CDL Class B trouble

by John
(Miami , FL)

Hello my name is John and I'm 21 years old . I recently graduated from the CDL School inc. which is based in Miami , Fl . I got my CDL class B license 3 days ago and I'm really happy about it .

When I first got there , I was originaly working on obtaining a Class A licence , but to my surprise my instructors tell me after my first week of training that in order for big companies like : Covenant , Werner , J.B Hunt , USXpress etc . to hire me , I had to have at least 160 hours of training before anyone of them would even be interested in hiring me . I got really angry at first because they didn't tell me this at the beggining . Their 160 hour course costs $6,000 and I had payed for only 40 hours of training which only cost me about $1,500 . I couldn't afford to pay for a 160 hour course so I told the student services rep. to change me to a Class B truck instead .

After 2 weeks of grueling training - of sweating my butt out on the truck range ( its hot here in Florida ) , I passed every exam with flying colors . I came out of there brimming with enthusiasm and confidence thinking that getting a job would be a piece of cake with a CDL class B in hand , but it appears that I was wrong . When I graduated , I asked the chief instructor if getting a job with a CDL B would be difficult ? , he told me that it shouldn't be a problem . I then asked him if any company would hire me witout experience - he again told me not to worry about it .

Now that I have my CDL , I find that getting a job is extremely difficult . I see straight trucks everyday in the streetand in the highway , but I have absolutely no idea what to do to get hired . The majority of these companies need at least 1 year of experience .... So what do I do ? . Did I just waste my time and money ? or is there still hope ? .

Please I really need some help

Thanks John

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Oct 21, 2016
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CDL class B trouble NEW
by: Anonymous

i am from cleveland ohio i just recently graduated from truck driving school with my class B CDL im having a hard time finding a job with out any experience CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP THANK YOU MR FORD

Oct 21, 2016
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class B trouble finding job NEW
by: Anonymous

hello i am from cleveland ohio i just graduated from truck driving school im having a hard time finding a job with my class B CDL can anyone please help

Oct 21, 2016
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Jul 04, 2016
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Having trouble of getting hire with class b license NEW
by: Anonymous

Hi, my name is Kao, and I'm from Rodeo, California, and I have been graduated from class b school 2.5 ago and I'm having hard time of getting hire from any trucking companies. Every company I have applied for, they need at least 9 months to 1 years of straight truck driving experienced. Well, anybody has any clue where I get get hire with a class b driver license no cdl b experienced? Please give me the rope. Thanks

Dec 02, 2015
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an idea for you NEW
by: Anonymous

Until you find a truck job...ever thought of driving a school bus? Here in Massachusetts they pay around 20$/hour. A normal route is like 5 hours/ day but you can do charter work on top of that. You get sick time and all school vacations off in which you can collect unemployment which is roughly the amount of half of your regular pay. It may not be enough for you but it's easy work and it'll give you your experience. Good luck

Aug 13, 2015
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Mcfadder NEW
by: Mike

The main problem is the insurance companies.....They will not insure the companies truck if the driver has no experience.....one year min required for most insurance companies.....they rule the industry....I went to Mcfadder (great school)....got a class A...went to work imediatly for CRST (they are self insured , so can hire new drivers)...they train you some more.....team driving only....I wanted solo, so after a while left them and went with Knight Transportation (excellent)....beware of these short course training schools....a waste of money....Mcfadder was 9 weeks and even then I was real nervous at 1st......local classA jobs are only for those with experience....Insurance is the reason

Jul 14, 2015
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Class b or Cdl driver needed asap NEW
by: Anonymous

I'm hiring !!!
Cisco.miami@yahoo.com

Sep 25, 2014
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Inexpensive School NEW
by: Mark

I went to the Mcfatter 9 wk course (now at the Sheridan campus) - Broward County, Fl - cost was about $1,000, and got hired immediately by one of the largest employers in the U.S. The course is subsidized as part of the community college system.

Sep 25, 2014
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Aug 04, 2012
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Class B NEW
by: Anonymous

You should of had someone rent a truck & in Florida you don't get paid nothing but peanuts if you can even find a job.

Dec 04, 2009
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Johnny likes it!!!
by: Anonymous

HEY John, glad to hear about your new interview. Hard part is over right? Let us know what happens. Things are turning around for us cause I got a call too. Leave for Iowa next weekend for CRST. Well congrats bud and if you have any more questions, you found the place to ask em.

At least this is where I come to get accurate answers from real concrete pounders. (You guys like that, just made that up right now.) Hope everything goes well John.

Nov 13, 2009
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It seems I hit the jackpot !!
by: John

I got called for an interview with 2 companies :
Brinks and Crystal Spring Waters inc. I want to thank everyone for your advices and specially Nick V . Your advice really helped me out !! :-D .

Thanks everyone !!! .

Nov 05, 2009
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Class B CDL is not a waste of time
by: Hervy

Like it was stated by someone else, the only way any education or training is a waste of time is if a person sits in a corner and do nothing with it.

Congratulations on your successful search and persistence. The route you went is not out of the ordinary, especially if a person has a blemished recorded. (I know you there because you have a B instead of an A).

You may even end of with a local or regional job you like after having gone through that experience.

Whatever the case, it is what it is. There is still a glass half full, if there is one half empty. Keep doing exactly what your doing man, make it work for you the best you can until you get to where you want to be.

Glad to see my man Nick V is still hanging in there, he gave you some good advice and has dealt with being mislead by the trucking school.

Nick glad to see you trying to keep that glass half full man! :0)

You'll be alright too, just keep hanging in there man.

As far as the money truckers make, it's probably more like $30,000 average at the moment for newbies. That's not bad for what little you have to go through to get licensed to drive.

The only way a driver is living check to check is if they have poor money management has nothing to do with driving. Spending money on the road will definitely eat the $30,000 up but you don't have to spend that money on the road.

That's a money management issue. Something that I would say half of us Americans in all jobs lack skills.

LOL, I am waiting on a check right now! :-)

Later yall

Nov 02, 2009
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The search continues
by: Anonymous

Thanks you guys very much for your advices and quick replies . I'm went out on a hardcore job search today . I found a company here called " Gold Coast Beverages Distributions inc. " in Pompano Beach that needs a helper to ride with the driver to give him a hand unloading the truck.

They told me that after working 6 months as a helper and learning the route - that they would put me on my own truck from that point on . I put in my application today so I'm hoping for the best .

I had no idea that I was going to go through this , but I have no choice but to persevere. These CDL driving schools are a bunch of crooks unfortunately and will sweet talk and trick anyone to get them in the door in order to get their money .

Well as a certain song goes ...... " What money do "

Still searching ...

John

Nov 01, 2009
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Taken for a ride and has a much lighter wallet.
by: Jimmy

Damn Pardner. A class "B" limits you greatly. You can drive a 3 axle dump/straight truck only, right? Well, besides the front door way into your next job, you may have to try to get in the back way. Such as working on a dock/warehouse etc.

Have you considered driving a tour bus? Cement mixer? Gravel truck (10 wheeler)? It's hard out there right now. Check out moving companies and towing companies. Jimmy

Nov 01, 2009
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I feel ya. Heres some advice from another trucking school graduate.
by: Nick V

Hey John trust me dude, your not alone. First off I want to say where to start. Look on craigslist.com, bubbajunk.com, your local newspaper, and even calling numbers off the trucks you see or trying to hunt down their website.

Second, you do have experience, they dont know it and neither do you but you drove a meat delivery truck for a family member when you were younger and got paid under the table. (see where im going with this).

I have learned that the transportation industry is a corrupt line of business and you have to do what you have to do to get somewhere. Even if ya gotta lie about some experience that doesn't really exist. You got the license, you know how to drive the thing so whats the big deal right.

Now having said that, I would also like to add that when the economy went plummeting a whole mess of people started running to truck driving academies, schools, and colleges. Those people are not going to turn people away.

Only thing im glad to hear about your story is you were smart and didn't go for the 160 hour. I personally did and got my CDL in April of this year and still have yet to get my butt in a drivers seat and trust me its not from lack of motivation. I am hearing more and more about people getting sucked into these schools and it makes me sick.

For everyone reading this, PLEASE do your homework. Here is yet more proof of someone getting stuck with a schooling bill that isn't turning over any profit. The schools make it sound so good. Oh yeah you will make 40K your first year...yeah sure.

They talk like they just pay truckers hand over fist but I bet you ask any real trucker on here how they are doing financially and they are probably living paycheck to paycheck. Its not all the glitz and glamour they make it out to be. PLUS your lucky to even find a job right now but they will tell you different.

Sorry, now im just venting. Anyways, check those leads I put at the top and good luck to you man.

Keep us posted. And keep one thing in mind, when and if you get a job, remember how tough it is to find one. Stick with it even if it sucks, at least for a year. You need that experience on your record. Try driverssolutions.com also

Nov 01, 2009
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One step at a time. Advice from experienced trucker looking for a trucking job
by: Anonymous

No experience is a waste of time but another step in the direction you are going. These schools are out to make money whether or not you wind up getting a job, they get their money.

Facts are people with years of experience are having trouble getting hired as I am still looking for work for over a year now. Don't give up but you might need to do whatever you can till hiring gets better.

Good luck.

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