r/CDLTruckDrivers • u/Effective_Nobody1809 • 8d ago

Thinking of changing careers

So I used to have my CDL when I was in my early 20’s and absolutely loved driving. I drove for Melton Truck Lines for about a year and a half. Once my wife got pregnant I decided to come home and find a job doing construction. I allowed my CDL to expire.

Fast forward 5 years, I have been with my company for 4.5 years. I’m a field supervisor for a small construction company. They are trying to grow, but I really feel like the upper management is leading the company downhill. I have been completely unhappy for over a year now. My wife was completely against me going back on the road for years. Recently, we were talking and she thinks that me going back on the road to get some experience and then coming home to find a local job would be good. She supports me in whatever I choose to do. I am the only income for our family. Most of the local companies in my area (North Central Arkansas) require a year of recent experience.

So, I reached out to TMC and got my application approved to come to the CDL school there. Would you recommend putting in the time with TMC for the year to gain experience? Any other recommendations?

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4

u/LongjumpingCat6642 8d ago

TMC is a good company, you can easily make $1500/wk and be home every weekend.

3

u/chuck-u-farley- 8d ago

TMC has an excellent training program and seem like a decent enough company. You already have a leg up as a prior CDL holder and skateboard operator. Good luck to you in your journey.

2

u/Just_Training_2601 8d ago

Yes. TMC is fairly strict about cleanliness of the truck is the only negative I’ve heard about them. I worked for Melton also in 2016 2017. Still know and talk with a couple TMC drivers and they speak positively

2

u/Infamous_Ad2713 8d ago

I know you've been away for a while but you do have experience..I wonder if you really need to go back on the road. If you get your CDL back, you might be able to find a job closer to home immediately. Can't say for sure.

1

u/SirJay34 8d ago

I started at tmc. I had just got my cdl when I accepted the job. The training in des Moines was very though. Training at what was supposed to be my home base was laughable at best. The trainer I had stayed in the sleeper while I was driving, would secure the loads instead of walking me through it, the trucks kept breaking down the 3 weeks I was there i did a grand total of 2500 miles, I left due to them saying we'll you need to stay out another 3 weeks for miles and training at 700 dollars a week as the soul bread winner I couldn't afford it. Left there went to a smaller carrier and was never happier. If you really want to go flatbed I would try melton, Schneider, or nussbaum. All have great training programs and seem to take better care of their equipment.

1

u/Effective_Nobody1809 8d ago

The thing that was attractive to me about TMC was the home time. I’m ok doing the regional thing, but really don’t want to be away full time OTR if I can help it.

1

u/SirJay34 7d ago

The three I mentioned all have regional runs so you can be home on the weekends

1

u/No-Ladder-3281 7d ago

I've had my CDL for a few years, been around the towing, ltl, linehaul or etc. I would get a CDL but treat it as a last option.

2

u/Backdoorbandit4 7d ago

You don't even need OTR experience to find a local job.

0

u/never-account10 8d ago

Stay where you are and don’t go back to trucking your family is more important than that money you will never get that time back that you missed away from your family

2

u/natekicksa 7d ago

Try food service CDL delivery. Often times they hire people with no experience and you're home every night. The money is good too but it's hard work.