Vet looking for pros and cons of a couple of companies.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by mydartswinger, Jun 28, 2012.

  1. Shakey71

    Shakey71 Bobtail Member

    14
    1
    May 31, 2012
    London Ky
    0
    I had a cousin go through the training at Roehl and they treated him really well after he upgraded. I have even considered driving for them if i decide to park my truck. I also know quite a few drivers that have gone through Schneider's program and have stayed with them for years.most trainees do one year with a lot of the big companies and move on to better deals..once they figure out how places like Werner,swift..etc svrew them over.I had a friend leased on to FFE for awhile and couldn't. Wait to get away from them. Good luck and thank you for your service.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. LotAttendant

    LotAttendant Bobtail Member

    4
    3
    Jul 1, 2012
    0
    As one vet to another do not go to a driving school with a company. They will try to bind you to a contract, Instead contact your state unemployment and see if they will pay for the school. When I got out in 06 that's what I did, As far as companies go stay away from prime and ffe. I'm and owner op now but one of the best companies I worked for as a company driver was Pride Transport out of salt lake city. They run reefer and offer consistent miles. I averaged about 950/wk working for them, Good luck and if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

    LotAttendant
    1st Special Forces Group(A)
     
    Shardrk, Shakey71 and ShootThis Thank this.
  4. Shakey71

    Shakey71 Bobtail Member

    14
    1
    May 31, 2012
    London Ky
    0
    That's even a better idea. Try unemployment or someplace like j.t.p.a.
    Lotattendant has a very good point. When a company sponsors your training,They pretty much feel like they own you for the year or however long the contract is to payback your schooling. That's what I was referring too in my post. Most trainees don't stick with their original company after training due to getting screwed over so much during the year they're obligated to them.
     
  5. ShootThis

    ShootThis Medium Load Member

    That is an excellent idea,I know for a fact Texas does that as my wife's cousin was offered it when he had to get state aid after losing his job.
     
  6. win-some-loose-less

    win-some-loose-less Medium Load Member

    691
    997
    Apr 19, 2010
    Mount Vernon tx
    0
    Where in east tx are u living?
     
  7. mydartswinger

    mydartswinger Light Load Member

    60
    39
    Jun 28, 2012
    East Texas
    0
    Thank you for all the advice thus far.

    win-some,
    I live in Gilmer. 20 miles north of Longview, 45 miles northeast of Tyler. Right down the road from Mt. Pleasant (the late Carroll Shelby's home town).

    1 BIG PROBLEM though, I do not have a personal vehicle, everyone I know needs their vehicle so cannot let me borrow one, have no money to buy one (except, as mentioned before, save as much as possible from unemployment checks for a clunker car), and the closest schools that offer CDL training are over 45 miles away. There is 1 community college (Texas State Technical College of Marshall, TX) that does a 4 week program and 1 trucking school (Career Trucking School of Tyler, TX) that does a 3-4 week class (no weekends). I don't think tuition would be an issue since I have my GI Bill benefits as well as me being enrolled in Work in Texas (Texas's workforce commission) where I could feasibly get a grant for the training. It all boils down to having a way to the school.

    Anyone have any advice on how I can get to/from the school without relying on a clunker car? I don't want to have to rely on one because if I go out one morning and the thing won't start, I would be out of luck getting to class that day. There's also a possibility that it could happen on more than 1 day. I guess I may just have to save those unemployment checks and take the risk on a clunker.

    Thanks again,
    Shannon
     
  8. win-some-loose-less

    win-some-loose-less Medium Load Member

    691
    997
    Apr 19, 2010
    Mount Vernon tx
    0
    I would have to say might as well go to a company sponsored cdl program( only for the reason of your transportation handicaps) I went to the swift school in san Antonio. They will buss you down there, provide lodging and transportation from motel to school. ( everyone starts out somewhere, no matter how much b.s. u hear from drivers) then you can take te money you are gonna save for a clunker to help get by when notgetting a paycheck while in school. All the training companies are about the same(junk) but as you know gotta have experience to upgrade in your career. Good luck to you and think you for your service!
     
    mydartswinger Thanks this.
  9. Wubboux

    Wubboux Bobtail Member

    31
    13
    Apr 28, 2012
    Ft. Stewart, GA
    0
    Hey there, it's always good to see a vet. I'm still in, but I've earned my CDL in preparation for getting out in August. Your GI Bill should cover tuition. If you have the montgomery GI Bill you should get a bit over a grand a month per every month you're attending college. Post 9-11 will pay E5 BAH with dependent, blah blah, you know the drill. The reason that I mention that is this, you could potentially budget yourself so that you could budget for a ride share. Ask people you know in your area if they or someone they know works in the same town you will attend school. Also, while you may not want to buy a clunker, if all else fails go ahead - while it is a short term solution, its a short term solution to a long term investment. You only need it to last until you get on your feet.I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but if you can't source reliable transportation from someone trust worthy, or you can't find lodging there that's affordable (I doubt they are, even seedy hotels charge out of sight weekly rates), then a clunker may have to do. I would also call your local VA guys, even your local VFW. Believe it or not, there are a lot of vets out there that love helping other vets. Networking is vital to getting solid footing fresh out of the military. I hope this helps, even a little bit.
     
  10. Wubboux

    Wubboux Bobtail Member

    31
    13
    Apr 28, 2012
    Ft. Stewart, GA
    0
    Win-some also had a great suggestion if there are no other options. I know Schneider has a yard in Dallas, that's where they want to send me for orientation, but I'm not sure if that would be where they'd train you. They can also tap onto you GI Bill for a year, but keep in mind thats one less year you'd have left on your GI Bill for college. Either way, signing up for company sponsored training should be a last resort, as you'll be left with no other option but to stick it out with them for a certain amount of time, or pay them back the cost of training.
     
    mydartswinger Thanks this.
  11. mydartswinger

    mydartswinger Light Load Member

    60
    39
    Jun 28, 2012
    East Texas
    0
    Wubboux,
    There are no rideshare programs where I live. Plus, most people here that work in another town work in Longview or Tyler. It's a small town of about 5k people set in the middle of the piney woods of East Texas with nothing but other small towns nearby.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.