CDL>Driving Job>O/O>Carrier

[Aviator]

Need suggestions, advises, views, opinion on the above path...
Get a CDL then drive for a while, become an owner operator and evantually launch a carrier company, and of course all to succeed not for bankruptcy. Please summarize your experiences.
Where can I get a free questionaire (practice test) for TxCDL written exam?
Thanks
:banghead:

 

[Scorp]

Welcome To Crist CDL's Online Testing Center

That's a good site for CDL practice testing.

 

[Mike]

My advice is to not get into a rush with this path. Drive for at least a year and make sure you are going to want to stay in this before sinking money into a truck

 

[Aviator]

Thanks Scorp!
Thanks Bullwinkle, I certainly understand the need of driving sometime, specially when I am new in Dallas, TX (4months), and new in US as well, (1.5 year). Apart, from gaining some driving experience, whatelse you would suggest. I have been in trucking industry (Canadian) for sometimes now, about 5 years, not a big time achiever though, but has worked in operations, brokerage and dispatch

 

[Aviator]

Thanks Scorp and all of you for the help. It wasnt difficult as I thought, I got my CDL first week of Januray.
Now what?
Can anyone help me where and how to begin in Dallas, TX area. I called few companies, and was told, dont bother applying for job, if you do not have experience. Well, i expected little bit of that. Anyone, has any suggestion? What are the possibilities of getting a dedicated owner operator run? What would be average mileage rate for owner operator in the area with zero experience? Is it still over $1.00 per mile plus fuel (not the fuel surcharge).
Any information would be greatly appreciated. I would also appreciate if anyone can help me gain some experience, cents/mile dont matter to me at this point.
FYI, I am not just a rookie, I worked in the industry, I have driven 53' long haul Toronto to Montreal, and I used to be a profesisonal pilot, well i still have Commercial Certificate, so I think, I can handle machines, I understand how important it is to drive/fly the machine, instead of letting the machine drive/fly you.

Thanks

 

[Scorp]

Your probably going to have to start with a training companies to get going. If you just got a cdl then any experience before that won't matter much. Your going to be seen as an industry newbie.

 

[misterbreeze]

Go to Truth about trucking.com and read some or all of the things he says there. take the negative as a learning experience. Then use his positive suggestions to move forward. Do your reasearch continuosly. Keep asking tons of questions and weed out the disgruntled from the helpful. Go to a truck stop and pick up a few of the Job magazines. There you will find some companies that you might be able to sign on with. remeber this is a learning phase and not all of the companies will be good. If Schneider is still hiring students I would suggest going there. They seem to show the most concern for your learning proccess and they have very good benefits. Being with a company as large as them and living in the area you do (major metro) if you stay with them they have different divisions to choose from, possibly even local after you have established yoursel with them. That way you wont have to spend as much time away from your family/home if that is what you like. Good luck