The begining (so far so good)

wow... I can not believ this post is still going.... I started it a long time ago. And it's been 2 years since I've been on.... So an update... I'm no longer at tcam. I'm now a trainer for squire trans. A division of knight trans. I love my job and I love the fact that I'm taking a big part in the development in new drivers. I hope to one day have a job in safety and this was my next stepping stone.... Anyway.... Good luck to you all.

 

well I must say you doing the first thing right. getting your CDL. I personally believe that community colleges are the best way to go. I've notice with alot of these truck driving schools they are just trying to push as many students as they can through their programs... it all about money to them... not the education. After that is finding the right company for you. Every company is different and just because one is right for one person doesn't mean it's good for you. being out of Phoenix you have a few options there. You have Knight of course which there program is ran under Squire. We are the training division. We are a very hard program to get into. We only take about 2 to 3% of the people who apply. We are small compared to the size of our parent company and compared to other companies out there. we are about a 4 to 5 month program. the first week is orientation.... it's all classroom. after that you go out with a trainer for 4 to 6 weeks in a truck with them... you run all 48 but a major part of it is the northeast... why? simple the northeast is the most difficult and truck unfriendly area in the u.s. if you can drive there you can drive anywhere. after your time with the trainer you are tested out, if you pass then you are assigned your own Squire truck. and you run solo in the truck for three months or 30,000 miles. if all goes well then you are hired on # Knight and you are off and running. Now here are a few thing about the training. when with the trainer you do 90% of the driving... IT IS NOT a team operation. You are paid a flat wage during that time with the trainer. you will be out for 2 weeks at a time (depending on who your trainer is) or more. The trainer makes the decisions. if you can't cut it you the job isnt for you.... the trainer makes that call. NOT the company. while with the trainer you will learn everything that there is to run as a good driver. but it one you to apply that info. there is a lot more and if you have questions please feel free to ask... now I said there are a few other companies and i'm not going to bash any of them cause I've never worked for them.... there is Swift and they are out of that area as well. All i can say is keep all of your options open and look at all of them carefully... oh wait i will tell you to stay away from one... C.R. England... i had 2 friends that had a nightmare of a time with them... Sorry if i offended anyone...