Hey All,

THANK YOU for all your posts!... I've read ALL 251, and can say this is the best education to date on what/how/where to become a Driver. With all that said.......

I applied on-line yesterday for both Schneider and CR England. Got a callback form Schneider this morning, and CR England this evening. I did some research a few months ago, and CR England was always getting bad reviews. Decided to "give it a try" anyways.

Schneider sent me thru the first "phone interview" and just e-mailed them my information for their background check. Awaiting their reply. They are interested in giving me a "full ride" and only ask for six months repay time. They work with MTC training, and MTC says four to six weeks of training, and then they hand me off to the Schneider training program, but at least I'll be earning pay after the initial four to six week MTC training.

CR England will get a call from me tomorrow informing them I will not pursue their offer of training in Indiana, after all the crap i read on line about their operation.

I'm excited about going OTR and liked the earlier quote about QUALITY vs. QUANTITY home time....

So...... Comments about Schneider and their operation would be appreciated!

Thanks again for all your informative posts, and I'll also document my initial "paying my dues" time as a professional driver......

Con-way recruiter told me flat out that I have to do OTR for a year before I can run LTL, dedicated or regional with them

Originally Posted by 7122894003481

Me and another guy on here were having a discussion earlier.....We both feel there is alot of bad information being regurgitated over and over to rookies and wannabes......

First thing first:

You dont necessarily have to spend a day over the road!!!! Depending on your location, work ethic, endorsements and driving record, there is a very good chance that you can go straight into a local or regional job.

Dont believe me? Go to an LTL terminal and ask around. Ask how many guys have been over the road. Sure, some have, but it seems most LTL drivers have always been LTL drivers.

Heres how it works: Everybody tells you "You HAVE to get atleast 1 year otr before local companies will even look at you"........BS!!!!

Dont misunderstand me, Im not saying every local company will hire you.......But many will! Ive been in LTL for a while, Ive seen tons of rookies come in. You might have to work the dock to start, and wait for a driving job to open up, but you will be home every night!

Im just tired of seeing all these people go to these mega carriers signing their soul away for their CDL......Heres another little secret. Many LTLs will hire you as a dockworker, and let you go out in the yard and use their equipment to practice for your CDL. This is how MANY LTL drivers got their start, myself included.

And its not even just LTL. Pepsi, 7up, Zinc, Monarch Beverage, Coca Cola, and the list goes on and on.....All of them have warehouse employees, and have their own trucks. And many of them promote from within before hiring off the street!

You can get your CDL for $200, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT!!! You can learn all the pre trip and manuevering skills on your own....Or work at a warehouse, or the dock at an LTL company, and save up money to put yourself through CDL school! You wont owe anybody a dime when its all said and done. You can go to your employer and say "Look, I took the initiative of getting my CDL on my own. Would you please consider me for a driving job when one becomes available?"

Or some places have a bid process, and when a driving job becomes available, they let the inside employees bid on the job.

There isnt always a waiting list, because many people dont get their CDL on their own anymore.

Theres even a few local companies that have their own driving schools (Estes Express Lines comes to mind...Good company)

Just something to think about. If you are young, not afraid to work, and dont think driving a forklift is beneath you...Yes, working on cold open docks sucks, but generally the pay is decent, and you are working towards a future......And want a good paying job that will most likely get you home every night, then do it! Just get your doubles/triples and hazmat endorsements.

Heres some of the large LTLs.....

UPS Freight
ABF
Dayton Freight
Conway (LTL)
YRC (Yellow/Roadway)
R&L*
Central Transport*
Fedex Freight
Estes Express Lines
Saia Motor Freight*
Vitran*
Old Dominion
USF Holland

*= These in my opinion are bottom feeder LTLs, but for a rookie, it wouldnt be bad. Get your CDL with their equipment, get some experience and then apply to a better company.

If anyone wants more information, or has any questions...PM me damnit. I hate seeing all these guys being told lies about having to go over the road. Its simply not true.

I did the over the road crap when I first started out and got laid off for a while from Overnite Transportation. Its not bad but its definitely not for everybody.

Heres something else......If a job says it requires 1 year experience, whats it gonna hurt to apply???? NOTHING! Apply anyways! All they can do is say no. Ive been informed that my company advertises they require 1 year experience on their website.....We get rookies all the time! We get guys who come off the dock who have never drove before, get their CDL and get a driving job! It happens. It is not impossible.

Thank you for your post. Any companies you might suggest for regional?

I have a clean record and background and have applied to several local job in Jacksonville and still no dice, any advise? Everybody asking for 6 to 1 year of OTR

it's not a matter of being OTR. it's a matter of can you drive a truck. no one wants someone that's gonna break transmissions.