I am so clumsy that my wife has told me don't even think about switching to flat bed, I'd fall and kill myself. I am also very uncoordinated. I had to learn float shifting out of self preservation, after six months I still couldn't double clutch. That was all many thousands of miles ago. My advice to any knew driver is to keep working on improving your skills, talk to as many experienced drivers as you can, watch what they do and don't shy away from a challenge. The only way to learn to do anything with a truck is to actually do it.

One more thing...when you get out on your own, ignore the "super truckers" who will give you a hard time while you try to back into a tight spot or miss a gear and have to stop to get in gear and start all over again. Most of us have been there (no one was born with a steering wheel in their hands and our mothers are very thankful for that.)

if you decide to do the flatbed fleet after training do you need to do more training or do they just put you with a faltbed trainer for your EVO I/II?

Hi , am a 55 year old woman, starting driving school at roadmaster on 9/22/08. Roehl is one of the companys that recruit from the school so think i am going with them. Have read about alot of companies and is good and bad with each company. Have no expectations. Would like to earn 500 or more a week, so i won't be disappointed with few hours. Do they pay during training and is evov i,ii and iii the training? Will i be able to get a female trainer??? Thanks for any info. Is a big career change for me, have been a bookkeeper and tax preparer for 30 years and am ready for a big change? Thanks for any info you can give me.

Am in the central florida area, where will i go for training?

That's 1,500 miles a week, really shouldn't be a problem, on average

yeah, a daily rate during your trainer time, $60-$65 a day, (that's evo I & II, in evo III you're solo, and get paid by the mile.

Do you *require* one? We *have* female trainers, and we have male trainers that don't care about gender, and we have male trainers that don't want the women-folk, If you feel that you need a female trainer, I would strongly suggest that you make that known at the outset, and be prepared for it to take more time to get one close to you, and, if that's the case, I would also suggest that you opt to do your evo's I & II back to back, and keep the same trainer. otherwise you could be waiting an inordinate amount of time between evolutions awaiting another female trainer to get to your area.

Moriati, thanks. No , do not really require a female trainer, just do not want to be in the middle of nowhere with a man who does not want to train women. Sounds like they know that when they put you with someone. Am an old , fat woman, haha, so do not expect anyone to hit on me or anything. They would have to be a sick puppy, hahahah. Also am wondering where home base would be for central florida? Again, thanks for info. Have read alot of these posts and they are very very helpful. I know are good and bad things about every company, but like any new job, will be alot to learn and very new for me. I am ready for a new challenge just to let myself know i can do it. Am very excited about learning to drive although me friends keep kidding me about letting them know when i am on the road. Tell them i am driving otr so they don't need to worry and will not be solo till company i am working for is sure i can do it.

Reguardless if you go out with a flatbed trainer on EVO I & II, you will still be required to attend securement training in Gary IN before you start pulling flatbeds solo. I just started EVO III & got my flatbed tractor but I'm currently pulling one of these "lazy-man vans" I hope to get up to Gary next week for the class. It's every Wed - Fri.

Shifting was made easiest to me, as downshifting was my weakness, do it as you say it in your head like this, Clutch in Neutral, Clutch out rev, Clutch in gear. That was the best advice I was given, but now that it's 8 months later, I'm sure it doesn't help!

tks nuked that i can do... my trainer said take yer time, dont rush, was a clutch rider yesterday.... trying to keep my feet to myself now