Is millis transfer still a good company too work for

Ok, the first thing I will tell you is that I did not make the cut. But, it is not the end of the world. My instructor as well as his supervisor were very nice about it - and yes, still offered me a job with Millis on the condition that I complete a tech school CDL program. I will explain, in as much detail, what I can.

Everyone in my class had prior training and experience (even one other student who did not pass the backing maneuver test). I was the odd man out. I had absolutely 0 experience - as in - I had never ever been inside a semi truck in my life. The Millis Training in Cartersville is excellent. The instructor is a very nice man. These are "good folk" and they are very down to earth. If you are going to seriously consider doing this, then you need to keep a few things in mind:
1) Time away from family
2) A semi truck is completely different from driving a U-haul or any other type of vehicle - you can kill someone if you don't watch your off tracking. You can kill yourself - and others - if you don't learn how to properly downshift on a steep grade. You can kill yourself - and others - if you go too fast around sharp turns.
3) Backing maneuvers. I was given probably a total of 4-5 hours actual driver training on backing maneuvers before I had to take a test on them today. i mean, sure, we watched a few videos, read a chapter or 2, but nothing will prepare you for this until you are actually sitting in the driver's seat doing them. I passed the straight backing, off set backing, and the blind side parallel parking. I did not pass the sight side parallel or the alley dock. You will have to learn the alley dock backing maneuver as you will be expected to do this 2-3 times a day. If you do it wrong, you will be buying someone a new car if you accidentally hit them. You can destroy your trailer and the two trailers you are trying to get between. Trust me, you don't want to learn how to do these maneuvers after you destroyed someone's car or killed someone's grandmother.
4) The training is very intense. Think of it this way - a Marine drill instructor getting in your face anytime you make a wrong move. It is effective. I went from having 0 experience ever, to learning how to upshift and downshift while double clutching and revving the engine in neutral before downshifting in a manner of about 2 hours. (the instructor will crack a joke and make you smile after he chews you out though).

All the other drivers I met and talked to at this facility were very helpful and informative. The instructor's supervisor told me to call them and let them know when I have completed a Tech School program as they will definitely hire me. The instructor even gave me a hug after the chat. We all knew I wasn't quite ready for this, but that I will be. They did not give me a speech about maybe looking for another line of work - they just said that I needed more time behind the wheel of a rig and that a tech school does this.

I hope this helps you make a decision. The hotel offers a free breakfast for students, and the hotel is free for students. I think you have to graduate from the program though, I am not 100% sure on that. Any backing maneuver practice you can get in, I would highly recommend you do it before attending - even if you have to rent a very long u-haul trailer to do this- I wish I had done this. Learn how to back it straight, off set, alley dock and parallel park without any rear view. Use only your side mirrors.

 

Don't beat yourself up about the backing maneuvers, some of the most seasoned drivers have trouble backing some days, there's days it'll take one pull up to put it in the dock other times it might take 3 or more times, hope it all works out for you though.

 

Yesterday I couldn't do a blind side parallel even if my life depended on it. Today, I nailed it without any pull ups. It was also the only maneuver I did where I didn't over think.

Honestly, I could have passed the whole test if I wasn't under all this newbie pressure. Part of this training program was to see how you react under tremendous pressure. I guess I did "ok" since a conditional job offer is still on the table.

edit to add: I am already signing up for a local tech school that lasts 37 days. The Instructor from Millis knows the Instructor at the school. If I qualify for financial aid, it will cost me a total of $75 and I will have my CDL before my permit expires. That program will allow me a lot more driving time too. The classes also last until 3:30 so I can work evenings while I attend.

 

@sassy_southern_trucker here is a good thread about Millis.

 

Just an update on my end. One of the instructors at a local (to me) tech school cdl program replied to my e-mail inquiry. I am going to the campus on Monday to fill out financial aid and enrollment paperwork. The program is 7.5 weeks and they spend a lot more time training on backing maneuvers than the Millis training program. "If" I qualify for financial aid, then my total out of pocket expenses will be $75. I "should" qualify for financial aid. I also found out that recruiters from different trucking companies will come to the school and attempt to recruit drivers. The driver manager at Millis asked that I call them back after I complete my training, and they have been very nice to me so I am going to do exactly that. What I will do, is share as much information as I can while attending the program so anyone else can look into whether it is legit or not and it may be an opportunity for you, or someone you know.

The instructor at the tech school told me they have a complete range set up for backing maneuvers and driving (learning how to watch off tracking). This is extremely important to me since I am so green and "wet behind the ears" - I want to know exactly how the vehicle is going to maneuver before I get on the road. Even in emergency situations where I may need to come to a quick stop. Nothing is "quick" about stopping a fully loaded trailer.

 

Is it hard to get through millis schooling successfully then?

 

Everybody is different. I am not sure if anyone can naturally pick up what you need to learn about driving a semi tractor with having 0 experience. On my third day, I had just barely learned how to double clutch and upshift and downshift in low gears when our instructor wanted us to drive it in traffic. THAT freaked me out. I wasn't ready. The other students, having had prior experience, did so. For me, it is far different from having someone you know teaching you how to do something, than someone you just met. Especially when there are factors at play .. oh ... such as ... life and death.

But, here is the thing. I am self-taught to ride motorcycles. My first bike was a Honda Nighthawk and I got it when I was 19. I didn't have a clue how to ride one. I just hopped on and tried to figure out the gears, how to balance etc. That was a mistake. I eventually learned and figured it out, and last year I took a trip from Atlanta to Phoenix, AZ on an '80 Honda Goldwing 1100 that I built from 3 parts bikes (took me about 3 years to put it together). I never took a single motorcycle safety course, but from having figured it out, I know exactly what to do now.

Your individual learning process may be different from mine. You might do far better at this than anyone else.

 

I'm about as not-a-natural at this job as they get; somehow I made it through. To be fair, though, Millis is three weeks at the school and only one week of that is practicing backing. Most tech schools have much longer programs and you aren't beholden to a single company when you're done. I wouldn't say it's "hard to get through" as much as it is trying to adjust to an absolutely different way of piloting a vehicle and basically completely relearning how to drive.

 

Also, it isn't that learning it is easy in any way, shape or form. I nearly gave up more than once and I would consider myself second from the bottom of my class in terms of "aptitude at driving a truck" when we graduated.

 

I also am reminded of a joke I heard once - "I want to die like my grandfather; peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming and yelling and crying like the passengers in his car."

So, if you think you are going to be nervous, just try to put yourself in your instructor's shoes for a minute. They are not going to let you wreck their trucks. He has a brake pedal on the passenger side. Just remember to breathe and go slow.