Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

**JustSonny** · 04.20.2010

Originally Posted by Bootlegger66

Ummm... no thank you.

The problem with company schools is that you're tied to that company for a period of time. Typically a year or so. But... if you go to a private school, with no experience your company choices are also limited. But you can move on when you want to, to a better company when you gain experience.

The only private school near me is TDI. I checked with them about six months ago(actually had a one-on-one with a recruiter). I joined the forum soon thereafter and, lo and behold, all the "fluff-flinging" by recruiters that I read about here was dead on what the recruiter at TDI had said. And your comment about graduating from a private school and then having to look for work is well taken. Again, I've read many, many posts here from grads who can't find work. I'd like to think that, "Hey, that won't happen to me", but it certainly could happen to me. I'm only one of thousands and thousands of driver wannabes out here.

Going to a carrier school seems to be a logical path for me at this point. The CCs I've been accepted to attend do not have the scheduled course time that I want. I only found out about the second one today.

I'm not terribly concerned about being tied to a carrier for a year if that's what it takes. I won't go in expecting to leave after a year though. If I find myself in an intolerable situation with Central, I'll pay them off and move along. There's a good chance I'll pay for the school up front anyway. I've done more than a couple of jobs in my life that I wanted to leave shortly after I started but obligations and pride kept me there for a respectible amount of time.
Thanks for you input, I do appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Lastkidpicked

I am a former Dick Simon/Central Ref driver, and I agree with Bootlegger.

Your profile says you are 56 and a school bus driver. Why not take all that experience and go to a private school? That way you will not be tied to a company because of the schooling obligations.

If you want a starter company to pay your tuition, then I will give you my opinion on Central:

They always kept their promises and they never lied to me. I always delivered my loads as quickly and safely as possible. Seemed like a square deal to me.

"They always kept their promises and they never lied to me." That, to me, means more than just about anything. Thanks for sharing that!

**truckerdaddy24** · 04.20.2010

Oldnewbie, I'd go to the CC and get your training, There are several companies in your neck of the woods that hire grad students, PM me and I will tell you of one who wants me but may not know I am in Az. Take Care. TD.

**biermann58** · 04.20.2010

Originally Posted by mikley28

I dont have issues with my FM either. the only time im bugged is by the planners because they sent me doomed loads. like all last week... Pick up in the mid morning drive 550+ miles to deliver the next am then pick up next load 350 miles away to deliver 550+ miles the next afternoon.

Im in Oklahoma City today. after delivering to Braums farms new facility down an unmarked road and a dirt road on top of that.

Ill trade you my volvo for youur prostar? Mine has that awesome Volvo Engine! You know you want it!

Does your's come with an air leak too?

**trucker900** · 04.20.2010

Originally Posted by mikley28

HEY!!! you are getting a dollar? im getting a little over a quarter... literally!

Oh mikley you need to ask for a raise

**trucker900** · 04.20.2010

Originally Posted by bigrigtruckdriver

I have to agree with bootlegger your FM can make you or break you, a good one will scan your presets before sending them to you and work out if you have enough hours to do them before he sends them.

Or will see if the load has a problem, and work on a solution before you even get it.

My last FM was that guy. Sometimes he would send me a message and say I have 2 loads, xxxx miles for each, which way do you want to go. Or he would say after I chose the load I wanted he, he would say that there is nothing after that trip, so I might end up sitting, but if I took the other one there was freight. Sometimes I would take the load that would have a sit on it just for a break.

Then they added 45 trucks to his fleet. So he was having to run a fleet and a half. More loads would come directly from the planners, things would get screwed up. Trips would start to overlap, live loads to be picked up before the delivery of the current load, having me bobtail to facilities with no trailers for live loads, loads I didn't have the hours to run, delivery appointments at the wrong locations.

Some of the problems I would catch ahead before I mac 11'd the load, but when you really only have a few minutes to look at load, before they start bugging the #### out of you to mac 11 it, sometimes I wouldn't catch all the problems. UHG!!!

Plus I am pretty sure one of the planners Derrick hated me, because I would ALWAYS have problems with the loads he sent me, and he would call me on the phone when I would sent a mac 1 to with my issues with the load. I flat told him to respond to me on the qualcomn and I would hang up on him.

Oh the joys, glad I don't have to worry about that crap anymore

I don't care what they say or do, I am running a business here, and I do not mac 11 until I know it is doable and makes money.

the cabs course for those who have never been in business for themselves is something I highly recommend

**trucker900** · 04.20.2010

At a really nice truck stop here in Clearfield, Pa. If you have never checked out the Sapp Brothers here, I recommend it. Be safe out there. Now it is another day another dollar and a half.

**Panhandle flash** · 04.20.2010

At the Huck's in Mt Vernon, IL. Suppose to be going on HT tomorrow but doesn't look like I'll make it. Oh well, least I'm running and making 50 cents a day.

Dang but I wish I was in OKC, we'd be going out somewhere. Know of a really killer mexican place that has AWESOME burritos.
Ended up having to stop # 40 miles short of where I wanted today. Was going for the rest area on I 64 just east of St Louis. Having to get a new steer tire sure put me behind. That and the fact that htere's just not much this side of the gates and not enough time to get thru it.
JJ, really good to see your happy again AND back on YOUR thread!!!!

**Panhandle flash** · 04.20.2010

Old newbie, have you looked into the colleges or tech schools in your state? Thats what I did and it was sure a whole lot cheaper than a private company PLUS I got better training. Think it was $1600 I paid and several guys in my class had jumped thru the hoops and got the gubbermint to pay for it.

**JustSonny** · 04.20.2010

Originally Posted by Panhandle flash

Old newbie, have you looked into the colleges or tech schools in your state? Thats what I did and it was sure a whole lot cheaper than a private company PLUS I got better training. Think it was $1600 I paid and several guys in my class had jumped thru the hoops and got the gubbermint to pay for it.

I've been accepted at 2 CCs near my home but neither will be providing a course early this summer. The one I was most interested in attending assured me that they started courses almost as soon as they could get enough students to make up a class. I got a call about a week ago from the counselor. He said they didn't have enough students to fill a class in early June. Hard to believe considering what I've read about people flocking to driving schools. I really don't want to wait until the end of the summer (late August) to go to school. My current job as a bus driver ends May 20. I don't want to support myself for 2-3 months out of pocket (a pocket that's not being replenished). I could get some pick-up work with my son trimming out houses, but then I'd have to leave him in the lurch when school started. Plus, waiting until the late August date for the next course to be offered puts me 8 weeks further along without income, then comes the carrier hunt again. I'm ok financially, but I don't want to deplete what I've set aside for training and the eventual furnishing of necessities for a truck. I guess I'm looking for the path of least resistance now that the CCs have fallen out of the picture.

**mikley28** · 04.20.2010

Originally Posted by bigrigtruckdriver

My first truck was 87612 and it had a volvo motor in it, no problems. But the cummins in 99660 had more power

I lost acceleration on mine while shifting and RPMs dropped to 400 and couldnt get it into gear for about 30 sec on I 15. I had to drive onto the shoulder and slow down to restart the truck. Had various electrical problems like the passenger window rolling down by itself when i turned on the defrost. I wrote them up but they were intermittent problems