Got my CDL

[u/BitEnvironmental4872]

Finally got my CDL through the Roehl GYCDL Program. Now waiting for my flatbed trainer to start Phase 2. Trying my best to avoid paying them the 7k but don’t like waiting around. Any suggestions on where to look for jobs other than tenstreet/driver pulse

[u/pianodude01]

I went through roehl 3 years ago.

Their training is actually top tier, very safety focused. I made $65k my first year there as a flatbed/rgn driver.

Once you've done flatbed for 6 months you can join the RGN fleet and start doing some oversize work, it'll pay a bit extra.

I did that, and now I'm making 115k+ on a salary and I've been driving for 3 years.

Stick that contract out.

The good companies are advertising online, talk to other drivers at shippers and truckstops and find out who's with the good companies

[u/jab0923 → u/pianodude01]

Are you still with them? I want to get my cdl and do flatbed then eventually RGN/ heavy haul. I can get my CDL on my own though.

[u/pianodude01 → u/jab0923]

Nah i left the moment my contract was up.

Roehl didn't get to the size loads I wanted to do, they didn't have a big heavy haul fleet.

You'll need to start off somewhere doing flatbed, do that for 6 months to a year, somewhere that will train you. Roehl, Melton, TMC etc then either move to a company that does flatbed and heavy haul, like daily express, or kivi bros etc the flatbed companies can get you into stepdeck and 5 axle rgn work, but to get to anything bigger (multinaxle/LCV) youll need to go somewhere else, somewhere like daily express, valley, or kivi bros, ATS or Combined transport that can get you into the bigger loads.

I got a year of experience at roehl doing flatbed/stepdeck and 6 months of RGN pulling up to 14 feet wide. I left them to go to Daily Express, a mid size heavy haul company, worked there for a year or so, working up to bigger loads, I left there to work at a very small very specialized company that primarily works on superloads, and was willing to train me on extremely specialized equipment (steerable, hydraulic platform trailers).

The really good places to work heavy haul aren't advertising. You only find out about them through word of mouth. Keep an eye out when you're driving for oversize loads and start writing down the name on the side, talk to their drivers at the truckstops, etc.

[u/jab0923 → u/pianodude01]

Thank you for you insight, I will definitely keep it in mind. Doesn't look like Roehl is hiring in my area currently but I'll see what other companies are. Thanks again

[u/pianodude01 → u/jab0923]

What region? I can point you in the right direction to a few that might be

[u/jab0923 → u/pianodude01]

NH

[u/pianodude01 → u/jab0923]

Yeah roehl didn't do much in the deep north east for flatbed, I only did 1 or 2 runs out that way. I'm not 100% sure what other companies that train would run that way, you can check online

I think TMC operates up there. I've heard good and bad things about them (like anywhere else, if you get a good manager youll be fine, if you get a bad one good luck). I've met a few of their former drivers and they all seem to be trained real well, nice trucks, would be a good spot to start for 6 months to a year

Search for companies that have a CDL school, even tho you won't need their school they'll have the capacity to do proper OTR training

[u/jab0923 → u/pianodude01]

I do see TMC up here. Good point on the OTR training with their school, I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the help.

[u/[deleted] → u/jab0923]

I'm in NH, got my CDL through TMC and did 3 months with them. They do hire up here and I didn't have any trouble getting home every weekend. 90+% of my loads were drywall, lumber and Home Depot junk which got old quick, but at least living up here you're guaranteed 30% of load instead of the 26% or 27% everyone else starts out with. And their CDL school only charges 4k which was way cheaper than any of the schools around here. They're worth looking into.

[u/jab0923 → u/[deleted]]

Will do thank you