Our Journey Trucking- AMX

We BOTH have passed!!!! We start orientation with AMX on Monday!!!
I'll give my overall thoughts on AMX Academy in next day or so. And I'll post info on orientation etc as it develops.

 

Thanks!!

 

-At this point, I would say yes. I don't have anything to compare them to as they are the first carrier I will be with. But so far, they have shown nothing but respect and class towards us both.

- It was a nice stay we were there for over a month. If you can do it, it's worth it. The cost is about average I would say at 3k for school. I did hear the cost may go up to 3.5k but can't say at this time.

- Though they are friendly, and seem great. I think pay is the one real hit here. People seem to chase the all mighty dollar and will leave a good company to make a couple hundred dollars more a month. I do know that 3-4 drivers were let go while we were in school, 1 do to safety violation after safety violation. And another who did not like a new policy that started a few weeks back.

- Everything seems to be in good order. I know the talk is they trade out Volvos and Frieghtliners at around 550k+ I have heard the shop can be a bit of a pain, but they have 20 new trailers that just came in and heard another round is coming in next month.

Hope this answers those questions.

 

Final thoughts on AMX Academy.

(GF, in her words)
I am happy with our decision to go with AMX. Their schedule/class set up fit us and how we learn. The teachers are knowledgeable and do whatever they can to help you learn. They were also accomodating in the different ways we learn to make sure we were successful. My only critique would be I would have preferred that we were on pavement rather than the gravel/dirt lots they utilize.

(Mine)
The staff made me feel relaxed and were able to answer any questions I had, they presented the curriculum in a way that was easy to follow. One one real grip is the facility. The alley dock is done on dirt and when it rains in the mud. Which it rained all the time, puddles so bad you couldn't get out of the truck to do GOAL, if you did you would be in mud water 3-5 inches deep. They are in works to get this fixed but just made some of it a little bit of a pain.
Overall I am very happy I chose here to attend CDL school. It was a fantastic experience.

 

Absolutely, I was just saying one of the reason drivers leave. As this is becoming my second career, I'm not driven by the almighty dollar, getting paid good wage is fine with me. I have a retirement already so this is a second income. But I do believe like you said, some people do chase that extra dollar and leave a good company to do it.

 

AMX Orientation-
Stats- 116 Employees (Non Drivers) 230-Drivers
1- Driver 25+ years, 3- 20+ years, 8-15+ years, and too many to count at the 5-10 year mark. As outlined during day 3 talks on the company.

Day-1. Involved, lots of paperwork to include, payroll, getting some paperwork signed for backgrounds. Also a trip to the medical lab to take our drug test. Lunch was provided by a little Cafe across the street. 7 drivers in the class ranging from 23 years experience to none.
Kinda of a dull day, we did get shown around a little and met some people.

Day-2 Benefits signed up for. Given several handouts, Road Atlas, etc. Given a couple scenarios to work on about trip planning, couldn't use phones etc. Watched a video about texting and driving. Met a few more people. Lunch provided, we were taken to another Cafe, which was something from out of the past, like a cafeteria pretty good home cooked food. Experienced Driver did a road test, all passed.

Day -3. AMX president came in and spoke with us, gave us each his contact information. The son of the founder. We met Driver Development, saw some safety videos, Met Safety Director and Director of Recruitment Talent. Both cover aspects of the company etc. Also met payroll and submissions explaining how payroll works, how check stubs come, how to send load envoices. They also cover what's reimbursed and how to get it. Some of those are.
Reserved Parking
Things buy for the truck
Truck washes
Lunch was provided we were released to go to Jack's (kinda like a Wendy's or Hardee's)

Also went to see training Director, to get GF's trainer and mine. Given a book with items, expectations. (I can cover in better detail if people are intrested)

Today is Day 4 and last of Orientation. The experienced drivers will be issued their trucks today. We will be going over Qualcomm- Samsera the two logs in the trucks. AMX is updating and going from Qualcomm to Samsera.