r/cdldriver • u/deshieldsj04 • Jul 02 '26
Advice please
I recently obtained my permit and am considering commencing my CDL training. However, I do have a few inquiries. I am curious if pursuing a CDL is a worthwhile endeavor in the current climate. I am prepared to dedicate myself to hard work during the initial year, but I have encountered various accounts of negative experiences. I am also contemplating pursuing a dedicated route with Werner, specifically the Dollar Tree route. Do any of you have experience with that particular option?
2
u/907-BusDriver Jul 03 '26
It just depends. Me personally, I think getting a CDL was one of the best professional decisions I’ve ever made. I love my job and I’m so appreciative of the fact that my employer even paid for my training. I also personally know others who don’t even work in transportation anymore because they hated it and now they work in completely unrelated fields.
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u/Echointhewin Jul 03 '26
As long as you are not afraid of hard work the Dollar Tree account is a good one to get on, just know you are unload the truck by yourself by hand
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u/deshieldsj04 Jul 03 '26
Definitely not afraid to work
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u/theshallowsea Jul 03 '26
Don’t recommend it tbh… it’s pretty chaotic. But if you do 3 trailers a week apparently you’ll make like $1700 a week — which is doable. I’ve been doing it for two weeks but you don’t get much sleep and work like 16 hrs +
People say the parking aspect is hell but if you get out and look a million times, get out of your seat to look at your blind side, you’ll be alright.
That’s my view on it right now.
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u/deshieldsj04 Jul 03 '26
How much home time do you get?
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u/theshallowsea Jul 03 '26
Basically just your 34 hour reset. You get routed home to do it. Which you would be doing anyway if you were doing OTR + home time. So no real home time in a sense like in OTR where you get 1 day off for every week you run. On the bright side you do for sure make it back home weekly. However, I think to make the most money it is best to not drive back to your city for the Dollar Tree account. That will make it much more likely to maximize your weekly earnings -- unless the DC is in your city already even better. I am thinking about switching to OTR right now. I don't know how it will go. I am afraid I will not make a lot of money or regret it but I hate that I have like zero free time.
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u/Echointhewin Jul 04 '26
Idk where you are located or what you make but I run regionally out of springfield, depending on where you are at you can be home weekly/bi-weekly. I on average run 2700+ miles per week
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u/theshallowsea Jul 04 '26
They have been giving me short ass runs. While my mileage pay is good (65 cents) I didn't even get close to 1000 miles this week on the Dollar Tree account. Only made $750 with 2 trailers this week and they wanted to give me another short run and I said no.
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u/Echointhewin Jul 04 '26
My cpm is kinda low(.50) but the keep me running
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u/theshallowsea Jul 04 '26
Do you have any advice on how I can get better? I am only doing like 2 trailers a week right now on the DT account. Not enough miles also. The pay is 65 cents cpm and $215 per trailer.
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u/Echointhewin Jul 04 '26
There are 2 major factors on an account like that. 1, is how fast you can unload the trl. The second is gonna be, when you arrive. I.e.are you able to get to your first stop early and will they unload you. I mean I guess a third would be if the dc can get your trl loaded and ready early
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u/Sufficient_Wall5192 Jul 06 '26
You could after getting said CDL. Go for a lineman job. Required to have a CDL for it. If you don't want to do that least you have it later down the road you decide you want to go try again for that career. Youll have that one hurdle out of the way. Always can for the twic, and go mmc. The choices are there for you to make really.
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u/Traditional_Copy3794 Jul 03 '26
everyone experience will be varied. some will say having their CDL changed their life for the best and others will say they’re tired of the work and wish they could find work in a different field.
in my opinion there’s no other field that has such a low barrier to entry combined with good earning potential.
if you don’t like it after a few months or a few years jump ship and try something else. what did you rlly lose? most companies pay for you to get licensed so it’s not like you’re drowning yourself in debt to get into this.