Starting CDL school on Monday

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by dazoe, Feb 11, 2017.

  1. dazoe

    dazoe Bobtail Member

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    Feb 9, 2017
    Wichita, KS
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    Hey all,
    I was recently approved for CDL Training through the local workforce center due to being on unemployment. I'm really excited about this new adventure and have been watching trucking videos on youtube since I found out CDL Training was an option. I have always been an excellent driver, and love to drive. My family lives a few states away so I'm no stranger to long road trips.
    I'm enrolled in Kansas Truck Driving School in Wichita, KS not to be confused with Wichita Truck Driving School. I'm interested if anyone here knows anything about them. I've found good reviews on line about them but most are one-liners that don't go into any detail.
    I've been looking around looking for information on trucking companies in Wichita that do OTR to all 48 states. I've also been on the fence between Reefer and Flatbed. I know I have some time before I need to make that decision. After all need to get my CDL first.
    I guess I'm creating this post to introduce my self and to ask for any advice you guys might have.

    A little more details about me.
    Location: Wichita, KS (relocation not an option)
    Medical: slightly higher than normal BP: 130-145/80-95 Weight:120lbs
    MVR: No tickets for 3-4 years, last one was a ticket for speeding through a speed trap camera. one accident a about 2 yrs ago, someone cut me off and slammed on the breaks, very little damage and didn't even bother with reporting it to the cops, but the insurance company knows about it so I assume it's on some sort of record some where.
    Employment History: This is the one I'm most worried about, my most recent employer terminated me for a BS reason(s) and is most likely the reason I haven't be able to find another job. But they couldn't prove any of it which is why I was able to get unemployment.


    As a side note, while looking at companies websites, I noticed this: http://www.keimts.com and http://paulinc.com at first glance they look totally different but if you look deeper you start to notice paul inc copied something like 80-90% of keim's site. Looks like they just copy and pasted the text and changed little details. I don't directly blame paul inc because it looks like they hired a 3rd party for the site. Just found that interesting.
     
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  3. dptrucker

    dptrucker Road Train Member

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    adelanto,ca.
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    Need to get bp under control to pass the dot physical. Should be under 139/90. If you take meds for it... you will get a 1 yr med card. When you take the physical for medical card and they find you bp high, doc will give you a 3 months card to get it fixed. Good luck on the school.
     
  4. Wooly Rhino

    Wooly Rhino Road Train Member

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    Liberty, Missouri
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    The school thing is just to get you a license. You will not learn how to drive a truck until you get to your first job. Ask questions in the truck school. Make them earn your money. Ask them how to slide tandems. Have them show you how to hook up to and disconnect from a trailer. Ask anything you want to ask.

    Good luck and welcome to Trucking.
     
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  5. dazoe

    dazoe Bobtail Member

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    Feb 9, 2017
    Wichita, KS
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    Good idea, I'll start making a list of questions to ask once they get us in their truck.
     
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Plenty of companies will hire you even though you were fired from your last job. The best move for you is get the hazmat endorsement while in school and also submit job applications during the first week of school. Don't wait until graduation to submit applications. This gives you plenty of time to look over the job offers and be ready to roll the day you graduate. You will get job offers even though you're still a student.
    Here's some companies that run 48 states and hire new grads. If any website has "experience required" , ignore that and apply anyway; the website hasn't been updated.
    Britton Transport - @MrEd is the flatbed trainer there.
    Freymiller
    Magnum Ltd.
    Navajo Express
    Dynamic Transit
    Butler Transport
    Tyson Foods
    Danny Herman Trucking - dry van, no northeast or New York City, but lots of southern California.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2017
  7. wanderingson

    wanderingson Bobtail Member

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    Nov 7, 2004
    Milw,WI
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    Your age will be an issue, but don't let that stop you.
    I wouldn't recommend flatbed just starting out. As a new driver you will have much more to concentrate on, no need to stress out more about load securement, tarping, etc. Flatbedding is a whole other animal, trust me.
    Trucking isn't for everyone, but it has been a good career for me.
    Good luck in your endeavors
     
  8. Duurtipoker

    Duurtipoker Medium Load Member

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    Hagerstown, MD
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    At 120lbs just moving the tarp might be tough. Unless you're 4' 0" and totally jacked 120.


    Ed
     
  9. dazoe

    dazoe Bobtail Member

    14
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    Feb 9, 2017
    Wichita, KS
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    120 ?!? lol, stupid typo, ment 210 lbs, and it's not letting me edit the post.
     
    RedRover and Duurtipoker Thank this.
  10. Duurtipoker

    Duurtipoker Medium Load Member

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    Nov 3, 2016
    Hagerstown, MD
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    Transposition errors make things weird.


    Ed
     
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    75,755
    173,662
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
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