Originally Posted by melaniw

I am slated to start the driver training at the Ft Worth location 7/5/11. Pre-hire with PAM Trans. I have been reading the good and bad reviews here. I am hoping to hear from someone that has recently (within the past two years or so) attended. For instance, will there actually be instruction during the classroom part, and so on.
I was also told that I would be team driving for about six months, most likely partnered with a man (I'm female). This creeps me out a little bit. However, I need to get back in the work force and do not want an office job.
Thanks for any input.

Good luck! During the classroom part for the first week you fill out papers and take what they called test but really they just gave you the answer's and then you go get your cdl permit. (not 100% on this part i already had cdl when i went there)
After you take test at DPS you will go to there so called training course which is a dirt lot with 3 or 4 trucks and you will straight line back til you go crazy.
You will go out on the road with a instructor until you test. (Don't know how this works since already had CDL)
They say you have to team but there is a chance you wont. All i did was make sure no one lived near me and if they did i found out if they where a smoker.
And don't find a team driver at the school like I seen most did and they where happy about it. Avoid trying to find a team driver and don't bring it up and maybe you will have same luck as I did.
Solo driver and I was told I was suppose to team but I did not team. Good luck to you!

Hi everyone,
I am due to start classes on Oct 31st and I was wanting to know if I should go ahead and take my pre trip test and the combo test before I start classes? I have already gotten my permit and have passed the GK and Air Breaks. Also once you get all of the training done in the 3 weeks and you start at pam for the team can you request a non smoker and a female (I am a female)or are you just out of luck and take whatever you get? I look forward to starting this new adventure in my life.

How is everything going over at PAM? For training were u able to get a female trainer? I want to do to go ahead and obtain my CDL but I am quite reluctant due to the fact I may have a male trainer...please let me know how things are going!

Well I did not go to C1 as I thought I was going to instead heading to Swift on the 14th, turns out the pay was better and the schooling seemed more stabled. But the bags are pack and I am ready to go now.

I went to C1 back in 2001 and went with PAM, who put me on a truck with a drunken trainor who wouldnt train, and told be flat out first day, that he wasnt training me, all I was there for was so he could make more money, I told the DM about it and was told to deal with it, so I left and never went back..I did not realize that C1 had changed thier name to Driver Solutions, and was almost sucked in to driving for USA, then I realized who they were and decided to go with Swift as well, better pay, better trucks, and seems like they have more choices as far as where you drive, and how much hometime you get.

Originally Posted by txbluerose

Well I did not go to C1 as I thought I was going to instead heading to Swift on the 14th, turns out the pay was better and the schooling seemed more stabled. But the bags are pack and I am ready to go now.

will you keep us up to date on the school process, Im sort of confused as to how thier school works down in tennesee, looked like 3 weeks there, but then elsewhere it looks like you do 2 weeks in TN then come back to home terminal for a week, I will be calling my recruiter on Monday to verify all the info.

I spoke with the recruiter on Friday and they told me that the next couple of classes are full for the San Antonio school and that I am now on a waiting list, no telling how long that will be so now it is a waiting game. Will keep informed on the school as soon as I get in.

I am a female also wondering about the team driving situation. Has anyone heard anythign about how Pam teams you up? I live in San Antone and hope to start C1 in mid august. Any advise is really appreciated. My BF told me that i would be eaten alive being a woman teaming up with a man. Hope to prove that idea wrong.
smiles