me to set myself up for a great future at just 29 years old within the next 3 years I should be able to be completely debt free and start focusing on investments & other income sources
410FA@reddit
i had little opportunities, got on with new england motor freight as a dock worker and they got me a cdl, bought my house that year.. been driving for 15 years, back on LTL banking up more cash for my next forever home.
Unfair_Analysis_3734@reddit
I was in a dead end tech job, luckily I decided to use my spare time to get a CDL. Then the AI layoffs came and when it was my turn to get axed, I immediately turned to trucking. I’m loving it and having a lot of fun now.
wispyhurr@reddit
Was 40 grand in debt and will have it all paid off in 5 months (started trucking 11 months ago). Best decision I’ve ever made finance-wise
TruckerBiscuit@reddit
I got Type 2 Diabetes.
Packingheat248@reddit
I went from washing dishes and waiting tables to having my own apartment, car, and fuckin bitches making money!
dsperry95@reddit
Reading these replies and using them as motivation to get my CDL.
TypicalOcelot7933@reddit
Same here
carfreak8184@reddit
I went from a nice comfortable job working 40hrs m-f making 45k to a shitty job with terrible hours working 60hrs a week making 100k.
325trucking@reddit
2018 earnings: $28,917
2026 earnings: $133,473
East_Indication_7816@reddit
What changed my life is I did not use to post and read from truckers reddit forum. Now I do.
UnKnown_Tree_Stump@reddit
As much as I complain I am truly grateful for my job. I went from a dead end minimum wage job to hauling concert equipment around the country and into Canada from time to time. I have saved enough to move back to my small town and buy a house if I want to but I plan to buy cash around cincinatti on the Kentucky side. The industry has been kind to me. I burnt myself out once trying to achieve the goal of buying a house cash so now I am learning how to enjoy hobbies and my own free time again. I'll never forget what my trainer told me "Welcome to the NBA (Never Broke Again) club". As long as you good with your money you will never go broke in this industry. I am also a single male so money goes further without a family or partner.
yungsnipe17@reddit
I love it. I think it’s one of those things where if you don’t have a passion for it, you’ll end up hating it. A lot of these guys that are just doing it for a simple paycheck are the ones that are miserable! It also helps to be with the right company. I’m running a linehaul bid run right now and it’s a great gig .
Informal-Quantity415@reddit
I got my CDL either by the average of numbers or sheer happenstance you decide 😂
Round 2011-2012 I had been applying to so many jobs right around that economic depression after I applied to so many jobs( really don’t know how many) and I saw a commercial that Denver public schools was hiring and at this point I was desperate so I called and applied thinking I didn’t have a chance cause I thought you have to look a certain way to be a bus driver( gray hair, flannel shirt, older person).
Not even 4 hours later ( cause I applied in person at the depot) I get a call back asking when can I start. Took me 2- weeks to do all of the exams n then I was in training. 15 years as a bus driver now and I love it…… Most of the time. It changed my life in regard to helping me with my patience and multi tasking, and it’s a job that I can fall back on and will always be in demand cause AI won’t be ready no time soon to replace us so I ain’t worried
buddhathebard@reddit
Having money is nice. It really first hit me that I didn’t have to worry about stuff when I went to put gas in my car and didn’t have to think about how much I could put in I just fill her up.
Bagzthehoney@reddit
I’ve been able to do anything and everything I have wanted to within reason financially! Even with this inflation thing it’s really not affecting my life as hard as it may have with others
Longway23544@reddit
Cdl changed my life because now I’m more financially secure then I was before my cdl
saywhat181@reddit
I drove non-cdl box trucks for about 10 years. Did secure document destruction, and drove and delivered for a cabinet shop.
Was browsing indeed one day, and was looking at non-cdl driving jobs and a fuel delivery job popped up. I thought surely a cdl was required, but dropped my resume anyway. The next day they called and asked if I had a cdl, and I said no. I thought that was gonna be the end of that conversation, but the guy said that they had put guys through school, and asked if that would be something I'd be interested in.
Long story short they paid for my cdl training. Got a class a, with no restrictions, tanker, and HAZMAT. I run a 3000 gallon tank wagon for the most part, but they put me in a big boy every now and then for ethanol runs.
Much less labor than the cabinet shop. Almost tripled my income. Work Mon-Fri. Really only thing that has changed in my life is financial stability. Honestly don't know why I never thought of getting a cdl in the first place. I've always enjoyed driving, and I was making pennies compared to what I'm making now for less actual work. Lol
Proud_Intention9224@reddit
Went from no car no home and $1.48 to my name to having over 10k saved. New car, new apartment and i can spend without looking at my check or asking myself “do i need to put anything back on the shelf if i want this?” in a little under 2 years. Under 25 making over 100k
MarmotWorldOrder@reddit
Food service?
Proud_Intention9224@reddit
Yes. Monday-Friday. Great Benefits. 401k matching. Good Routing. Opportunities to make as much money as you want. Theres always extra work to sign up for. I dont work more than 50 hours a week. I average about $42 a hour depending on how fast i unload cases. OT after 40 and if you sign up for work you get extra pay on top of it
MarmotWorldOrder@reddit
What company? I've been looking at food service more seriosultas of late. I'd be willing to move if necessary.
Proud_Intention9224@reddit
Pm me
Proud_Intention9224@reddit
US Foods. In the Southeast. Be careful though and do your research there are different divisions of USF. Fo example there are 2 withing a 20 mile radius of where i live and there is a night a day difference between the two. Im glad i picked the right one
MarmotWorldOrder@reddit
I was homeless and sleeping in my car in the Oklahoma summer. I found trucking and now have about $25k saved between my 401k and savings account. I paid all my credit card debt after a year working at a mega. Second year now I'm focused on rebuilding credit and moving to a higher paying job after getting my endorsements. I've been able to see awesome places because of this job. From Missouri caves, to Niagra Falls, to the city skylines I love so much. I was a stoner with a bad friend group and worse family life. I mad a friend about a year in to the company who's been something of a mentor. I'm excited for what this career path will bring in the near future. I'm thankful everyday.
Thereadingraintrain@reddit
I don’t think I ever imagined having a skill that makes my resume look horrible if you want to do anything other than be in a truck because of the stigma of intelligence. Want to get a trucking job? Wonderful. Want to do literally anything else for more than $15/hr, good luck.
NineFingerJorge@reddit
For me it varies. It got me out of poverty but now that I’m happy where I am financially it’s hard to find a job where I can be in my home everyday with a livable wage. I’m paying a mortgage for a house I can only live in on weekends. I’m not poor but I’m living in a box away from home.
Outrageous-Trip-7376@reddit
Bought my first home 2 months ago at 34 years old , got my cdl in 2023 , driving for 2 years , down payment on my house was about 15k , paid off 12k car , 15k invested , 10k emergency fund , stopped smoking when I got my cdl , stopped partying and handing with low motivated people
ScorchedUp@reddit
nice to see something other than doom & gloom about trucking for once
DreamsServedSoft@reddit
it gave me something to do in my 20s that wasn’t drugs and i saved up money for college later while my friends are all still paying their student loans. although with AI I might be going back to trucking soon lmao
AgreeAndSubmit@reddit
Went from permatrapped in shit pay factory jobs and welfare to having a home in the countryside. Built up a credit score, got a mortage and nice house. I'm no longer white trash but Good People. Which is hilarious, welfare helped pay for my cdls. (Workforce Investment Act. The county have money enough for 500 applicants, and more than 2200 applied) My kids have grown up, healthy, clean, free of hood dynamics. We can navigate, I taught them paper maps. I've showed them to always be curious what's up the road, what's over the next hill, and when there's signs saying 5% grade, slow the fuck down. I bought my daughter her first car. Nothing crazy, a nice dodge for 4500$, but it's the fact that I can do that at all.
The road comes with its own signs, and it's not always the ones on sticks.
MastrChang@reddit
Debt free
FlatbedtruckingCA@reddit
From not having my own place, to getting my first apartment, then buying a house 6 years later here in SoCal, raising my daughter, bought a nice pick up truck and a 60's classic car, started up a small business and living pretty comfortably.. life is good..
Redsoxdragon@reddit
Went from being a loser destined to flip burgers and forced to have roomates to being a loser with really nice things 😊
freshasfvckk@reddit
I love seeing these stories I appreciate these posts man it’s sooo motivating cuz I just turned 21 been homeless for 2 years im making 17/hr right now and I’m abt to go to training just waiting to get clean so I can pass the drug test 😭can’t wait to be on the other side with yall
Emergency_Ad1152@reddit
Nice story man! I love it. :D Happy that your life has changed for the better. The money you're making is actually good if you're not doing intensive labor.
I started off delivering packages, moved to towing light duty. I would go to auto auctions to pick up cars and see car haulers loading up all the time. I saw the money I was making with 2 cars and knew they were making bank with 9 cars.
State paid for getting my cdl, passed like 2 months later. I started off with Swift on a Dollar Tree account. Shit was rough ngl, but the money was good for a rookie.
1 year later, applied for car hauling at Hansen & Adkins. Been here going on 2 years now, life's great man. Full benefits paid for and coming up on 26% pay of the load now. Caps at 30%.
I went from living in the ghetto to a nice neighborhood of Dallas. As much as I complain about trucking, trucking saved my life and wouldn't be here without it.
RichCypher@reddit
Getting my CDL was the single best choice I made in my life. In my previous life I was a wimp making no money at a dead end job with no future. Now I am a man who has 0 qualms standing up for himself and what I believe in. I make good money, own a house and have my own family. That path getting here has been very challenging with many growing pains but it has been worth it. My CDL allowed me to finally have a life worth living!
Jimmychanga2424@reddit
Trailer to big ass house in a gated community in under 2 years.
Ayyeee_justin@reddit
Good shit man! Helluva accomplishment. I plan to start at Walmart this summer and buy a house cash few yrs from now
Patalos@reddit
Very happy to hear for ya man. In this industry there's a lot of people that are quick to put each other down over dollars and hours, and its absolutely important to keep track of it, the benefit that a fulfilling job that actually keeps you comfortable is hard to put a price tag on. I'm glad it's helped you so much.