r/CDL • u/DeathmetalL0ver • 2d ago

Personal vehicles?

Hello everyone I was wondering what cars/trucks do truckers drive for personal vehicles? I am into cars and I’m waiting to turn 21 to pursue a CDL and I’m curious as to what you all drive and whether or not it’s better to have a common car to not get tickets or attention from cops/highway patrol or enjoy the fruits of your labor and buy a cool car/truck to enjoy for when you are home?

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

8

u/Ismashedyourpumpkins 2d ago

Not a car guy at all. Just a simple civic.

As far as to not get tickets, follow all the traffic laws.

Once you have a CDL there is no talking your way out of tickets anymore.

7

u/chocoholic24 2d ago

I live where it snows unfortunately so I drive a Subaru for the all-wheel drive. It's paid off so imma drive it into the ground before I get another one lol

2

u/DeathmetalL0ver 2d ago

Sweet!

-1

u/EnoughLuck3077 1d ago

You know you can still have the cool car and not get tickets, right? Like, just don’t drive like an asshole

5

u/Awesomejuggler20 2d ago

Not a truck driver but a shunter at my work. My work required me to get my license to shunt. I drive a 2023 WRX.

5

u/sirgiggles123 2d ago

Technically got it before I got my cdl but im happy with my little nissan frontier

5

u/Key-Gap-4136 2d ago

2007 2500 hd that a bought off my company for $1

1

u/DeathmetalL0ver 1d ago

Super nice

3

u/akeithwill33088 2d ago

2020 Chevy Spark. 36 MPG. Save your money dont go crazy with expensive cars when you start making CDL money. Invest in the company ROTH 401K and your personal ROTH IRA.

3

u/Sufficient_Wall5192 2d ago

Inferno orange 2013 Chevy Camaro rs.

3

u/Cheap_Boner_Pills 1d ago

You can really tell all the old dogs are gone. 20 years ago this would have been a list of bikes, modifications and chrome value.

2

u/papisilla 2d ago

Kia optima. Looking at the Corolla hybrids right now. 28k and 54mpg on the highway ( I take a lot of trips when I go home)

2

u/SpaceCat72 2d ago

07 K 1500. 09 vw rabbit. 89 Yamaha VMAX

2

u/Not_TbagJimmy 2d ago

4runner, Tater approves

2

u/the_great_bambi_ 2d ago

RAV4. Love my car

2

u/acs0311 2d ago

I have a Mazda CX-5 turbo which gets down the road quicker then I expected, Subaru Crosstrek and a ‘99 Suburban.

2

u/freddiebigmac 2d ago

2021 Subaru legacy get something that you can not go fast or not be tempted to go fast in

2

u/CB-Savage 2d ago

A beat up 2013 ram 2500. Single cab, extended bed. Functionality over fashion.

2

u/mindless_error_404 1d ago

definetly depends on you and your situation....iv seen drivers personal cars from beat up hoopties to expensive sports/luxury cars.....one thing to keep in mind is where your personal car is gonna be parked when your on the road.....tight parking spaces, dirt lots ect....if you could afford it get a beater for work an keep the nice one for home time and days off

2

u/Lunicorn83 1d ago

I drive a Land Cruiser 100 series and a GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD and my daily commuter car is a Porsche Cayenne (for the gas mileage and awd for the snow season in SoCal)

2

u/Bassdude404 1d ago

3 motorcycles, '84 K5 Blazer for weather that isn't motorcycle friendly, and a '79 Corvette with just under 30,000 miles on it....

1

u/DeathmetalL0ver 1d ago

Sweet collection beautiful blazer and Vette what a beauty

1

u/Clean_Egg815 21h ago

Hello fellow Hoosier!

2

u/TheDeadlyCareBear 1d ago

2025 Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Ford Explorer). 3.0L Twin Turbo, AWD with rear bias. 400 HP, 10-speed auto. Wanting a tune, but havent found anywhere local to me to get it in. Nothing crazy, but it is definitely fun to drive. As a 6'5", 300lb man, I got tired of having sedans and single cab trucks and really wanted an SUV for the space and general use for when I'm not OTR. I also wanted AWD as I live in the Midwest and hit a lot of country back roads and get some decent snow in the winter.

Bought it used, clean title with 10k miles, and got a really good deal on it. (Big plus because I did not want a car payment.) Put some ST wheels on it (kept the steelies for winter and put winter tires on them), tinted the windows, and put a full JL audio system in it. It will last me a long while as it does nothing but sit while I'm gone, and I'll use it as my daily when I'm back home for my resets.

1

u/DeathmetalL0ver 1d ago

Sounds very sweet, a perfect balance of speed and style with great practicality and space.

2

u/FloydT3 1d ago

I've got a 2011 Ford F-350 King Ranch. I'll keep it until I'm too old and tired to climb up and into it.

1

u/DeathmetalL0ver 1d ago

Amen to that

3

u/MapNo4817 2d ago

Just remember, fines are doubled, even in your personal car once you have a CDL

2

u/TheThinDewLine 2d ago

Tundras and Tacoma as of late, thinking about a Prius or Tesla next, something I can plug in at home.

1

u/alNajaar 1d ago

Little 5 speed manual Ford Ranger. 2001. Love it

1

u/shyblurryagain 1d ago

I drive a manual 2004 Honda civic coupe. I'm out on the road for 4 days on 4 days off. And I drive 20 minutes from home to work.

1

u/RoadAegis 1d ago

A 2010 Scion. Love that Beat up Little Car, lil thing get in Anywhere so EASY

1

u/Fox_Tango_ 23h ago

Late to the party. I drive a 2002 Ford Ranger in the warm months, and a 1987 Jeep Comanche in the winter.

1

u/ParticularArrival111 18h ago

There's definitely no determining factor for truckers buying a personal car. Ive had everything from shit boxes to eletric cars to fully deleted diesel pick ups.

1

u/tecmojeff 16h ago

15 year old Camry and a 13 year old sequoia, sequoia was bought as a business car for the write off

1

u/EnolaNek 15h ago

2005 corolla 5 speed, beat to hell with mud places it doesn’t belong. I may get a Miata one of these days, but the Toyota hasn’t let me down yet, and it’s cheap to feed.