I have just found this site and really appreciate all of the information I’ve gotten from everyone. It helps so much to read other’s questions and about their experiences.

My husband and I want to drive long haul as a team. He’s 50 and I’m 45. He’s currently in ROP taking their trucking course and should have his license by June 2008. I work for the City government and have been approved to take their trucking classes and hopefully will have my license by March 2008.

My question is will it mean anything? I’m getting the impression that even though we’ll have our licenses, it won’t count unless we go thru a “trucking school” or thru a trucking company. Will anyone hire us without the accreditation behind us?

I’m wondering if we should just chuck this plan and try to sign on with a company to get our licenses….any suggestions? Thanks so much!

I don't think so. But that's my opinion. I've had several jobs and never went to school but that was some time ago. Times have changed and so has the insurance companies. They want the drivers trained by a CDL school and even if I came out of retirement I'd have to go to some refresher course even thou I have 20 years experience and I've never had a ticket or an accident. I don't agree with that because I believe the schools only teach a person how to get a CDL and I'd rather teach a driver myself than some fly-by-night school.

You might want to go ahead a get your CDL if it doesn't cost you anything and then you'll be one up on everyone else that's going to school. The best thing I can think of is once you both get your CDL's is to go and talk to some companies you'd like to run for. Do your research on the companies then after you select one go to them because they might have some suggestions that will save you time and money.

Thank you, Gashauler! I'm trying to reign myself in. I was telling my husband last night that I'm ready to go NOW! He keeps telling me we should stick to "Plan A". He's much more patient that I am.

I did think of that, even if we have to end up taking their school anyways, it will be much easier with all of this pre-work we're doing now.

Now it's just a matter of deciding what company is best. I was thinking Schneider until I read somewhere here that they're pretty quick to send you home if you can't lift 80 lbs. I'm going to start practicing now.

Do not go with a contract to get your cdl, but do find a good school. While I have to regrets getting my license through crst, and commiting to them for 8 months, they start your pay about .11/mile less than if you were a non-contract student.

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Yeah I work for CRST, and if you don't like it, so what.

Thanks Sparky1982. I really appreciate the advice. Is crst not a good company to work for? Just wondering from your quote at the bottom.

I am a good number of the people I have met out here are happy with them. Here is the thing, its only teams, so people have problems with that. I am teaming with a buddy, so it works out. I do not see many big problems with them, the fact is they get you good miles if you work hard, they have decent equipment, pay is a bit low, but with teams you can make a lot of good money, there owner operator program is not a scam. You can actually walk up and talk to your dispatcher face to face. Everybody has a open door policy so that you can talk to who you want.

Anyways, CRST just get a bad rap because of they are a training company.

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Yeah I work for CRST, and if you don't like it, so what.

Thanks for the info, Sparky. Maybe it's worth checking out since we're going to be a team anyway.