Thanks TruckingBum...no kidding about winters.

Possom...You spend a lot of time standing around the truck while the instructor goes over everything & you have to climb under the trailers to learn about spring brakes, air lines, etc.. standing around in the winter will suck. I lived in Cincinnati for two years and they don't get snow so much...it is strait up ICE !!!! But then again I went to school in Arizona and the heat sucked too. My buddy is a loader/crane operator for a shipper and he attended the Millis school in Cincinnati. He needed it for part of his job. He said it was great. He didn't have to do the trainer part with them because he went back to his division after that but said that they pay a salary after school and it starts at $500/week and goes up. That is all I have heard about that school. I have no idea about their price. I used my GI Bill so I'm not even sure how much I paid for mine. It impressed mybuddy enough that he almost quit his job and went trucking with Millis. He has a girlfriend though that won't let him out of the house like that....he he he...sucker !!

I'm happy where I'm at now...but you always need a back up plan and Millis is mine. I've heard good things about them. You need to call the recruiters...they'll tell you facts about training...you don't have to worry about a recruiter B.S.ing you about training...it the policies and procedures that they B.S. about...ask a driver for that stuff...TruckingBum is helpfull.

I'm still young in this industry but so far I have learned that if you need help with trucking...don't call dispatch, ask another driver with some experience. Compaines are out to make money and drivers are out to make a living.

Right now Im a Supervisor at WV Steel and my shift we load all trucks. So I think Im good on Truck Regs and such. I can drive alittle bit and Back up any where I want to. I have Pulled oversized loads in and backed them back up out of our building. The cold dont brother me its better. I hate hot weather. I know side axles and fifth wheel and shift loads to get them right. I dont know if that will help me. But I do know how to adjust trailer brakes. I think I will call Millis tomorrow and talk to them. Next Tuesday Im going to try and get my permit. Been reading the book really hard for 3 weeks.


Possom

Possom....you'll do just fine. You have a head start and it sounds like you know it. Like I said, my best friend from High school is a loader and had to get his for work and it was a cake walk for him. You may just need to learn some little things but it will come easy since you have a good base knowledge. That is what my friend said.

Yes, you will have to get a permit from your state of residence if you attend a school out of your state. Just pick up the book and you can PM guys here or post a thread and we will help you point out the key parts. Get your endrosments too...double/triple/tanker/hazmat. If you're there anyway, why not right? It will only give you more options. The way the permit works is...get it from your state prior to school (can be $100), go to school. Then you will go out with a trainer and come back to your state for your road test. Millis or whatever carrier you are with will take care of scheduling that. Then you are good to go. You can pick up the commercial book on your own.

Key points in the book are...air pressures and anything saftey related. Pay attention to the language...if it says "may" that means you are permitted to do it. "shall" means you will do it no matter what. "Caution" means risk of damage to equiptment "Warning" means injury to person. "should" is a recommendation. Know all the shall's and hour rules for driving.

You can see if they have a video at the motor vehicle dept or the public library, etc...some states have it available to watch. It shows whip-back from double trailers, explains hazmat, and so on....

Like I said though, post a thread out here and maybe some other guys in your situation could benefit from it. After the test come back and write down what you remeber about the questions and post them. If you have any questions, just ask and if you post a thread, also post where you did it in here.

Good luck !!!! I think you will be happy with the change from loader to driver.

I have been on my own with Millis for about 2 months now. The school was GREAT (went to Richfield,WI school), first trainer not so great, but the second trainer was freaking awesome. Got my own truck (an '06 KW T-2000) that is in great shape (wish it had an apu though idle time has been high lately. For the school, you have to pay $500 but they put you up in a hotel. If you need to do laundy, i am sure you could scam the laundry fac. in the terminal. They pay you when you go out with your trainer # $500 first week, $550 week 2, 600 3, 650 4 and 700 every week after. I am off the trainer dispatchers board and am on my reg. dispatcher and have noticed no difference in miles. I average about 3200 miles a week. If you have any further questions, let me know and I hopefully can answer them for a drivers view

Let me get this right; you have 3 weeks of yard and book knowlegde. Then you go out with your trainer. How long do you stay out with the trainer or does that depend on how your doing driving and backing? Do you call and make anpointment with the examiner while out on the road? Do you take the driving test in tractor you drive in all the time or do you have to rent one? Sorry for all the questions but I want all I can gain before I committ myself to a company. I have always wanted to be a driver before and now is the chance. I always wanted to see the country and I figure why not get paided to do it. I'm single and have no better half so I'm good to go on that part.




"Grinin Like a Possom"
POSSOM

does millis pay milage after 700wk or is it 700 no matter how many miles you drive?

Possom, yes 3 weeks yard and book work, then go out with trainer for 3-8 weeks. Time with trainer is based on how well the trainer feels you are doing. You call your DMV for the CDL test, your trainer will take you there and you test in the truck you have been driving.

I have been driving for Millis for 2 years. I have zero problems with Millis, they are a great company to drive for.

Mark

Once you get in a truck solo you will get paid based on miles driven. Most driver with Millis should be able to drive 3K plus miles a week. I have no problem getting miles.

Mark

Do they accept recent graduates with cdl's from another school? If so, what is the typical training schedule for them?

jda

No, you have to go to their school or have 1 year of driving.

Mark