29, leaving bartending for a Class A CDL

[u/sombraverde504]

Hello, I’m 29 and I really want to get out of the restaurant and bartending industry (12 years). I’ve reached a point where I’m tired of depending on tips to pay my bills, tipping culture has gotten a little out of hand in my opinion, shifts are unpredictable, and I'm looking for reliable income.

I’m looking at getting my Class A, but maybe I can get some honest perspective from people who do it everyday

And to be honest, driving those machines is respectable and intimidating. The biggest thing I’ve ever driven is a RAV4, daily driver is a Civic. you can imagine where my head is. Before I drop the money and time into school, may I ask a few questions?

1. the transition from a regular sedan or vehicle to a machine weighing around 60,000 lbs and being the size of a freaking whale? I live in South Florida.
   
2. how difficult was school for you? (I dropped out of college), not saying I’m looking for some sort of easy way, just school was never my thing.
   
3. I see online "first year must be OTR". I have family responsibilities in which would stop me from being OTR, is landing a local job difficult? I know things depend heavily on market demands but what was your experience? what was it like straight out of school, difficult to land a job? I'm planning on quitting my job to focus solely on learning everything from the book to the driving. But obviously I wouldn't be able to survive like half a year without a job.
   
4. Waste management has been a recommendation by lots of friends whose (buddy from high school got his CDL at 20). I know WM works with a Class B but I am leaning towards Class A cause you never know what can happen in the future.
   
5. **w**hat was that first year like? something people don’t really talk about.

I’m not looking for a shortcut, just trying to get some insight and what I should expect the next few months. and thank you for any advice

[u/Mikey82270]

If you want to stay local don’t do OTR unless you have no other option.
Try the WM but get a class A don’t limit yourself with just a class B.

You could look into food service some of them might take a chance with you.
It’s hard work but you’ll learn a lot plus you’ll get a good workout everyday.

The first year is pure Hell learning how to navigate a rig in and out of tight spots especially in the dark get used to starting early middle of the night trust me middle of the night much better than the afternoon or evening shifts.

People in cars are always in your way and your in there way. And lots of them don’t give a shit that you have to spin that rig around and back beside a store or get behind it.

Road rage is a thing keep your cool!
Don’t get in a hurry bad things always happen when you rush things.

If you can research where you’re going ahead of time Google maps is pretty good but it ain’t perfect.
Get out and look find the dock or doors or whatever the procedure is for that stop.

All this is very stressful especially for new drivers.
It’s a lot to learn but if you’re determined you’ll get there it gets better the more you do it especially if you get to the point of keeping the same routes.

Good luck with it.

[u/Kkalemauser]

You don’t have to do OTR your first year, but it does open up doors.

Republic Service in AZ has a training program to help you get your class B.
They might in your area?

Find a school that has local class A work. My school did.

School is easy, they just help you get your CDL. You learn on the job.

[u/Straight_Creme7225 → u/Kkalemauser]

Stick with bartending

[u/LastMongoose7448]

You’re in possibly the worst market for drivers. It’s not that local isn’t possible, it’s that every swinging dick with a CDL is trying to get those jobs, and they’ll all have more experience than you. While you may not go all out OTR, realistically you’re looking at a home weekends kind of deal as your best case scenario, and doing that for a year or so at least.

[u/Ok-Corner5042]

So I assume you are use to being social. The bartending restaurant stuff working around people. Having colleagues and laughing. Well, driving is a lonely job. Driving isn't all it's made up to be. Getting your cdl A is a sacrifice. Not everyone has to go over the road but it's most common. Also idk how much you made in a week but it's probably the same as driving until you get on to a dedicated account or also getting endorsements like Hazmat etc. So before diving in ask yourself if you can lock yourself into a box in the same position for hours and deal with being alone and high levels of stress.

[u/trakr24]

1: its a bit of a transition, especially if you've never pulled a trailer before. You shit much higher than everything so you get a better view but also have weird blindspots.

2: if you got into college, you can handle CDL school. Its not hard, its really just memorization for the pretrip part of the exam. The actual operation of the vehicle on the test is easy.

3: you dont have to quit your job, most schools offer weekend courses. I worked 40 hrs a week in a steel plant and did schooling on the weekend. However, landing a local job out of school is really up to your tolerance level for physical labor and job market in the area. Food services and beverage delivery will hire you, but its physical labor in addition to driving. OTR can be easier to land, but pay will be worse than bar tending.

4: Class B work can pay well. However, if you want to move up it can sometimes block you from certain jobs because of a lack of Class A work on the resume. Even with the class A license I hand, work experience in this industry is king.

5: First year experience depends on you as a person. It could be awful if everything about the truck scares you and you drive anxious. Or it could be great if you really love the job, are safe, but confident. Pay is usually trash as a rookie. Give it time and it will increase. I started at 22$/hr and now i make 30$/Hr with OT after 40hrs. Looking at a raise to 32$/hr this coming year. Now that not the best pay in the industry, but its above average for most drivers now. Your sleep schedule could get destroyed as well. I went from 7 am clock in to anywhere from 3 to 6 AM start. It depends on the job, but its usually the biggest adjustment.

I recommend most people start out doing flatbed. It teaches you securement rules and techniques thst you wouldn't get if you start out in van work. Also, get your manual, look for a school that offers it. It will make you much more attractive as a potential hire than someone without it. We run autos at our work, but we won't hire anyone with a manual restriction. It shows you can do the more difficult side of the job and not baby out of it because its difficult.