Well Chiefs, good luck to you whatever you choose. I will be starting with Swift this week (Already have experience driving, but not OTR). I'll be sure to let you know what it's like. I see a lot of negative stuff about them on here, but I have a family member driving for them who assures me there's nothing wrong with them. As you must know from the Corps, the whiniest voice is usually the loudest and they are usually bit**ing because they screwed up and don't understand personal accountability. If the Corps taught you anything, it should be personal accountability. Sometimes I think that they (The Corps) set me up for failure in that my experience left me with way too high of expectations of other people. My experience since leaving The Corps has been that too many people out there will let you down. Always look out for number 1 and CYA, but don't forget to be a team player. Take pride in yourself and your product and you will succeed, even if not in the way that society likes to measure success. Success is a very personal thing, it is achieving what matters to you; standing up for what you believe in; being true to yourself and your kindred. Good luck, we'll see you out there.

Semper Fi Mac!

__________________
Lift your head and hold it high honey...
Lift your head and hold it high baby....
Lift your head and hold it high,
The Seventh Marines are passing by
Honey, Baby Mine



Semper Fi Mac!

There's nothing wrong with expecting the best out of others. How else can people be inspired to succeed?

__________________


The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so
- Mark Twain

Let's support our new president,
but Obama should remember one thing,
Gray Davis.....

I've been out too long for my military license to even be considered good. Actually, too long to use my GI Bill also. I would want to go to school anyway, just for refresher on the driving and any new laws since I last drove. From all I've read it does sound like Schneider does have a good driving school though.

The reservist was one of those people that are in the right place at the right time, and probably also like my Grandfather used to say, "it's not what you know, but who you know".

Thanks,

chiefs83

In the corporate world it is neither what you know nor who you know, it's what you know about who.

__________________
Lift your head and hold it high honey...
Lift your head and hold it high baby....
Lift your head and hold it high,
The Seventh Marines are passing by
Honey, Baby Mine



Semper Fi Mac!

Schneiders program is like ones some of the other companies have. It's an apprenticship program that lets you receive your GI bill as income for 1-2 years while still getting paid by the company. The only company I know that offers free training to vets is Roehl. They will train you and if you want to drive for them you can slide into the apprencship program. If you just want the training, it's no charge to vets but you have to pay you own way to WI can pay for hotel and food while getting trained. Not a bad deal. I may go that route myself when I retire from the Army in 2010.

HOOAH

Oh yeah, for those of you talking about how you can handle the USMC messing with your head so you can handle trucking. Remember this; In the military the only one who can mess with your paycheck is you (UCMJ) by screwing up. Companies will mess with your miles and route and can easily mess with your paycheck. Drivers aren't gauranteed a paycheck like the military is, remember that when you decide to drive for a company with a less than stellar reputation. Three things you don't mess with in the military; mail, food, and pay. All connected to morale.

Exactly what I thought about several of the negative posts, whinning! Yeah, I always have taken pride in trying to be the best at whatever I am doing. Doesn't mean I will be the best, but I will I guess always be setting my goals higher and higher as I reach them.

Thanks and Semper Fi,

chiefs83

True, sometimes you have to let people know what you expect of them and that in turn will hopefull produce good results for all.

Thanks,

chiefs83

I would have to say from what you said about Roehl, that they are doing the right thing in supporting the vets that give us everything, from freedom of speech, to voting, to anything else you can think of. If you have been around the world, you know how good we have it, and we still complain. Somethings won't ever change.

As far as the companies messing with your paycheck, well that's where God comes in, to give you favor and keep you in the right place doing the right thing.

Thanks,

chiefs83

Chiefs83, there are more and more companies offering training deals for vets every year but don't think they aren't doing it for nothing. They get gov't funds for the training and aprenticeship programs. Roehl is the only one I know of that will train a vet for free and not have them sign a contract or be a part of the aprenticeship, but I'm sure they get money for the training too. I know their founder is vet, Navy I think.

When it comes to my pay, it affects my son, so I prefer a more direct approach. Of course, it's best to avoid those companies all together. Why even offer your services to a company when you have to worry about them taking advantage of you. We would be an asset to any trucking company, I don't recommend anyone sell thenselves short by going with a questionable company to start with. All whining aside, one or two drivers are not going to fix a company. If you need CDL training, I would recommend a company like Roehl or one of the others with a vet program to get experience then look for a better company to drive for.

LB

Chiefs83,

Whatever you do may you be successful.