r/CDLTruckDrivers

Fellas idk if it's just me but this test has been an absolute headache. Does anyone know any good test guides or like tips that can help me out? The CDL manual just isn't helping me at all.

Cheapest way to obtain a cdl in my state, ive been a yard jockey for 10 years now and ready to pursue the big bucks. My question is do I have to go to a trucking school and fork out 5 grand? Im getting mixed awenser. I currently work full-time and dont really wanna quit my job to go to school for 2 weeks, any help and tips is appreciated.

I want to move to a cdl program because I injured my shoulder and cant really comfortable working in the position im in now. Are drug tests for cdls strict for most companies. Im worried about a drug test because I smoked to help the pain of my shoulder, which it did, but now idk if ill have to wait to transfer or if theres a company that won't care? Sorry if this is kinda ignorant.

What do you drive? I'm in school and wondering whether the stress of learning manual is gonna be worth it or if I should just take the restriction. Thoughts?

Okay so I’m only about a month in OTR and I try to drive my whole 11 before I park, but the problem with that is that is not gonna always be able to happen because you have to have somewhere to park, could anyone give me tips on when I should park or easier ways to find parking, I’m just getting started so I can’t rely on knowing which route I’ll be taking to know where a rest area or truck stop will be. Cause I’ve have a couple times where I risked my time and still didn’t have any where to park hoping within the last hour I would find a rest area or truck stop. It’s like I see truck stops all day but as soon as I get close to my 11 they all just vanish. A little advice is better than where I’m at now. TIA

Im quitting roehl tomorrow, I haven't completed my contract yet with them so ill owe the 7k, ill be at the terminal when I quit im having someone pick me up. I was just wondering what to expect and how to set the payment plan up with roehl. I just decided trucking aint for me unfortunately.

I already hold a Class A CDL with an L air brake restriction. I only want to remove the L restriction. Can I take the restriction-removal road test in a automatic Class A truck with full air brakes, or must I use a Class A combination vehicle?"

already hold a Class A CDL with an L air brake restriction. I only want to remove the L restriction. What I need to do the remove the restriction on my license.

Do I need to retake all the classes again?

Fresh out of CDL school with my Class A (tanker endorsement coming this week) and I've got some decisions to make. Looking for real input from drivers who've actually run for these companies, not recruiter talk. 🚛

Offers/options on my plate right now:

🔸 SCHNEIDER Dedicated Account #1 — home DAILY, night shift, out-and-back lane, ~2,500 mi/wk, around $960-1,170/wk

🔸 SCHNEIDER Dedicated Reefer Account #2 — home weekly (5.5 out, 1.5 home), regional, 90% drop and hook, ~1,800-2,300 mi/wk, around $1,050/wk

🔸 TMC — flatbed, home most weekends, ~$1,350-1,600/wk they say, percentage or mileage pay

🔸 PRIME — reefer/tanker/flatbed divisions, OTR 3-4 weeks out, first year pay looks lower

🔸 Also looking at MAVERICK and McELROY for flatbed with weekend home time

My priorities in order: home time, weekly pay, then miles. I prefer flatbed long-term but I'm not against dry van or reefer to get my first 6 months in. Trying to stay regional, not trying to run coast to coast.

For anybody who's driven for these companies: how accurate were the recruiter numbers? How's the home time REALLY? Would you start your career over at any of these?

Appreciate any honest feedback 🙏

I'm located between Ft. Smith and Little Rock Arkansas.

I'm currently driving concrete trucks (Class B) for an otr construction crew. When the season ends I'm planning on going to a mega for Class A experience.

My end goal is to hopefully find a local or regional gig hauling hazmat tanker.

I know Schneider and Prime have tanker divisions. But I'm not sure if they have anything near my area. I also hear that they're less forgiving of beginner fuck ups than Swift.

Any advice on how to achieve my goal?

How did you personally get your start driving tankers? I am curious because I found out about a nice local gig in my hometown where its hazmat tankers hauling acid I just can’t go and apply yet since I’m a newer driver with 6 months experience they say they will hire and train with 1 year of driving experience so I’m just looking to hear how your guys experience was getting into that line of work in the trucking industry. Right now I’m OTR but looking to switch to that since it sounds infinitely better than where I’m at, at least on paper

I wanted to share my CDL journey and get some advice from drivers who’ve been in this industry longer than I have.
About two years ago, I earned my Class A CDL. My original plan was to go over the road, but toward the end of CDL school one of our instructors scared a lot of us about mountain driving. I know he was trying to make sure we respected the mountains, but it honestly made me second-guess OTR.

Another thing that held me back was that our school barely taught us some of the things that actually matter on the job. We never really learned how to slide tandems or deal with scales. Docking was shown to us one time because someone randomly asked about it. The instructor even said companies would teach us backing because it wasn’t really part of the school anymore. Looking back, I think that’s backwards. I’d rather have spent more time learning docking and scales than practicing parallel parking over and over.
Instead of going OTR, I took a mixer truck job with Cemex so I could stay close to home and still make decent money.
That didn’t last long.

They had inward-facing cameras, and it felt like every little thing turned into a write-up. If I moved the truck one house over in a subdivision to wash out, write-up. If I parked the truck after washing it without my seatbelt on, write-up. Between the constant camera monitoring, the stress, and paychecks that were usually around $600, I left after about four months.

I found another mixer job that’s much closer to home. At first, I thought I had found the right place.
Then the favoritism started.

I was given an older truck that already had years of concrete buildup on it. The customers liked me, and I always washed my truck thoroughly after every load, but whenever something was wrong with that truck, management blamed me. I was told I should have been crawling underneath it knocking concrete off areas that had probably been building up long before I got it. It felt like every problem with the truck somehow became my fault.

Then they started bringing in brand-new trucks.
Drivers who were hired after me got them before I did.
Eventually I got a newer truck, but there was a catch. Management basically told me if I didn’t keep it spotless, they could take it away at any time.

About five months later, a woman crossed into my lane and hit me head-on. It wasn’t my fault. I was out recovering while my truck was being repaired.
When the truck was fixed, I figured someone would just drive it until I came back.

Instead, they permanently gave my truck to another department and handed me another rough truck when I returned. The explanation was that they “couldn’t let it sit.”
The part that bothers me is seeing a different standard applied to other drivers. One driver who’s been there a long time recently hit something himself and got hurt. While he’s recovering, they’re simply having someone else drive his truck until he comes back. That’s exactly what I thought they would do with mine.
It just feels inconsistent.

Now the pay has slowed down too. I’m working hard and bringing home around $800 a week most weeks.
The crazy part is the actual job is easy for me. Running a mixer, backing into tight spots, dealing with customers—I honestly enjoy it. My customers like me, and I take pride in keeping my equipment clean. The hardest part is just knowing where each job site is.

But I’m starting to feel like I’m selling myself short.
I have a Class A CDL, almost two years of commercial driving experience now, and I’m wondering if I should finally make the jump to OTR.

The only thing that still makes me nervous is the stuff I never really learned in school—mountains, scales, sliding tandems, and just the fear of the unknown. From what I’ve heard, though, if you choose the right gear before the downgrade, let the Jake brake do its job, and don’t try to outrun the mountain, it’s very manageable.

So I wanted to ask the experienced drivers here:
Was leaving local mixer work for OTR worth it?
Did company training teach you the things CDL school didn’t?

Was mountain driving as intimidating as you expected?
If you were in my shoes, would you stay local making around $800 a week, or would you take the leap and go make the money a Class A CDL can really earn?

I’d appreciate any advice. I’m starting to think it’s finally time to bet on myself.

2026 truck driver vlogger: "THIS IS HOW MUCH I GOT PAID FOR THE WEEK!!"

"LOOK AT HOW MUCH TAXES THEY TOOK OUT!"

"CHILD SUPPORT IS KILLING ME"

"THIS WILL NOT COVER MY CAR NOTE!"

"THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY PAY PER MILE"

"AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COST!

Is it recommended to make a new resume? Or do companies hire drivers without giving a crap about previous work experience like warehouse , etc. I’m struggling on how to make a new resume.

hey, i’ve been looking into getting my CDL, but as mentioned above, i have 1 bad speeding ticket that i got back in the beginning of this year. i was caught going 27mph above the speed limit, which is really bad considering in florida 30mph over is considered wreck-less driving & can ofcourse have you arrested. i know i wont have a problem getting the CDL itself, but im just worried that no one will want to hire me. i’ve gotten mixed opinions from a few people that i know irl, but id like to see what my peers here think. thanks for reading