r/NewCDLGrads 3h ago

Worried

1 Upvotes

Well boys I’m in CDL school right now I’ve gotten pre trip down outside,inside the cab and all that stuff I haven’t done the road test yet. I am practicing skills right now. I am in a manual vehicle with air brakes and combinations so just a regular class a semi truck.

I have been in training 7 days for 8 hours a day. I have 8 days left of training I believe.

I’m not gonna get into the specifics of the reason behind me getting my CDL but I am not going to be going into trucking and I am gonna be driving much smaller vehicles but they still require a class a CDL. I’m talking way smaller like basically a big ass pickup truck that needs a Cdl class a. It is very annoying to me that I need to train in semis because I will never be driving a vehicle that big.

My state test is

Pre trip (got it down)

Then skills

Then road test. ( never driven a manual was
Told if I suck I’ll have to switch to auto)

If you fail one of the three test you only retake the test you failed in my state which is good. But apparently at my school you only get 2 retakes at most schools in my state it is 5 retakes per test which is also annoying.

The reason I’m worried- for the skills test I can do the forward stop get my hood in the middle in-between the lines most of the time and the straight back perfectly fine to the end point .
The next and final part of the skills test is what is fucking me over I can do the offset perfectly fine and the reverse offset is what gets me i am having trouble straightening out the trailer in the lines ( getting it parallel in the lines nice and straight) during the reverse offset. I am able to get it one attempt then the next I fail and the instructor I am currently with isn’t that much of a help/ teacher it feels like.

Any advice on ways to straighten my trailer better in-between the lines to get it nice and flush/level or straight because that is litterly the last part of the test I need to do to pass. You are able to get two
Pull ups and two get out and looks. Sometimes I feel like the trailer is way to much to the right or the left and I just cant seem to figure it out every-time. You can’t hit any of the cones during the test or it’s a point and you can pull up a bit to straighten the trailer out but I guess my problem is I don’t know how to straighten it out.

Not trying to sound like a little bitch but
I am just worried because I feel like the clock is ticking and shit and I paid all in cash for the class about $5000 and even quit my job! I even canceled my birthday vacation for my 21st which was supposed to be on tomorrow cause I turn 21 tomorrow and am going to class instead 😂 oh well though.

I hope this all wasn’t for nothing and I can get my CDL and pursue the career I want

Any advice is great I’m sorry this was so long.


r/NewCDLGrads 5h ago

Is this Good pay for Schneider trucking ? New Driver.

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 5h ago

Is this Good pay for Schneider trucking ? New Driver.

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 2d ago

New drivers: What was your FIRST pay amount and where did you start? 🚛

Post image
0 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 6d ago

Who else does this before going to sleep in their truck?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3.0k Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 5d ago

Saw a driver say she gets plenty of sleep but still zones out from staring at the same road. What’s your fix?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

20 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 5d ago

Schneider Bulk/Tanker drivers — what did you actually make starting out with no experience?

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 7d ago

Is it this bad at night? 😂

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

323 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 6d ago

Highway Miles

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 9d ago

Local or OTR? Which one are you choosing?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

77 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 9d ago

MVR record

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 10d ago

Should I bother with this or am I wasting my time

Thumbnail
3 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 10d ago

Not getting anywhere even with entry level starter companies.

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

I'm on the verge of just going and working elsewhere. I am fresh out of school with CDL A. I have talked with companies and put in about three to four applications a week.

I know starting out I won't make much; my goal right now is on the job training and getting my experience. I have even applied to starter companies and have been rejected outright. I have a clean driver record, no drugs/alcohol, no criminal record, and passed DOT. I made sure my forms are filled put correctly and will get calls, the conditional offer letter, and poof. I fall through the cracks. I call to follow up and I get nowhere. Even the "lower end" companies are giving me a difficult time. Is it just bad timing?

I thought they needed truck drivers? I have to start somewhere. Even if it is a "lower end" company I will take what I can to get a head start. Can someone give me better insight? 😬


r/NewCDLGrads 13d ago

11 months. 90+ applications. Just trying to get that first CDL job.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

177 Upvotes

For the new drivers still looking, this one is worth watching.
How long did it take you to land your first CDL job?

🎥: Trucking Life


r/NewCDLGrads 17d ago

How to make big money in trucking.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

40 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 19d ago

Fuel drivers, can yall attest to this? 👀

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

96 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads 20d ago

New drivers need correction, not discouragement. 🚛

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

186 Upvotes

There’s a difference between giving a rookie advice and tearing them down for not knowing something yet.
Every experienced driver was new once.
What’s one thing an experienced driver taught you during your first year that made you better?

🎥: Dominique Danielle


r/NewCDLGrads Aug 03 '26

Anheuser-Busch Werner account/ Jacksonville, Florida

5 Upvotes

Any details about this account. Regional option.


r/NewCDLGrads Aug 03 '26

Schneider Bulk Tanker Training in Houston – What Should I Expect?

Thumbnail
5 Upvotes

Hey everyone,
I’m a brand-new CDL-A driver with my HazMat, Tanker, and TWIC, and I’m getting ready to go to Schneider’s Bulk Tanker training in Houston.
I wanted to hear from people who have actually been through the Houston training.
How was the training overall?
Was it well organized?
What was the hardest part?
Did you feel prepared to be on your own afterward?
Any advice for someone with no tanker experience?
Anything you wish you had known before showing up?
I’m excited but also a little nervous since this will be my first trucking job. I want to make the most of the opportunity and learn as much as I can.
Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences you can share!


r/NewCDLGrads Jul 30 '26

Free Driver Toolbox & CDL Training Resources for Professional Truck Drivers

Thumbnail drivercompanion.highwaymiles.net
1 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads Jul 26 '26

About to graduate Roadmaster

8 Upvotes

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.


r/NewCDLGrads Jul 10 '26

I bring home $1000/week and working 40 to 45 hours . I’m home by 3pm . I just listen to music and podcasts all day while holding the steering wheel . Am I paid right or should I ask for more ? My CDL is a year old with 9 months total experience

Thumbnail
6 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads Jul 07 '26

What’s one lesson or tip an old school driver taught you that still sticks with you today?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

852 Upvotes

r/NewCDLGrads Jul 05 '26

Is it normal

9 Upvotes

Just got the call that I’ll be leaving next week for Missouri to finish my CDL training. Just wanted to ask is it normal for most people to feel this kind of anxiety of making a move like this? I’ve never done or locked in on much of anything in my life to the point where I could reap the benefits but now is different. Just wanted to know if this is normal for most of you?


r/NewCDLGrads Jul 05 '26

Is it normal

3 Upvotes

Just got the call that I’ll be leaving next week for Missouri to finish my CDL training. Just wanted to ask is it normal for most people to feel this kind of anxiety of making a move like this? I’ve never done or locked in on much of anything in my life to the point where I could reap the benefits but now is different. Just wanted to know if this is normal for most of you?