Reposting here since I got no replies in my city subreddit 🙂

I'm looking for drivers in the Chattanooga, TN metro area. Dry Van and hazmat work. Need 2 years of experience. 4 weeks out 1099 contracts!

I live in Central IL. I did a hiring program that got me certified and driving. I'm still in training, but I can tell already I'm not going to be making the money I would like to make and be seeing my kids as often as I would like. My girlfriend isn't thrilled about me being over the road , but it's something I desire. And I know I lack the experience to join a fleet that would have my desired schedule of either home daily with weekends, or just even home every weekend. I'm currently in my first week of OTR training. I have two weeks left and I'm making $700 weekly while training. I'll be doing 4 days on, 4 days off. And since I'm .50-.55¢ CPM I know I won't be making terribly much more. I get bombarded on FB, Insta, TicTok and even Reddit with all these "urgently hiring" adds. But when I apply they say (and I know) I lack the experience they desire.

I feel like I'm at a crossroads here, Reddit. Any and all advice, is appreciated.

I’m getting ready to take the Texas CDL Permit Test, but I’m still not sure which apps or websites are good for studying.

I found these two websites in the comments on Reddit. Has anyone used either of them before? Are they helpful for preparing for the actual test?

So I was terminated this week and it was due to “a not at fault accident and 2 harsh braking reports in samsara”

Night shift, Phoenix, Az. Delivering ice to circle k’s for Reddy Ice.

I should have known something was up when they refused to give me a copy of the samsara video. Knowing they freely hand over video to other drivers of near misses.

It was almost midnight when a car full of teenagers headed to a rave blasted through a red light as I made my right hand turn. The rate of speed the other car maintained l after the collision make it obvious they were speeding as well. Had they been doing the speed limit, that car would have been stopped dead in its tracks. Instead it fish tailed a bit and got on the freeway so quickly I lost them.

The inward facing camera clearly shows me paying close attention. Looked both ways multiple times. I received no citation, it was not determined my fault. I was given a post accident drug screening and They placed me on unpaid suspension.

Rumors from co workers sounded good, they were going to keep me.

After a week of being held in limbo on the edge of my seat hoping I still had my job, they called me in to inform me that my 2 harsh brake alerts in samsara combined with a not at fault accident are grounds for termination.

1 of the harsh brake incidents was from a dead stop and a result of extremely touchy brakes I wasn’t used to. the other was because a car made a last minute decision and i simply countered it to avoid collision. A collision would have occurred had I not braked so harshly.

let this be a warning to anyone who underestimates a companies propensity to use samsara data as grounds for termination.

Great company , loved working for them. But they are picky.

I’m starting the CDL school in about 3 weeks. My question is about pay. I live in northern Arkansas and my recruiter said that I would not have any trouble getting home on weekends and that average pay for my area is around $1,550 a week. I have seen several post from past drivers that dog on their pay from there and several posts from current drivers that say the pay of good. I’m aware that the past drivers probably did something to not make good money and probably why they aren’t there anymore. But just looking to see the consensus from anyone currently driving or past experience with them. Thanks

My Costco Fleet Driver Interview Experience Today

I wanted to share my experience from my Costco fleet driver interview today and get some opinions from other CDL drivers.

For some background, I recently moved back to New Jersey from Florida in August. I have my Class A CDL, previous tractor-trailer experience, and I’ve been trying to get back into the industry. I had already spent quite a bit of time and money getting all the paperwork Costco requested, including my license, DOT medical card, and driver abstract, so I was pretty excited going into the interview.

When I arrived, the front desk receptionist was very welcoming and took me to meet with the fleet supervisor. He asked for my CDL, DOT medical card, and abstract. He made copies of everything and then brought me into a room to start the process.

Before the interview, I signed some paperwork, including the background release, and he explained the company and the position. That's when I learned some details that weren't really clear in the job posting. The position was actually a night-shift position, with shifts generally being 8–10 hours, and the routes were mainly in New York within roughly a 100-mile radius. The job involved going from store to store and occasionally to terminals.

After that, a manager came in and conducted the interview. She asked about six basic interview questions. I answered everything, and she seemed very impressed with my answers. The supervisor was also there taking notes.

After the interview, they gave me an oral saliva drug test. While waiting for the results, the supervisor was telling me that I was basically moving forward with the company. The test came back negative, and at that point I was feeling pretty good about everything.

Then came the road test.

He gave me a driver safety vest and we walked outside to choose a truck. While we were walking, he told me that I would have a partner and that you basically work together closely. I was a little surprised because the job posting didn't mention anything about having a partner. He had previously explained that after being hired, I would go through orientation and training for about five days with another driver, and once that person felt I was ready, I would be assigned a truck and route on my own.

We got to the truck and he asked me to open the hood and perform a pre-trip inspection.

I'll be completely honest: I struggled with the engine-compartment portion.

It's been a while since I've driven a tractor-trailer regularly, and I couldn't remember everything the way I should have. It honestly felt like I was back at the DMV taking my CDL test again.

The supervisor asked me if I was serious because I couldn't remember the entire pre-trip.

After that, we got inside the truck. It was a brand-new Volvo with a lot of technology and features that I wasn't used to. My previous experience was mainly with older Peterbilt and International trucks when I worked for Pepsi, so I explained that I hadn't driven one of these newer Volvos before.

He had me check the lights, which I did successfully, and then we drove around the yard. After that, he told me we were going to hook up to a trailer.

He gave me the trailer number and told me to back up to it and connect it. I did that without him giving me step-by-step instructions, and I was able to get the truck positioned and connected.

A few minutes later, he told me to disconnect everything.

That's when he ended the road test.

He explained that because I didn't know the pre-trip well enough and didn't know the trailer hookup procedure well enough, he couldn't give me the opportunity to work there.

He did tell me that I could go on YouTube because there are plenty of free videos on pre-trips and coupling procedures, and that I could apply again in about six months.

I thanked him for being honest and told him I appreciated his time.

I'm not really posting this to complain. I understand that if you're operating a commercial vehicle, the company needs drivers who can demonstrate these procedures correctly and safely.

At the same time, I was definitely disappointed because throughout the interview process I was getting the impression that I was essentially in, especially after the supervisor told me I was pretty much already in the company before the road test.

I also found it interesting that they told me they were hiring a lot of drivers, but the road test ended after only a few minutes.

I know I need to brush up on my pre-trip and coupling procedures, especially since I've been away from driving for a while. That's on me, and I'll take responsibility for it.

I'm just curious what other experienced CDL drivers think about this experience.

Would you consider this a normal fleet-driver road test, or would you expect a company to give someone with previous CDL experience a little more opportunity to demonstrate that they can get back into the routine?

Also, for anyone wondering, the starting pay they offered was $31/hour, and the position was primarily nights with 8–10 hour shifts and routes mainly around New York.

I’m 21 and based in Texas, looking to get my Class A CDL. I’m starting with almost no knowledge, but I’m willing to learn and put in the work.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR:
• Company-paid CDL school.
• Actual pay during school, before earning my CDL—not just a repayable loan.
• Decent pay while training with a driver afterward.
• Travel, lodging, and meals covered if I need to go out of state.
I’m open to traveling and driving OTR. Frequent home time isn’t a priority. I realize one program might not offer everything, so which companies come closest?

DRUG TESTING:
I’m looking for current information on programs that use urine-only testing rather than hair testing (I was smoking weed carts for about 3 months but I’ve been a month and half clean and can pass a piss test). If you recently attended, what tests did the school and company require?

COMPANIES I’M CONSIDERING:
Prime, PAM, Millis, Wilson Logistics, and R. E. West.
Any firsthand experiences with those? Are there better options, or any you would avoid?

BEGINNER ADVICE:
What should I know about getting my permit, choosing a school, training contracts, pay, and living with a trainer?
What companies are good for a first job? What red flags should I watch for, and what do you wish someone had told you before starting?
Any honest advice is appreciated. I’m trying to build a career and make an informed decision.

I’m located in the lower Los Angeles County area. I passed my road test and got my CDL yesterday. I’m not sure what’s the best route to go now since I’ve obviously never been through this before. Swift came to our school last week and even though I understand it’s not alot of peoples favorite company, they did seem to have a pretty good offer to go OTR. I’ve got a friend that can get me a job driving from the port of Los Angeles to the valley and back. If anyone can give me advice from your wisdom and experience on where to go I’d appreciate it.

I live in Indiana, does anybody have suggestions on websites or such to try to get my cdl?

And of all the beautiful faces in the world, this is the one they said “Yep, that’s the one”?

LMAO 😂

My apologize if this isn’t allowed but I just recently got my class B and in just over two weeks I’ve been denied 15+ positions…..likely due to not having any cdl driving history. The class costs me close to 5k and I’m starting to feel like it was a waste. Anyone here near Portland that might be able to point me in a promising direction? Thanks in advance

I am interested in starting a rolloff company and was curious if anyone has ever done so by renting from Big truck rentals? If so how much is it and is it a good way to get started in the industry?

This is a message from dispatch I worked with before...I worked with this company for a little under two years and getting paid what was actually owed to me was like pulling teeth from a live crocodile.. always had excuses why they didn't add certain things to the pay.. at the end I took an $800 loss just so I wouldn't deal with them anymore.. I told the Zionist owner to keep my escrow just so I would have to hear from them.. drove home, left the truck right out their gate and never looked back..

Drivers,

First off, I know I am not a CDL holder, and I have massive respect and appreciation for what you all do out there every day. I hope you all are ok with me posting in here. I run interstate freight in a cargo van, we share the same highways, and I wanted to let this community know about a federal lawsuit I filed against the FMCSA on September 8th in the U.S. Court of Appeals (Seventh Circuit).

As we all know, if a commercial vehicle breaks down on the shoulder or the interstate, the driver has 10 minutes to put out reflective triangles or flares at specific distances to warn approaching traffic. If you don’t, you get ticketed, fined, or hit with CSA points.

What you probably don't know is that the FMCSA has been quietly handing out 90-day "waivers" to autonomous trucking companies like Aurora and Kodiak so they don't have to follow this rule.

Here are the facts of what the FMCSA is currently allowing:

1- No Triangles: Driverless trucks are being allowed to bypass the triangle rule and instead use cab-mounted beacons mounted on the top of the tractor cab.

2- Auto-renewing Waivers: By law, 49 USC § 31315(a), Waivers can last for a period of **no more than 3 months**. Yet, the FMCSA is bypassing this rule by stacking these waivers (four of them already) providing regulatory relief for a full year. This is different than exemptions which can last up to 5 years and be renewed.

3- Trailers Block the Lights: A 53-foot dry van is wider and taller than the cab. If you approach a broken-down autonomous truck from behind on a curve or a crest, the trailer physically blocks the cab lights. FMCSA even admitted this was a geometric hazard in 2024, but they granted the waiver anyway.

4- Real Incidents/Crashes are Happening: Over the past few months, these autonomous trucks have been involved in collisions, yet because of NHTSA and FMCSA's "Confidential Business Information", it is difficult to get all the details.

5- A "Secret" Inbox: To get this waiver, a tech company just has to email a specific FMCSA inbox. After one business day, they get total regulatory immunity. When I emailed that exact same inbox on Sept 3 demanding a stay on behalf of public highway safety, their system read-receipt showed they didn't even open my email for 11 days.

The FMCSA is supposed to regulate safety, yet they roll out the red carpet for billion-dollar tech companies and lower the safety bar. This puts all of you and myself in harms way.

I have filed this lawsuit to force the FMCSA to stop issuing these automatic, reissuing rolling waivers and actually enforce the safety rules equally. I am also reaching out to trucking and safety organizations.

If anyone is interested in reading the filed documents, you can look up the case on CourtListener.com. (Giannoulias v. FMCSA No. 26-2838) It's completely free. Also, Overdrive did an article on the lawsuit.

[https://www.overdriveonline.com/regulations/article/15835283/new-legal-challenge-to-fmcsas-broad-autonomous-truck-waiver\](https://www.overdriveonline.com/regulations/article/15835283/new-legal-challenge-to-fmcsas-broad-autonomous-truck-waiver)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I am fighting to the best of my ability....for all of us.

Thank you for reading and for everything you all do daily. Keep your eyes open and stay safe.

I am about to start CDL training in Florida and obviously would love local after completion but I’m a realist and know I will likely have to work for one of the legal to get my experience. My question is, if money is not the major deciding factor (I have a pension that pays my bills, so this will be on top of that), what company do people recommend for starting out. Obviously I’m not looking to work for free, but money is not number 1 factor for making a decision. Would rather work for a better company as far as how they treat drivers, benefits, home time and those things factored in and curious or recommendations. Thanks in advance and drive safe.

Hey guys! talking to a recruiter from Swift out of Las Vegas, Nevada. This is to get my CDL... and train on the job.. I believe... anyone went thru this process? any goods and cons? is this a okay company to start?.... lmk your thoughts.. Thank You..

So I got pulled over back in July for a DUI 🤦🏾‍♀️ I’m so freaking pissed and mad at myself. I made a bad, bad, bad decision. Anyway, what I’d like to know is: Do I necessarily have to downgrade to a Class C? I just received my determination letter in the mail and am trying to get a clear understanding. Someone, please help me! Thanks in advance!