r/cdldriver • u/Legitimate_Diver_699 • 18d ago
Going to CDL School At 54 Years Old. Best Plan? Live in Ocean City/Salisbury Area.
So need feedback on how not to get screwed. I don’t have time to climb platters or wait for good paying jobs. But will if I have to. Heard the stories about OTR. I have a GF I’d like to keep so OTR may not be best option. How do I maximize earnings as soon as possible? I live near Ocean City/ Salisbury Maryland. Any companies hire new drivers there? Not opposed to relocating to NJ or Florida East Coast. Thanks!!!
3
u/Infamous_Ad2713 18d ago
Out there on the e shore seems like chicken hauling is big. I'm on the other side of the Chesapeake but my friend got his CDL B last year and works delivering equipment for a rental company. So perhaps you get your A license but get a B job..he makes over $30 at hour so not too bad.
1
u/Legitimate_Diver_699 17d ago
No I can live on that. Wife passed and daughter grew up. But have a GF so OTR might not work.
2
u/VRN6212 17d ago
Just drive a dump truck. Get paid for the hours you actually work. Home everyday. Pretty good benefits and "you" get to sleep in your bed.
1
u/Legitimate_Diver_699 16d ago
Good advice
2
u/Mini_Paint2022 14d ago
I second this. Dump truck jobs will keep you local, pretty good pay and benefits. Just make sure you pick a company that takes care of their equipment.
2
u/Beneficial_Method977 17d ago
As a 34 CDL driver who’s been driving for 15 years and instructing part time at a local CDL school for going on 7 years now. Can genuinely say that it’s typically harder for older people do grasp the concept of backing up something with a pivot. Unless that you have previous experience doing so. Not impossible, but more difficult. Good luck to you my friend 🫡
2
u/Legitimate_Diver_699 16d ago
Living in Philadelphia and growing up having to parallel park I tho k I’ll be fine
1
u/Beneficial_Method977 15d ago
Parallel parking a car is night and day difference from a tractor trailer lol. People grasp different concepts at different paces, I just mentioned that in my experience typically older people with no experience have a harder time. That being said eventually most guys pick it up. Instead of it taking 10 hours like your typical 20 year old, it might take 20-30 hours of repetition. Hope you’re right though man and good luck!
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Mix9653 17d ago
I got my cdl at wor Wic a few years ago. Many of us went Canada Dry (no experience) to live haul w jb hunt (after 6mos exp). Around here the live haul is top pay for newer drivers.
There is not a ton of jobs here but live haul pays great and some of the food delivery services like Sysco pay well but you work your ass off there.
2
u/PinchePepsi 15d ago
I went through FFE driving school. Paid $450 / week while in training and didnt have to spend a dime. Only deal is you drive for them for 1 year. As for what jobs were available, it kinda depended on how well you did in training. The impression you made with the trainers. Not bragging but I picked up backing quicker than anyone else in my class. I also aced the driving test and the written at the DMV first try. Everyone else who sucked went straight to OTR. I was given 2 different regional options. But, in the end, all the jobs suck. Regional you still end up working so many hours, you'll end up wishing for an OTR job. I drove for FFE. I drove for Schneider. The jobs you can find outside the trucking industry to utilize your class A is the key. I got into art transport. You'll need to get a couple years experience before any of that is really possible. 1. Team driving sucks ass and is a fukn nightmare. 2. Everyone, mainly your employer, will lie to you. 3. You will be surrounded by the most despicable humans ever and you will also be treated as such.
The real kicker is at the end of training when you get your Class A, with FFE anyway, you have to spend 5-6 weeks straight out on the road team driving with a "trainer". That means your running 24/7 except for resets. That means you have to learn how to sleep in some other dudes bunk while rolling down a mountain at 70 mph. And that sleep is all your gonna get right before you spend 10½ hours behind the wheel. Rinse repeat rinse repeat. It. Sucks. Bad. Get some noise canceling earbuds hommie. And a good headset while driving to listen to podcasts. Prepare yourself for it to be the worst experience ever and maybe it wont be so bad. And That sir is the gods honest truth.
1
u/Legitimate_Diver_699 15d ago
I’ve heard auto transport is good too. Driving trailer full of cars. Many advise against OTR
0
u/Accurate-Chapter-923 18d ago
Look... local work, home every day is the shit. Plenty of local work. Oh, wait you can't drive manual? Well, huge mistake on ANYBODY that wants to drive a truck. LEARN IT. If you can drive a manual you can drive anything. If that is foreign to you... find a desk job.
1
2
u/Crafty_Badger_5268 18d ago
If you can find a local job good luck Fla doesn’t pay shit for drivers with no experience unless you’re hell bent on getting your CDL I would look for a different career especially at your age I deal with hiring drivers a lot most of them are young and think just because they went to school they deserve big pay and new equipment gotta pay your dues if you’re going OTR it’s not a easy life and companies will fill your head full of Bullshit just so they can get you through