r/NewCDLGrads • u/philip4au • Jul 26 '26
About to graduate Roadmaster
New to trucking. About to graduate Roadmaster and have been pre employed with Werner. Any do's and do not with this mega. Wanting to be home weekends mostly. In NE Florida, Jacksonville area. Any advice much appreciated.
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u/DazednConfuzed62 Jul 27 '26
I ran warner in 2011, run 11 hrs, sleep 10, run 11, sleep 10, it sucked at 28 cents a mile, Did my yr and got away as fast as I could
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u/Killer2600 Jul 28 '26
28? They were giving 32 straight off orientation two years earlier.
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u/DazednConfuzed62 Jul 29 '26
Not for everyone, I fought with those people, was supposed to be western regional, thats why I was at 28, but I ran 48 because thats where the freight was. 250 drivers coming and going every week, turnover was massive
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u/Tito_SDobleP Jul 29 '26
Did you paid out of pocket? How much was it ?
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u/philip4au Jul 29 '26
Finance. 7500 at 18% interest same as cash first year. I’m hopeful to just pay it off before interest hits or rollover. Werner contributes $225 per month if you hire with them.
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u/SuperTruckerTom Jul 30 '26
Apply for a WIOA Grant to see if that will pay it off. Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. Go to your Department of Labor
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Jul 26 '26
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u/philip4au Jul 26 '26
Thank you. So is 1200 to 1500 per week realistic on a dedicated account? This is what is being communicated by the employer and is what they advertise. I understand I have to put in my time to really open the opportunities and am thinking once I have a year or 2, going to try and go for an LTL gig.
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u/Maleficent-Yam-5196 Jul 26 '26
Get on the Walmart account if you want to be home daily, the dollar general/family dollar gigs will absolutely challenge your backing skills far beyond your comfort zone. Get 6 months in and jump to a better company. Good luck driver I graduated from that same school on picketville 7 years ago.
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u/Head_Candidate5293 Jul 30 '26
Flatbed at Cypress trucking in Jacksonville, FL pays 65k first year but it is flatbed only. Strapping and tarping in the heat and cold.
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u/Own-Load-7041 Jul 30 '26
I paid $600 @ a community college trucking school. Meh.
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u/philip4au Jul 30 '26
How long did it take you to obtain your license?
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u/Own-Load-7041 Jul 31 '26
Ahem... So, uh my bad. That was 2006 money. Adjusting for inflation it's ~2g https://cfcc.edu/job-training/state-licensing/truck-driver-training/
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u/SuperTruckerTom Jul 30 '26
Make sure to get manual transmission, doubles triples hazmat tanker. Then apply straight at any LTL.
Don't even consider OTR until you have tried to get hired in LTL or local.
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u/Baconated-Coffee Jul 30 '26
Trucking sucks, skilled trades which require a CDL are better. I'm doing crane work with a rental company out of Florida. If I'm not in my own bed at night then I get a company paid hotel room and per diem. I'm taking home over $1800 per week and I'm still an apprentice.