Got A few Questions

3800 miles a week? I don't think you'll find anybody on here, including O/Os who run 3800 a week!

 

She said that with a straight face? Did she look like this person here?

 

Hi jtaran!

I saw that you're from Milwaukee, and I think that the training program I went through recruits out of there as well.. I went through Driver Solutions and their company-sponsored CDL training program and I can't say that I have many complaints about it. It was 3 weeks and I went to the Indianapolis campus, they get you pre-hired with one of their companies so that you have a driving job before you start school, and the company pays for your upfront tuition costs so that you don't have to pay out of pocket for it. You pay back like 1/5th of it during your year contract of driving for them. To me, as a newbie, it worked great because they placed me right away and did all the dirty work for me

They work with PAM Transport, Averitt, and USA Truck (who I drove for) and they're all pretty decent companies. If you want to look at them their website is otrdrivers.com. Good luck, no matter what you decide to do! Trucking is well worth the investment

 

First thing to remember is do not listen to recruiters. Do your own research (this forum is a great place to get a jump start on it) and talk to actual drivers on the road.

First place to start is just to start looking at company websites for those that hire from your area and just start going from there, as well as gather info on your target from folks who actually work there.

As for schools, see if you can talk to folks who have attended it and get the real info. Happy folks as well as disgruntled folks will talk your ear off if you let them.

 

If you've got the $$ find an accredited school in your area and pay for it yourself. You will have more options that way. If you let one of the carriers pay for it you will have to sign a contract to work for them. If you quit before the contract is up you will have to pay for the school anyway.

 

i hope you meant 2800-3000 per week. that's much more realistic, especially for just starting out. i have had weeks of 3800-4000 miles, but they were run hard and not very often. many recruiters will tell you what they feel they need to, just so they can fill another truck. i'm not saying they all flatout lie, but they don't all tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."