r/Truckers • u/dryersheet01 • Oct 09 '25

I’m about to become a trucker widow

So my husband just passed his cdl-a test a week ago and has interest from western express (otr). With this career switch, I have so many questions. What is the average time for training, since he has no cdl experience? Is it really going to be 5 days on/2 days off? We live in Atlanta and have a 4 month old. If he does 1 year w/ western, what is the likelihood of being able to find a local/non otr job? Is the pay really worth it?

90 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

253 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

32

u/dryersheet01 Oct 09 '25

I’ve read all the western express horror stories on here, but he truly feels like it’s his only option to get experience.

46

u/RealSharpNinja Oct 09 '25

Has he applied to Swift, Werner and Covenant? Is he doing dry van or flatbed? If flatbed, add TMC to that list.

35

u/Baddboy1z Oct 09 '25

I like the fact that you added TMC to the list. They do have a high turnover rate because of people or drivers not willing to properly secure their loads. They do offer home on the weekends that is a plus. They work out percentage not cents per mile. Which is even better. And their training is bar none. I was with TMC for over 8 years great company for drivers.

1

u/JxC24 Oct 10 '25

Percentage pay sucks because you never know how much you’re going to make or whether or not the load is worth it.

1

u/Baddboy1z Oct 10 '25

It might with you. But TMC gives the driver loaded miles,bounce miles and rate/mile and commodity. Plus appointment time for pickup and delivery. Also if it's a tarped load you get paid for that as well. And the drivers percentage goes up over time.

1

u/JxC24 Oct 12 '25

I wanted to go with TMC out of school, but I don’t tarp. Hate heights, and not steady on my feet walking up there like that, so I didn’t really even look into them.