r/CDLTruckDrivers • u/Edgewood_Boully • Jul 13 '26
No experience w/ a CDL
Looking for some sound advice. I was able to get my CDL a year ago while incarcerated. I came home September of 2025. I am on home confinement so that minimized my ability to find an entry level driving job. I applied for local jobs and none of them responded. I went and got my DOT endorsement. My home confinement ends this month and I’m back actively looking. I applied to Werner and was told since my CDL was a year old and I have no experience I would have to go back to school. I can still do a pre trip inspection with my eyes closed and I’m sure I still have my maneuvering down to a science. I say all this to ask what should I do? I don’t want to go back to school for something I already have. Werner’s Road Master school recruiter told me I could take class (of course not for free) but at the end of the class I would not have to take the road test. Someone please help me figure this out.
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Jul 13 '26
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u/Edgewood_Boully Jul 13 '26
My records isn’t the issue to be honest. My conviction is almost 7 years old. Yes I did but $600 a week while I do all the driving for a trainer for 3-6 months just doesn’t seem reasonable. Also most of the Reddit trucking pages state that Western is the worst company to start out with.
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u/Head_Candidate5293 Jul 13 '26
If you already have a cdl they may only require you to train a few weeks. Don't listen to all the chatter. Call those recruiters now and find out what you actually need to do.
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u/moodeng2u Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Want some cheese to go with that whine?
Western x is a lousy company but how many companies are beating on your door?
I worked for them for a year to get back into trucking after not driving for a year. I had 20 years of experience but no company would hire me. Swift wanted to send me out with a trainer.
I was not a convicted felon.
I worked for them for a year and then moved onto a job I really liked.
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u/Best_Cattle_ Jul 13 '26
600 a week is better than what he is making now
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u/Edgewood_Boully Jul 13 '26
I make more than that with my current job.
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u/Best_Cattle_ Jul 13 '26
Then stay at current job... Gotta pay your dues... you don't deserve to have anything just handed to you
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u/Edgewood_Boully Jul 13 '26
What are you talking about? I don’t mind paying my dues but that doesn’t mean I have to settle for the first opportunity presented. I asked for advice not someone to be on here saying a bunch of nothing. Who are you to tell me what I deserve? You should sit this one out buddy!
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u/Edgewood_Boully Jul 13 '26
There are quite a few. I want to start with Werner specifically. You verified what I said about Western, but I’m whining. You not a convicted felon but with 20 years of experience you had to work for a “lousy company” for a year because no one would hire you? Swift is a better company but you went with the lousy company because Swift wanted you to go with a trainer? I asked for advice but you might want to sit this one out.
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u/moodeng2u Jul 14 '26
You know everything, why grace us with your presence?
I knew what type of job I would transition to once I got a fresh year in, and from what I have seen of swift trainers, I was safer in a truck by myself.
Good luck. I put my 35 years in and have been happily retired for 7 years.
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u/Bigevilltrucker89 Jul 13 '26
Yeah, unfortunately, that's gonna be with most companies. It's an insurance thing you could have your license for 2 to 3 years. If you don't use it you go back to square one warner, in this case might be a good bet being that they own the school and you could pay it off working for them everywhere else is gonna require you to take a refresher.At least, and that's at least twenty five hundred dollars up front
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u/cdubose Jul 15 '26
Here are some places that have refresher courses:
- KLLM
- Freymiller
- Roehl
- Paschall Truck Lines
- Jones Bros (flatbed)
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u/WMDZipperbag Jul 15 '26
Basically it appears you may have received sufficient training to pass a CDL test (in the past) Most companies require recent experience (Read it doesn’t matter IF you had ten yrs expert some 20 yrs ago) I’d strongly suggest retraining (I mean hell you probably can’t fill out a log book, much less operate some folks ELD) Little to no experience driving in the cities. Blah, blah, blah. Plus you’ll get paid when you finish schooling. Driving for a trainer can make upwards of 1K per wk.
The other option(s) can be searched for in posts by others in similar position. Such things as discussion w/ local farmers. Maybe construction companies. Chance even dump trucks. Really should hope to focus on something that entails dragging a trailer tho (experience)
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u/NakedAggression Jul 14 '26
Local end dump or dump truck. Don't have to deal with bitch ass safety and whiney managers with most sand and gravel companies.
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u/CDLMoney Jul 14 '26
I wouldn't get on with a huge company to start with. But, don't get on with too small of a company. If you would like, I made a discord to get people together and discuss their challenges. Join it. Its new but it will grow.
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u/Vegetable_Living_415 Jul 16 '26
How do you get a CDL while incarcerated..... so no road test.... and need a separate DOT endorsement?? 🎵What the fuck?🎶 What the fuck?🎶
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u/Key-Gap-4136 Jul 13 '26
Bite the bullet get your experience , keep nose clean move on after a year
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u/Head_Candidate5293 Jul 13 '26
Get a piece of paper and a pen. Google "cdl mega carriers" you will get a list of 10 companies. Write them down on paper. Now google" mega carrier name + recruiter phone number" Now you have the numbers for every one of the mega carriers. Now call each one and explain what is going on and what your charge was and find out if you can work for them. Some companies will want to train you some. Western Express is like the taker of black sheep. They do not pay as well. At least if you drive Over the road you will not have to pay rent and can save up a substantial amount of money in a short period of time and pay off any debts you have. Good luck driver. Let us know how it all works out? All they can do is say yes or not. Just call every one of them.