Thanks! We are trying to take our time looking for the right company to get some good experience with but it sure is tough getting one sightly close to us. We don't really want to have to go half way across the country to train. I don't really mind that but it would be nice somewhat close ya know?

I guess I should have been a little more clear as well as to which Star I was talking about as well..

i dont see how im considered a newbie with over 15 years active duty and over 250000 miles driven in iraq and kuwait with 3 combat tours. i have the 88M MOS awarded to me and i have been supervised over 25 trucks in my platoon doing line haul operations. i have a nc class a cdl. so whats the problem

That is the same as a civilain trucker going to iraq and driving for halburton and claiming to be a army trucker, 64/ charlie 88 mike

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

It's not about driving the truck - it's the rules that apply. As holder of a CDL-A, you should know that the two worlds are vastly different. Even if all the military driving you did was stateside, it's still hugely different from "Trucking".

It's probably not a very apt analogy, but think of the difference between farm teams and the major league. Same job, but vastly different just the same.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

i have military hazmat training and numerous other safety issue awards. we have to obey the same rules and regulations as the civilian population. so dont tell me the military needs to know the rules. our vehicles are setup for public road use and off road as well.

It is a liability issue the insurance co.'s have set the standard for.
Co.'s have to show everyone has had the same standards of training, by co. standards.
Don't take it personal.............

This is the nature of the beast/industry................

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Just my few words-----or not................J

Life is too short, try to enjoy it.....
Maybe we should drive buses

Check out these big companies like swift and jb hunt. They will put you to driving and suffer through it a few months and then you can go about anywhere.

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James Henry

I have been looking for a new job. Somehow I got the idea of being an OTR driver. I have looked into SWIFT, MCT and a local company here in Des Moines, Iowa. I need to find a school who will pay your tuition, room and board, etc., get my CDL then drive OTR with a trainer.

I have no problems with the time spent on the road as I have no "family", and nothing holding me down in this city. The company in Des Moines (TMC i believe) wont enroll me in class unless I have a CDL Permit. And seeing how a class at a local community college takes 6 weeks, then anothher 3 weeks for that company's training school, I wouldn't be making any money for almost 3 months.

Please give me a good direction to go to. I can pretty much start at TMC or Swift in a matter of a few weeks. I have spent the past week and a half looking up information, picking other drivers brains, etc.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I want a new job, hard work is not an issue for me.

I'm a new guy, but did some research here and talking with drivers at the truck stops.

Go directly to Schneider. I've been searching this site for 2 mos. I came up with Schneider. They have the best training of the big companies. I believe they pay for your transportation to their training facility also. Most all companies respect their training program. They meet your requirements. They will provide a motel, I belive they'll pay for meals, send you through their school, get you your CDL, send you out with a trainer. And you'll get paid. Work for them for at least a year and your training is free.

Remember that driving is a demanding life style. Many people drop out while training. And soon after training, then within a year after. This is why companies have training programs.

If you deceid to stay with them they are a pretty good company so it's been said.

Jobs could soon be hard to get don't wait.

Hope this helped. It took me 2mos to discover what you found out here in a couple paragraphs.

You don't need to go to school to get your permit..........
This is the written portion ........study go down to motor vehicles and take the test......................BAM.................hell o....TMC......i think

Well good luck...............just a thought

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Just my few words-----or not................J

Life is too short, try to enjoy it.....
Maybe we should drive buses