I was under the impression that the "school" part was to obtain your CDL and have a job placed/held for you upon graduation with a company? My question is if I go and study for my CDL, obtain the (Permit) are there companies that will let you 2nd seat for training purposes, the 'practical' part.
I called CRE today to see if they did their background check on me. I am overly ready to start. I am now 2 days away from having my license for 5 months. Looking at their website, it looks like if I am not doing something by 6 months, I will have to do the school all over again, not just the refresher course. I left my phone number and my social security number on a voice mail, but my call was not returned today.
Looks like you are set Corporal Clegg, good for you. I just got a call and my background/criminal check is done and it looks good (as I knew it would). I am set to start the 29th, but might change it to the 22nd so I can get in on that free refresher. I am expecting another call today to see if the headless turkey deal will still be in effect the week of the 29th.
I was going to go with CRE as well due to their professional looking website and training modules pdf's which are right on the website. I downloaded them and studied them for knowledge. The big deal breaker for me was the $1500 for the refresher course. I told the recruiter I already had a CDL but their requirement was 6 months experience otherwise have to pay for that course. If the course is free now, I say take the course, more knowledge is always good. I'm working for Swift now doing dry van which I love btw, but I feel like I would like to at least know about the refrigerated trucking side of it next just to round out my experience. I see the what I call 'Vampire Truckers' refrigerated owner operators running all night making those big dollars all the time at night. Seems like there might be a little more involved knowledge wise with refrigerated as opposed to mindless dry van hauling (which has it's own merits sometimes). Anyway, good luck to you.
Right scottied67, I agree. CRE's website seems more professional than others I have seen. 'Vampire Truckers', that's a good one. I like that. I am disappointed Swift didn't hire me. Technically, I should be working for them right now, too. But no matter, I'm not going to brood over it. It looks like I will be starting with CRE the 29th, or maybe the 22nd. Something interesting happened to me this morning that might throw yet another wrench in my plans: I was talking to someone at Werner Enterprises that told me I do not need a refresher course for them after all, because it has been less than 6 months since I got my CDL and left school. More on this later, maybe.
Refresher course and the school are both the same. They just charge less for the refresher and the refresher doesn't do the entire CDL drive test. Just the skills and a spin around the block.
1. Sweep the reefer out after every load, unless you were carrying produce, then go get a trailer wash out. 2. Put the reefer on/off switch to on, press the temp up/down button to set the temp as per the BOL. 3. Fill the reefer tank at least every other day. 4. Check the temp every time you stop and keep an eye on the green light when you check your driver side mirror. You are now qualified to run reefers. Number 1 is the biggest difference between vans and reefer. I don't even carry a broom for van. As long as you pick up the pallet debris a van will pass a "food grade" shipper inspection. A reefer has to be dirt free and free of any odor. Reefers are more work and pay the same as dry van.
