Well I start my school with American Workplace Trucking, They do the classroom at the UAW local 599 in Flint, MI any one want another day by day posting? I know most guys go away for school but I am gonna be colse to home and be able to see my kids every night and get them off to school (daycare) If any one can give me some advise It would help. I Have passed the TIP test and the DOT phys and drug test (guess I studyed hard enough for it.

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Only advice I can give is take all the oppurtunities you can to drive while in school, some schools give hardly any drive time Good Luck to ya

Thank you, I am kinda leary about some of the private schools out there since the state is helping me get my training. I just hope that they offer some type of job placement help.

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Good luck to you and have fun with it!

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Sorry to say this, but my best advice would be to seek a refund of whatever tuition you may have already paid up front and educate yourself for a vocation or trade with more of a future. It pains me to say this since I've been in trucking in one form or another for most of my adult life (I'm 53) but you can earn a more substantial income with less time invested by becoming a day laborer. It's a sad state of affairs but this is reality in the twenty first century. Sorry to be a party pooper with my gloom and doom but I'm afraid the days of "fun" and adventure in otr trailer trucking are long over and a serious adult income just ain't there anymore.
rx

You won't do worse than me. I lasted less than a week before deciding otr just ain't for me. Of course it never really was. I wanted to get local work. If not that, regional. But took a job flatbedding otr. It sucked for a number or reasons. If nothing else, I've learned to respect those that do it on a whole new level.

Advice... First of all, you're in a good place. This site was invaluable to me in many ways as I researched the industry. Read all you can and ask questions of those who have been there. Then follow up with "home-work" from other sources. Go to a good school, (without paying too much). Then put your self out there for all to consider. Take your best offer, and hang on tight.

I couldn't cut it, but marvel every day at all the trucks I see on the road every day. They do it... why not you? Good luck and God bless.

Greetings. First of all, Congratulations to you! I know that if you have made the decision to drive, you have certainly given it alot of careful thought and consideration. It really is a noble profession in its own right. My fiance, Alex, is a career truckdriver. I just finished school and got my CDL last week. I will be joining him to team next week. The best thing I can share with you is to not 'over think' what you are trying to learn. Yes, read and observe everything you can, sure ask alot of questions. Personally, I realized rather late in the program that I was trying to turn the whole process into a science of sorts. Not sure if you get what I mean right now, but when it comes to some of the things you will be learning, like backing into simulated alley docks, double clutching and downshifting, you may find yourself trying to wrap your mind around the physics of it all. What I found was that I subjected myself to less stress when I just focused on 'doing' this stuff, rather than trying to first understand and then perfect these things on a text book level. Just a thought. Have fun with it. The best of all things to you and your family.

Peace, Cari

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This is funny because most people on here are OTR drivers. I don't think he is going to last either. I love all the OTR drivers that take the freight where it needs to be but I think the people without kids and stuff are the ones that are really cut out for it. I know I'm the wife and I am not going to be stuck home with the kids alone and raise them on my own. I wish him the best of luck but if it anit local than...I don't know so if you all could help direct him to something that is close by where he is home every night that would be great. I would hate for him to follow in the path of most truck drivers. Maybe all of this comes from being involved with the industry all my life. I am also the daughter of a truck driver and he has done everything from Local to OTR and I seen how hard it was for my mom and we were 10 and 6 our kids are 18 months and 6 months.

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Kids make the world go round. Have a few more LOL

Well the day went good, We have an instructor that has been trucking for 40+ years. I have learned alot and will be on the range on wedsday. It was a very informative first day (I am the youngest guy in the class).

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