Questions from someone getting ready for training

I don't know much about central ref but I do know they are owned by swift. All companies have their ups and downs, you got to start somewhere though. Most companies pay for the school if you drive for them for at least one year, so you won't pay for anything up front including the driving test. Make sure you read every bit of the contract though to know what you are getting into before signing it. It is going to be rough if you go into it broke with no money being most companies only provide lunch if that and rest of the time you are on your own. Most truckers are smokers and they will put you with a trainer that smokes if available. As far as your wife coming out after you are on your own they will most likely allow it after you are solo for a set amount of time and there is paperwork to be signed for that as well for riders. Good luck and hope you make it and do well.

 

I believe that Central and Prime Inc. you only need $100.00 up front. Read both websites. Prime Inc. fronts some food money in the beginning, not sure about Central. Millis Transfer has an excellent CDL school, but you need $500 dollars.
If money is real tight take a little duffle bag of food to help out on the road until you get some paychecks. This really helps out for between meals or layovers or looking at a $12.00 truckstop meal. Dollar Store and Walmart is good for these cheap foods:

Ramen noodles
Instant oatmeal
Instant coffee
Instant hot chocloate
Coffee mug with lid
Can opener
Soups
Bennie-weenies
etc.

Hotel and truckstops have free microwave use. When I smoked years ago, I bought cigarettes on Indian Reservations; they are much cheaper there. There are a few Indian Reservations with truckstops and cheap fuel.

 

I'm going to be brief, as its time to put them on and produce zzzzs.

From what I see on the road, they're another mega that cares not a rats posterior of the quality of driver produced by it's mill. That's opinion.

What you NEED to do is fully research all your questions using internet, email, and phone BEFORE you begin. That's fact.

There's the basics as China has offered, but you really want to be prepared.

Just preaching, I mean sayin.

 

I agree. If you're going into this without a lot of research and at lease some money, then it's going to be tough. I researched for months before finally making my decision on which company to go with. Prime was my second choice. What I did find out, as China said, is that Prime needs little start up cost. I don't remember the amount. While you are at Prime, they pay for your hotel and 3 meals a day. They also will give you $200 a week for up to 3 weeks I believe. Keep in mind, if you take the $200, it's an advancement. You will be expected to pay that back in weekly amounts once you start getting paid. Prime also has one of the highest trainee pays and starts you out with a decent cpm once you go solo. The downfall is that all newbies get lightweight trucks when they go solo unless you lease a truck or start as a team driver. The only difference in a lightweight truck and regular truck is, the LW have a very very small sleeper with limited storage. Youtube RidewithB and he has an interior video of a Prime LW truck. Everything here is just stuff I found during my research. So please don't just go off what I've said. Look at Prime's website along with other companies and find one that's right for you. If you're already set up to go to cdl training and don't know anything about the company, I would hold off until you do some research on it, so you are not stuck with a miserable company and a one year contract or a hefty school bill. I hope this helped. Good luck to you driver!

 

See here is the problem that I have found with internet serching , I go on google type in a company for reviews , and guess what nothing but bad sh#@. Not because they are all terrible it because people are not as inclined to go on the internet and say how much they like one company or another , but rather go on when someone does them wrong .
Now just so ya know I am not trying to be smart a@@ or say Central is a great company to work for they all have there ups and downs . Its just you never hear about the good sides of places ...

That is my opinion..

 

Oh , and OP. At Central you will need money for food and anything else you need the only thing that is paid is dot physical and hotel....
And let me tell ya they say 200 bucks for food . Not even close . I spent a little over 300 before I got paid , but I like to eat , a lot ... hahahahaha

 

Tangerine or Chinatown - I'm heading to Central next Sunday. I've read some of y'alls other posts, and I think y'all shoot pretty straight. What I really want to know is (after school) how do you stay in a confined space that small with some other dude you never met before for 35 (insert cuss words here) days? I know there's a lot of farting, snoring, arguing, and getting on each others nerves going on? That's the part that I'm worried about the most...I mean, I'm in the same boat as True believer (i.e. I aint gots no money)...so, now I gotta be starving, and dealing with some Dude for 5 weeks? What if I can't stand the dude or he stanks or something? What do you do? How do you get through it?

 

Hahahaha,
Idk my trainer wasn't bad we never really had any problems , he liked to stop and get showers like almost every day sometimes ya can't every day , but we dam sure got there the next day.. lol
As far as getting along , some peoples attitude s clash no matter what so if u have that big of problem call the training dep. And tell them what is going on .
Its so hard to prepare to spend 5 weeks with another dude in that type of space . Lol
And ya just gotta keep telling ur self its almost over , but ya can't start doing that till about week 3
Good luck to ya , and be safe !!!!!
I have seen many trucks in ditches and turned over along the highway , and u will see that one accident that will stay in ur mind forever . I seen one that still gives me chills , cause if I didn't have to poop (hahaha) that morning I could have been in the tangled mess cause it had just happened 15 to 20 mins before I got there , and that's the thing ya never know , so that's another thing if u get a trainer that tries to push u say its 3 in the morning and ur tired tell them and pull over .
Remeber this , there is nothing and I mean nothing in that box worth ur life or anyone else's..

 

True-true...good post Man, thanks for the words of wisdom...poop...ha ha. Go Broncos!