I start school on May 5 in Riverside CA. can anyone tell me what to expect once there? (Fitness test, Range time, and what to bring)
thanks

You will have to do the fitness test but it is not bad. Talk with the recruiter they will tell you what you need to bring. I don't know how they do things in Ca i went thru the UT School. I would bring work gloves meal money for the whole time you are going to be there. 7 days of clothes good work boots. bedding a calculator. pens notebook and all paperwork including work and personal references. John AKA JJ Ranch.

Drive Training takes place on the large DIRT lot across the street from the
terminal. Classroom is upstairs. Might be Hot in early May,but WILL be very dusty.Plan for that.

So i should bring a water truck. Great

Thanks for the info guys.

Do you have to lease after 3mo?

I believe they have a water truck there..and NO you dont have to lease.
I would advise against it for atleast 1 year....

Okay, I've read enough....nothing personal towards any of you, but....there ain't a dimes worth of difference in any large company! But especially trucking companies.
I don't disagree with the communication, I do have certain requirements in "communication" and that is; "both parties MUST compromise"! I personally WILL NOT tolerate a "one sided conversation with a narrow minded wall" which about 90% of my experiences have been.
I will NOT deal with "personal agendas" in a professional environment!
I will NOT deal with "stupid" in ANY environment!
Am I intolerant? Yep! We (Truck Drivers) get treated the way we do because "we let it happen"! We are considered by most "trucking office types" as "the lowest common denominator" and that is why there is little if any effort at compromise.
Old school here! I live by "The Golden Rule" ONCE! I also come from the school of recognizing who butters my bread....most don't/won't accept that "we the drivers" do have a choice and a say in what WE DO. They are taught that Truck Drivers are a "dime a dozen"....so are the jobs!!!!

But good luck to you guys. No I am not bitter, just very sure of who I am and "demand common courtesy and respect" from ANYONE, but especially CLERKS who believe that because they are behind a desk are somehow "better" LMAO!
Most office types can't even SPELL Truck Driver (without spell check from their computer) much less be one!!!

You don't have to lease after 3 months, and I would suggest not leasing for quite some time after that. At 3 months you'll still be learning the company, add to that a truk of your own and it could be overwheliming. Also, once you lease, you're stuck with the truck, so if you hate Central and want to leave, you'll have to find someone to take over your lease, etc, and it would be a big headache.

Well due to some scheduling conflicts & a game of phone tag with my recruiter I wasn't able to make it down to Riverside for this weeks class, but I'm here now & waiting to start fresh next Monday.

__________________

BEWARE ! ! !

I'd gone to the school and allready have my cdl threw central refrigerated although the school is great but THATS ALL ! !
last march I'd quit with central and now I'm dring for FED-EX with an owner operator and making 2X the money.
the trmnl manager there is KC and me and him ahd a meeting and I told him in front of his face between man to man his a good guy but as far as a terminal manager and company they both suck
BUT THE SCHOOL IS GREAT ! !
CENTRAL REFRIGERATED SERVICE is only good for one thing and one thing only and that is for you to get you cdl
I hope this helps you out Good luck on your endours

TK, I'm sorry you had a bad experience there. I'm glad things are working out for you now.

For those of you who have been through the terminal in West Valley City, are the driver advocates still there? They were a husband and wife who had the job of dealing with problems drivers had with the company before things got out of hand.

Anybody know if they are still there?

Skunk(now Central) Retired truck number 1357