How Much Is a CDL Worth?

[YoungOne]

As many of you know I am young, enthusiastic, And waiting for a chance to enter the industry. I have been thinking hard about going to truck driving school and getting my CDL'S so i could move equipment for the company i would be working for. How much valuable could this make me for a company? Say if I were to start off as a laborer and be able to move equipment also because i had a CDL also. What permits might i need? I am young, no felonies. No prior tickets or convictions. So I might be able to get a hazmat CDL to right?

What do you guys think of this idea? Would it help me?

-Michael-

Thanks again. I envy you guys.

[Steve Frazier]

I can't put a dollar figure on it, but it would make you more attractive as a potential employee.

All you need is to go to your Motor Vehicles Department and get the manual for the CDL and start studying. The more endorsements you have the more attractive you will be. The hard part will be getting a truck to take the test on.

[YoungOne]

I can't put a dollar figure on it, but it would make you more attractive as a potential employee.

All you need is to go to your Motor Vehicles Department and get the manual for the CDL and start studying. The more endorsements you have the more attractive you will be. The hard part will be getting a truck to take the test on.

Well i am sure i could con my former contractor into letting me test with his peterbilt! :D Dollars aren't important for me right now. Barely getting by is enough for me. If i have to sleep in my car, or the dozer. I'll do it. I Just want to learn:notworthy

-Michael-

[fhdesign]

I also don't think it's easy to put a dollar amount on having a cdl but I do think it's a very good idea to get it.

[RollOver Pete]

I've had my CDL since I was 16.
I also turned my first end dump over at 16.:eek:
I've pulled just about every kind of trailer/load at one time or another.
The only thing I cant haul is people.
Even though I dont drive full time anymore, just having a CDL gets me lotsa side jobs = lotsa extra $ :drinkup
:cool:

[DBGoalie]

I would suggest that you do it; I can't say how much it's worth dollar wise, but as far as being an employee that can wear many hats, it's a wise investment. Plus, when things get slow, and they always do, everything goes in cycles, you can find PT work driving a truck over the road if need be.

I got my start by working with an excavating contractor when I was 18. I was bouncing in and out of college, and after failing out for a year, I wanted to go back to work with him. Unfortunately he was real slow, so I got a job driving a school bus for 4 months. The school bus companies will always train you, they constantly need drivers, so I got my CDL B with them, then got an A permit, went to work with another contractor who pulled tag-alongs with tri-axle dumps and needed all of their drivers to be CDL-A. When they hired me, within 2 weeks they had me testing to pass the A and once I did, they set me free pulling rollers to jobs and back.

Probably not the safest way to learn, when I look back on it, I was 25 and had never driven a combination before, but I had been around the contractor long enough to understand that you need to take it slow driving dumps, that the trucks are heavy, that speed will kill you or others, and not to beat the equipment. So I was green starting with the trailer, but I had a background in it and was cautious. I'm proud to say that I never had any accidents, never damaged anything (I had some close calls) and am better for the experience.

Hope that helps. Good luck, I admire your enthusiasm. As a man in his mid 30's, I was forced into college by my parents who believed that no one with a brain works with their hands. I am so dissatisfied now with what I do at work (Computer network administrator) that I looking to get back into the construction field. You spend so much time at work, you have to enjoy what you do. If not, leave and find something else. Time goes by very quickly.

[Countryboy]

Welcome to HEF DBGoalie! :drinkup

[Bob Horrell]

Get your CDL. You will never regret it. It will open doors for you and make you a more valuable employee. You don't need to go to school if you have access to a truck from your former employer. Study the book, get a physical, take and pass the written exam, and then you can drive for the former employer with your permit while a licensed driver accompanies you. Once you feel comfortable, take the driving test. You could offer to do some work for your former employee in trade for this opprotunity. You sound eager enough that I bet you could make it work.
Good luck.

[RonG]

Having the CDL will help open doors for you when you are applying for a job and can keep you working when the others day is done.
I often work all day running whatever I happen to be running that day and then have to move equipment at the end of the day for the next days workers to use.
It is good for the paycheck but you never know when you can go home.
People that can run equipment and move it are getting scarce in the job market and it has happened that I find myself driving the lowbed more than running equipment which I don't care for.
I think that most competent operators welcome the challange of getting a job done with whatever they happen to be running at the time and find that the driving gets boring for the most part.There are boring jobs while running equipment too,like loading out of a stockpile but you have to take the good with the bad.
I am sure that there are lucrative deals out there for the adventuresome and those so inclined but I like to be home every night and there are times that I wished noone knew about my CDL.LOL
I have let my DOT medical card expire for a little leverage in the event I am ever put in that position again.If I really desire to drive again I could renew it in whatever time it takes to process the drug screens.Yes,it is good to have.Ron G

[YoungOne]

Thanks Guys for all of your comments. Right now i find myself looking for rooms/ apartments near the washington area! if you know anything let me know ( Washington DC ) That is. Any help would greatly be appreciated, i am looking to go up and visit the job which is about 200 miles away. And if i like it go out on a limb, and take the job. The cost of living is just high that's all. Certainly going to get my CDL's at some point.

RonG,

I can certainly understand why you wouldnt want to be in a truck when you love machines like you do. I guess me being young i am willing to put in 20 hours a day if i have to. Since i dont have kids or a family, i'm just trying to get started and make the right man happy for a while. And make them money while they show me alot!

If i learn two things a day and only earn 1 dollar i'll be happy!

-Michael-

Called my

[cat320]

I agree you really have nothing to lose and alot to gain . I got mine as soon as i could to do side jobs and such. I feel that having it will only help what you want to do and that is go into the field of heavy construction. but hey you might get work with a smaller contractor that needs a do all person drive ,run equipment and you can say hey i can do it all i got all the right stuff to start right now.

[mikef87]

Well if you plan on running a loader over 26,000 lbs down the road technically you'll need your class b cdl. But having your cdl is a major plus when you got for a job. My lowbed driver works a lot of hours, sundays, nights, early morning moves. Not that I suggest being a truck driver, but remembering the old saying "he who knows the most, works the most."

[Dirtmaster]

I got a Class A CDL with airbrakes and combos by just obtaining the free book from the state motor vehicle place and leaving it in the littlest room in the house. After a month, I took the written and passed first time. I then drove my 5 ton army truck and a neighbors 10 ton equipment trailer to the testing place and did the drive test. Passed first time. You certainly can bypass the class route, but you'd probably be a better driver if you did take the classes. I'm not a professional trucker. I just haul around my old rusty green army stuff to shows and parades, but at 65,000 pounds, I have to have a CDL.

[dayexco]

an employee with a CDL to me is about $5 an hr more...not counting overtime, 2000 hrs a yr...that's 10k

[landrvrnut22]

I got my Class A CDL right when I turned 18. I started driving grain truck when I was 15. I learned how to drive when I was 12, and then one fall jumped in the grain truck, and took a crash course in 5+4 shifting.

I have hauled a little bit of equipment here and there. I went to school for Construction Engineering, and have been a Superintendent for about 4 years now. Anymore I rarely use my CDL, but I have it.

If you are really eager to learn, get into college and get a degree. Even if you go part time to tech school, and work the trades full time. I earned my way through school by running my own remodeling business. It makes you that much more desireable, and the way the market is going jobs will open up for you. Many Tech schools are offering 2yr. COnstruction degrees, and some larger schools offer 4yr (which is what I have).

I was recently laid off by a large GC that got slow on work. I began applying to all the companies I could find, and then the offers started pouring in. I got to pick and choose my company, and the benefits. I now have a cushy job, cell phone, laptop, and great benefits. I dont get to run equipment too much anymore, but I can drive by a building and say, "I built that".

[637slayer]

take care of that driving record.no speed or especially duis

[Eric]

Go get it as soon as you can. You will always have a job in your back pocket. I've had mine for 8 years and has been nothing but helpful. Heck you may find you like hauling equipment better than running it!!! Good luck!

[stumper120]

go for it . here are 5 things you got to know. big trucks do not fit through drive threw windows. honking the air horns just cause the kids in the car next to you give you the air horn motion scares unsuspecting motorist's. steer wide, steer wide, and nobody will make fun of you for getting out to look before backing up. :usa truck on and good luck

[Sam]

I would suggest that you do it; I can't say how much it's worth dollar wise, but as far as being an employee that can wear many hats, it's a wise investment. Plus, when things get slow, and they always do, everything goes in cycles, you can find PT work driving a truck over the road if need be.

Lots of good advice, here.
Except, right now, there are a lot of drivers looking for alternatives, due to market conditions.
This is across the market, from vans, reefers, platforms and other types of drivers.

You are looking at a lot of options for training, from equipment to technical schools.

Technical schools might be a good option for getting your CDL, because of the rules and regulations that expose you to many risks, while holding a CDL. Technical schools should be a lot cheaper, but would take more time than dedication driving schools.

Put the emphasis on the Risks associated with simply holding
the CDL.
The rules are in constant flux. If you don't know the rules, you could do something that could easily cost you big money, shut you down for 24 hours or put you out of business, completely.

The driver is responsible.
Always. All the time.
For anything and everything that happens with the truck.

This is another attempt to attach a picture, from a direct link to photobucket:

This driver likely lost his job, if his boss found out about his hang up.
I posted this, and got several inquiries from people wanting to know if it was one of their trucks.

[jasonv]

I got my cdl when i was 18. I have hauled just about every thing, that is one of reasons the company i work for gave me a job. I thank i would be a good idea. But the the driving school is a bad idea. I just went to the dmv and took the test. The school are way to high for what they teach you. My brother went to one and i still had to teach him how to drive a truck.

Jason

[RollOver Pete]

Welcome to HEF jasonv :drinkup
:cool:

[jasonv]

Thanks i have deen looking at this site for a while and decided to join :drinkup


Jason

[Freightrain]

Like Sam mentioned, it's a lot of responsibility to hold a CDL(and drive). Just having the CDL won't guarantee a driving job, as most places REQUIRE 1-2 yrs experience. This is all mandated by insurance regs. You'll need to get some experience somehow, but that is why alot of people go thru the typical schools paid for by trucking firms. They get their year or so in and then go to a real paying job.

If you're lucky to find someone to take you under their wings and get you some seat time, great. Getting the license is "relatively" easy if you have a truck to use(and know how to use it).

Good luck.

[Deerehauler]

I worked my way through college and a CDL was a great benefit. One summer I team drove with a friend of mine and got to see a LOT of country (northeast states and southern states) that I wouldn't have got to see otherwise. It is a good opportunity and anything you can do do make yourself more employable you should pursue.

[Greg]

The more tools you got in the box the more attractive and valuable you are. CDL is a very good tool to have in the box. Go get it, Class A and B both.

[bear]

Ultimately the more skills and abilities you can bring to the table for an employer make you as a hiree (is that a word? now it is I guess) more attractive to the employer he'd rather hire fewer people with multiple skills and talents and pay them slightly more than several guys only good at one thing. That's the philosophy I use and Honestly work experience is good and in many cases gold, more and more employers want college grads for various reasons and that sheepskin never hurt. I got started cleaning horse stables at 13 moved up to the boss's tractors and other equipment wrangled ostriches and for the same guy laid tile all before i graduated high school joined the Marines had a good 4 years and went back into odd construction jobs here and there building houses running equipment and doing overhead utility work. I've been on some fun jobs and had a good time and worked safe but I've been rode hard and put up wet too many times and now I'm paying for the work I've done both knees replaced 2 disks in my back have had work and several broken bones I'm only 28 and my wife and family convinced me to put my intelligence somewhere else before I really got hurt. CDL is ok, college is better and it gives you something employers want very bad nowadays. I shoulda went to colege a long time ago. That's about all I've got to say about it. More skills=better oportunity=more $$$

[mackman]

If you are going to spend your time and money make sure to get your A's. There is usually someone always looking for a dump truck driver in the spring, but if you can drive a tractor trailer you can ALWAYS find a job. It may not be what you want or close to home or home every day but you can find one.

[wolcottseptic]

it cant hurt to have it..ull always have sumthin to fall back on

[RTSmith]

I was looking at the posting dates here. Youngone, how did it go? Where are you now?

[thejdman04]

Its good to have it, but so many steering wheel holders who call themselves drivers are saturating the market.

[theother7axle]

in some ways a cdl is a curse!once you have it you most certainly can always get a job,BUT! there are MANY evils in holding a cdl! tricky laws from state to state,and confusing "rules" ie(log books, axle weights,permits,routes,snow chains,chaining requirments,etc.,can leave a driver with a fistfull of tickets and a blank look on his face!some stuff can only be learned by trial and (mostly) error! driving truck seems to be a sin nowadays! there is a crapload of info that IS NOT covered in the DMV test that can land you in a hot pool of debt,even if you pass the joke of a test!

[heavylift]

most companies could care less if you have a cdl ... one day it will be 10 bucks an hour, then they ask you if you have a cdl and can move equipment... yes ,yes!!!... more money...lol...
When they first changed to the government gets more money cdl's.... companies paid for the licenses.... now it's great.. you have one, but it's not worth anything.. mine needs renew, will you pay the fees...lol...

Get one ...I've had one for 35+ years... To an employer, it's like a box of CrackerJacks ..free prize inside..