Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

Having just read this entire thread from first to last post I must say that it reads like a thriller novel that simply can not be set down on the night table!

I have been on this forum daily since joining at the end of last month, and have spent unknown hundreds of hours pouring over the thoughtful and informative posts. This thread, along with ones by ORG, TheTank, seawheeler, chralb, American Trucker, and many others have provided an insane amount of information that probably can be found at no other single source.

So Thank You Wedge and others who have been so generous with their experiences.

I too am a mechanical engineer who actually got out of the corporate monkey suit game about 10 years ago, after 18 years in big high-tech hardware and software firms. Since then I have been a sailing instructor and charter boat / delivery captain (a whole other story to be sure). But now I am ready for another challenge and have decided trucking is it. For years I have facetiously referred to trucking as my 3rd non-illustrious career... and now it seems circumstances have aligned the celestial bodies to make it so.

I just got my CDL last week after attending a college-based 6-week trucking school. And now I am in full-on job-hunting decision-making mode.

I'll put some details in another post. Hope that's okay Mr. Wedge sir...

Thanks again

 

Here is where things stand in the job department:

- Pre-hires received from Roehl (flatbed) & Schneider (van).
- Maverick (flatbed) and CT Transportation (formerly Coast Transport now flatbed division of Comcar) will probably make pre-hire offers within a day or two.

As far as the recruiting process goes, so far I am most impressed with Schneider and Roehl. They really seem to have their act together in the recruiting department. I'll discuss those two here and then the others in a separate post (hope I am not hijacking the thread to an uncomfortable level... Once I make a choice and my orientation is confirmed I will likely start a new one).

Roehl took all of about 2.5 hours from the first phone call through application submittal, approval and receipt of pre-hire letter. I am to call them tomorrow to find out when my local med screen is supposed to be. Assuming all that goes well, I could be in the orientation class beginning either 20 or 27 Feb. Training is in Gary IN: minimum of 21 days total - 8 days classroom, yard and local skills and 13 days on the road with a trainer. Then solo 6 weeks with a dedicated "coaching" type fleet manager to hold my hand until I'm ready to join the regular fleet. If I took this job it would be National Flatbed 11-14 days out and 3 home, bringing the truck home with me if I choose or leaving in Philadelphia yard (2 hours away). Equipment is International ProStar, 10 speed manual. 33cpm to start and up to 39cpm at end of year 1.

Had a long phone interview with Schneider today. Very professional and thorough - by the time it was done I was was pre-hired verbally, waiting my go-ahead. I had some hesitation so the recruiter offered to have the hiring manager call me - this is the person who would be dispatch (they call it DBL - driver business leader). I accepted this gratefully and am expecting a call from him tomorrow. The recruiter said I could probably get into the 21 or 28 Feb orientation in Harrisburg, PA. This job is a regional dedicated account (mostly mail), running dry van from the shipper to a number of post offices anywhere east of the Mississippi, but mostly northeast. 10-12 days out and 2 days home. I would leave my truck in a locked facility in York, PA (30 miles from me) when on home time. 2300-2400 miles per week at 33cpm to start. 2cpm quarterly bonus program for safety and on-time delivery.

Decisions decisions lol...

If anyone has wisdom to impart about these offers, I am all ears (or technically eyes I suppose)...

Thanks

 

There are so many companies to choose from. This forum has been very helpful in picking the ones to try and maybe steering clear of certain others...

Anyway, besides Roehl and Schneider (both in pre-hire status), the next two companies who are in line (perhaps with pre-hires in a day or two) are Maverick and CT Transportation.

For some reason I got it into my head that flatbedding was the route for me. I am in good shape for an older guy (51) and like the idea of staying that way with the workouts gained during flatbedding work. I am not afraid of chains and straps and tarps and bungees... but then again this is February! hmmmm...

The Maverick job is in the glass division, hauling giant pieces of plate glass in the lower 48 and Canada. Min 2wks out (probably more like 3 to 4 weeks out) and then home 1 day for every week out. 34cpm to start. Leave truck somewhere north of Baltimore (location TBD). This recruiting process has taken a long time. I applied to them early (about a month ago) while I was in the 2nd week of trucking school. They are good about calling every few days to update status but for some reason they say they are still waiting to hear back from a former employer. The other thing is that they are not sure when an open spot will come up in their training program... hmmm.

CT Transportation is the one I know the least about, at least from the recruiter. The recruiter being from the corporate Comcar, and not CT itself didn't really have that much info other than I would be running regional and 80% local out of Baltimore (30 miles from me), 1-2 nights out but usually home, especially on the weekends. I could start orientation on 20 or 27 Feb possibly. Since I did not get that much info I decided to google the Baltimore terminal. Called them up and the terminal manager answered the phone. We had a nice chat and he invited me down for a visit. I may go tomorrow or the next day. He was able to describe the training - 4 weeks minimum - 1 week in Savannah, GA and the rest with a trainer on the road. Equipment is mostly Mack and some International. The loads are mostly drywall, shingles, and lumber. Tarp city for sure... He also said I would be out for a week at a time and home on weekends. OK so corporate and local definitely not in concert....

Well that is my status. I hope it is useful for some readers and I also hope I have not taken too much space on Wedge's thread. As mentioned in my other post, once things are more definitive I will start my own thread.

All the best and be safe everyone

 

Dear Perp....sounds like something from a cop show....anyway...dear perp....I went with Schneider. They are very professional..nothing slipshod about them. I highly recommend them they are very large...and can offer a variety of experiences down the road....besides dry. An...there's tanker and bulk.....regional, dedicated and OTR. When I was looking I also wanted to try Prime...they pay very well. If you want...read my thread...it's from an old guy's perspective...starting a new career. It's called....let's see. New career from the beginning good luck

 

Glad to hear Schneider is treating you well. They are tied for the lead with Roehl for me at the moment.

I'll go look for your thread. Thanks !

 

Welcome Perpetual!!!

The main reason for this entire site- to help each other out and you have seen in the threads how helpful people can be! Just know there are always nay sayers out there no matter what but hey, that's life there are positive and negatives in all we do!

As a new (ex) truckers wife a few years back this site gave me such an insight into what the driving industry was about-rules, regulations, companies, etc etc etc and along the way I have made some great friends!!! Such as Wedge and Mark to name just a few (since we are in Wedge's thread!!) TTR is also a great place to just set back and have a little fun too!!

So again Welcome and can't wait to read YOUR adventures!!!!

 

Thank you very much sammycat ! I have read many of your posts and you are such an encouraging, positive person. Very refreshing indeed

I have been on the phone with both Roehl & Schneider today. They both sound very good; of course they both have their plusses and minuses (mostly plusses)... This is a very tough decision.... I need to make up my mind quickly if I want to make it into the next round of orientation start dates....

Thanks again,
Perpetual

 

Welcome Perpetual!

Those are all good companies. Really it just boils down to personal preference. Those companies are all pretty much the same. You will make a little more money running flatbed but it is more labor intensive. Sometimes that's a good thing when you sit on your butt 24 hrs a day! Also reefer pays more. Reefer is also the most versatile and will keep you rolling the most.

Whatever you decide don't wait longer than another week or those mega's will make you pay for a refresher course to the tune of $3000.00! To the benefit of yourself you want to get a job ASAP! Once you get to orientation you will have a driving test and backing test. As a brand new driver it will be tough, but even tougher if you haven't practiced in a couple weeks.

Make yourself a deadline today by 4pm that you will start the very next orientation at one of those companies. Yes I know, it will feel as if you are being rushed but in this industry its going to feel like that everyday. At the absolute worst case scenario is once you go through a day or two of orientation if you decide you really don't like the company then move on to your next choice. I am willing to bet though that won't happen. You sound as if you have been pretty thorough in your searches of companies.

Now go get em' !!!

Sorry Wedge for a little hijacking. Sounds like you are doing very well man! Sometimes a $20 spot will get you ahead of other drivers when it comes to getting unloaded. It sucks to spend the extra money but in the larger scheme of things actually makes you money. Wherever I went no matter what I made sure to make good friends with the guys on the loading docks and the people in shipping and receiving. Chances are you will go back there again. Occasionally you do run into some people that just won't budge but nowadays a crisp twenty will make people move!

Happy to see you are runnin hard! Keep chuggin and drive safe! Don't push yourself. When you are tired is when crapola happens!

 

OK started my own thread...

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-hand-now-what-decision-time.html#post2426383

it was time... lol