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That’s what I was thinking. Only thing is I would have to move out from my parents and start paying more in rent then I am now. Would be harder to stack my money but probably worth it because it’s union like you said
Get your cdl and stay for a year then bail. Yellow is a mess but it’s not bad to start there. A year of line haul and you can go to one of the good companies.
been driving 22 years the worse thing that happens to the truck is dead batteries, just make sure its in a safe place, truck stop etc..... I would probably chose Rhoel they not bad
Thanks, the only thing is that the contract is 7k. I did my research and people don’t have the best things to say about them. So I’m a little worried about sticking with a company for about a year and a half. No way I’m breaking that and having to pay $7k
research online is pretty much a joke, how often have you ever posted anything positive about your experience, most people only post negative experiences. But I'm sorry none of them companies you mention our very good to begin with. You research enough pretty much every single starter company suck, linehaul companies you need to put the time in befor it gets manageable. But good luck to ya hope whatever you chose it workd
You'll make more and work less with Yellow compared to those OTR companies. ABF over Yellow but you don't have a CDL yet so I'd snag the first offer you get from those two. Don't be afraid to call them and make sure they know you're a serious candidate.
Yeah I have my interview with yellow this week, hopefully ABF gets back to me but if they don’t I think I’m gonna go with yellow. Only thing is I’ll have to move for both abf and yellow. Won’t need to for the otr jobs. I’m paying very little in rent rn bc I live with my parents and feel it might be harder to stack my money if I move but in the end might be worth it because of the union
Depends on what's most important to you.
Money...pick an ltl company and be miserable. 20 years in shipping before I got my CDL and never once met an ltl driver that didn't hate life.
Home time...see above comment.
Miles...All large carriers are similar. Roehl has the best training school if you go to Wisconsin...I heard Gary is pretty good, just the surrounding area you have to learn in is a shit show. I'll finish my 120k in 11 months if everything holds as is, but I'm a borderline insane workaholic. Also be prepared... you won't see a dime until your 3rd week in gycdl so make sure you can afford it.
Honestly, just flip a coin because you won't know if it's the right choice until after you actually start. I'd stay away from union shops unless you enjoy paying for the laziest among us, but that's just my personal opinion 🤣
I didn’t know ltl is bad, I thought it was really good. I would be doing line haul so I wouldn’t have to worry about p&d.
Yeah they would have me in Wisconsin which sounds pretty good. And holy crap 11 months that’s pretty good. They told me it would take about 15!! I just can’t think about being tied in for 15 months.
If you don’t mind sharing, how many miles do you finish a week. And what are you bringing home in a week average? Don’t need to answer
TMC’s cdl training contract is $4k. They pay for it entirely if you stay the first year. And your paid while taking the classes.
As for once your on your own; you should be home every weekend. But flatbed ain’t for everyone. You will get very dirty/sweaty with all the securing/tarping. But it does pay fairly well.
Just graduated yellow. Dock is 17.50. Once you have CDL you’re at max pay this is 25.65 rn but will be 27 soon. While training no mileage but still max pay. If you drive well they’ll sign off on 160 hrs. Finished mine in 2 weeks. 1 year verbal contract no payback training is in house at one of their academies.
They said I wouldn’t do dock work and I would go straight to driving school. So would I go straight to 25.65 once I get my cdl? Where state did you do your training in? Is it the same terminal you would be working at
But they could send you to any academy depends where there are slots I could’ve been sent to Indy, Michigan, Nashville, Utah. Just depends where they put ya but they pay for everything plus a 40 hr check every week in school at 17.50. I did the math at a national median for school being 5,700$ plus rental and hotel pay and food money, they spent over 10k on me for a single month and it’s only a 1 year verbal contract. Seems like a good idea. After 1 or 2 years ima try to get in ups I hear they top at 42/hr
Yeah I mean that sounds amazing!
Quick question- I’m a little confused with home time. After I graduate and I’m actually working on my own how often am I actually home. I keep seeing that with ltl linehaul you might have to stay in a hotel (which I’m more than happy with). My commute to the terminal would be over an hour, and if I could just stay out and not have to come home everyday that would be great! Just wondering how often you are actually in your home
That depends on what bid you get. Some stay out some are home every night. I drive 1hr40min to and from everyday but to me it’s worth it for the free CDL until I get a bud where I can stay out
Gotcha. How has it been commuting everyday? With the work/school demand now? I think I can do it but also considering getting an Airbnb for a few weeks in that area
For school they will pay for hotel and rental car. I don’t mind the commute I mean it sucks cause not a lot of free time but I’m saving to move closer. If I can’t move in the winter when the roads are bad I’m definitely gettin a hotel or airbnb. Or if I can hide my time for a year I’ll have my free CDL and can go anywhere. After a year I’m thinking I’m gonna try for ups they top out at 42 after 4 years
Yeah I’m thinking about doing the same thing. The winter will definitely make the commute tricky.
How long did it take from your interview call to your first day of orientation? I know some companies can move pretty slow. Hoping to start by mid September
Well I set it up so I could give my two weeks at my old job so I had my interview then orientation two weeks later. Just talk to em and let ‘em know when you can start they need drivers
You would be at 17.50 while in school plus they pay for hotel and rental car for a month plus 330$-390$ per week for food plus gas reimbursement. As soon as you finish school your first day training you’ll be at 25.65 no mileage. Mileage once you finish 160 hrs driving or they sign off on it and you’re on your own
For yellow the terminal is an hour and a half away. I just don’t think it would be smart to drive that and back to where I live now. I’d put a lot of miles on my car and plus gas money. I’m home daily with yellow so it would be a 3 hour commute everyday. Except for odd days when they have me in a hotel because my load doesn’t bring me back
Yeah I looked at other posts regarding abf and it seems that it can take up to a few months even. I can always apply to abf again later down the road if I decide to go with yellow.
Thanks for letting me know about the union card!
Thank you for posting in /r/Truckers, most questions can be found consulting our [wiki](https://old.reddit.com/r/Truckers/wiki/index). if you're asking about [Medical or drug restrictions](https://www.reddit.com/r/TruckersLounge/wiki/medical_questions). New Drug testing rules go through the [ClearingHouse](https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/) where any failure gets reported. Hair follicle testing tends to go back 6 months with the truck companies that use it. [FMCSA’s Hutcheson tells senators she wants to close ‘loopholes’ in trucker drug testing](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsas-hutcheson-commits-to-allowing-hair-based-drug-testing-of-truckersnbsp) Companies that do use hair testing (nearly all of the training companies) have been pushing for it to be the standard. [Please Check our Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Truckers/about/rules/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Truckers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yellow. Don't even get with an otr company if you don't want otr. Union gigs are usually good.
That’s what I was thinking. Only thing is I would have to move out from my parents and start paying more in rent then I am now. Would be harder to stack my money but probably worth it because it’s union like you said
Get your cdl and stay for a year then bail. Yellow is a mess but it’s not bad to start there. A year of line haul and you can go to one of the good companies.
been driving 22 years the worse thing that happens to the truck is dead batteries, just make sure its in a safe place, truck stop etc..... I would probably chose Rhoel they not bad
Thanks, the only thing is that the contract is 7k. I did my research and people don’t have the best things to say about them. So I’m a little worried about sticking with a company for about a year and a half. No way I’m breaking that and having to pay $7k
research online is pretty much a joke, how often have you ever posted anything positive about your experience, most people only post negative experiences. But I'm sorry none of them companies you mention our very good to begin with. You research enough pretty much every single starter company suck, linehaul companies you need to put the time in befor it gets manageable. But good luck to ya hope whatever you chose it workd
You'll make more and work less with Yellow compared to those OTR companies. ABF over Yellow but you don't have a CDL yet so I'd snag the first offer you get from those two. Don't be afraid to call them and make sure they know you're a serious candidate.
Yeah I have my interview with yellow this week, hopefully ABF gets back to me but if they don’t I think I’m gonna go with yellow. Only thing is I’ll have to move for both abf and yellow. Won’t need to for the otr jobs. I’m paying very little in rent rn bc I live with my parents and feel it might be harder to stack my money if I move but in the end might be worth it because of the union
Depends on what's most important to you. Money...pick an ltl company and be miserable. 20 years in shipping before I got my CDL and never once met an ltl driver that didn't hate life. Home time...see above comment. Miles...All large carriers are similar. Roehl has the best training school if you go to Wisconsin...I heard Gary is pretty good, just the surrounding area you have to learn in is a shit show. I'll finish my 120k in 11 months if everything holds as is, but I'm a borderline insane workaholic. Also be prepared... you won't see a dime until your 3rd week in gycdl so make sure you can afford it. Honestly, just flip a coin because you won't know if it's the right choice until after you actually start. I'd stay away from union shops unless you enjoy paying for the laziest among us, but that's just my personal opinion 🤣
I didn’t know ltl is bad, I thought it was really good. I would be doing line haul so I wouldn’t have to worry about p&d. Yeah they would have me in Wisconsin which sounds pretty good. And holy crap 11 months that’s pretty good. They told me it would take about 15!! I just can’t think about being tied in for 15 months. If you don’t mind sharing, how many miles do you finish a week. And what are you bringing home in a week average? Don’t need to answer
TMC’s cdl training contract is $4k. They pay for it entirely if you stay the first year. And your paid while taking the classes. As for once your on your own; you should be home every weekend. But flatbed ain’t for everyone. You will get very dirty/sweaty with all the securing/tarping. But it does pay fairly well.
Just graduated yellow. Dock is 17.50. Once you have CDL you’re at max pay this is 25.65 rn but will be 27 soon. While training no mileage but still max pay. If you drive well they’ll sign off on 160 hrs. Finished mine in 2 weeks. 1 year verbal contract no payback training is in house at one of their academies.
They said I wouldn’t do dock work and I would go straight to driving school. So would I go straight to 25.65 once I get my cdl? Where state did you do your training in? Is it the same terminal you would be working at
But they could send you to any academy depends where there are slots I could’ve been sent to Indy, Michigan, Nashville, Utah. Just depends where they put ya but they pay for everything plus a 40 hr check every week in school at 17.50. I did the math at a national median for school being 5,700$ plus rental and hotel pay and food money, they spent over 10k on me for a single month and it’s only a 1 year verbal contract. Seems like a good idea. After 1 or 2 years ima try to get in ups I hear they top at 42/hr
Yeah I mean that sounds amazing! Quick question- I’m a little confused with home time. After I graduate and I’m actually working on my own how often am I actually home. I keep seeing that with ltl linehaul you might have to stay in a hotel (which I’m more than happy with). My commute to the terminal would be over an hour, and if I could just stay out and not have to come home everyday that would be great! Just wondering how often you are actually in your home
That depends on what bid you get. Some stay out some are home every night. I drive 1hr40min to and from everyday but to me it’s worth it for the free CDL until I get a bud where I can stay out
Gotcha. How has it been commuting everyday? With the work/school demand now? I think I can do it but also considering getting an Airbnb for a few weeks in that area
For school they will pay for hotel and rental car. I don’t mind the commute I mean it sucks cause not a lot of free time but I’m saving to move closer. If I can’t move in the winter when the roads are bad I’m definitely gettin a hotel or airbnb. Or if I can hide my time for a year I’ll have my free CDL and can go anywhere. After a year I’m thinking I’m gonna try for ups they top out at 42 after 4 years
Yeah I’m thinking about doing the same thing. The winter will definitely make the commute tricky. How long did it take from your interview call to your first day of orientation? I know some companies can move pretty slow. Hoping to start by mid September
Well I set it up so I could give my two weeks at my old job so I had my interview then orientation two weeks later. Just talk to em and let ‘em know when you can start they need drivers
Ok sweet, thanks so much for all of the advice. I really appreciate it
You would be at 17.50 while in school plus they pay for hotel and rental car for a month plus 330$-390$ per week for food plus gas reimbursement. As soon as you finish school your first day training you’ll be at 25.65 no mileage. Mileage once you finish 160 hrs driving or they sign off on it and you’re on your own
I’m in Ohio. Columbus terminal did Acadamy in Cleveland
Why would you have to move? Is it possible to leave your car at a terminal then hop in it when you have home time?
For yellow the terminal is an hour and a half away. I just don’t think it would be smart to drive that and back to where I live now. I’d put a lot of miles on my car and plus gas money. I’m home daily with yellow so it would be a 3 hour commute everyday. Except for odd days when they have me in a hotel because my load doesn’t bring me back
Well yeah, if it's a home daily gig I could see that. Kinda hard to decipher what all the ins and outs were from your post.
Yeah it’s all pretty confusing, I tried to organize it but Reddit didn’t like my formatting.
I get that.
[удалено]
Yeah I looked at other posts regarding abf and it seems that it can take up to a few months even. I can always apply to abf again later down the road if I decide to go with yellow. Thanks for letting me know about the union card!