Refresher Course?

I obtained my CDL in 2018, but never drove solo, only worked for 2 months with XPO Logistics (forklist and classroom training).

I have applied to a few trucking companies. Since so much time has gone by since I obtained my CDL, one of the companies suggested that I take a "refresher course" before flying up to their HQ in Oregon for a safety road test.

Should I do this refresher course? She said I can do it with any trucking school and they will reimburse. I would hate to have to go to trucking school again, maybe the refresher course is shorter. Have any of you ever done this?

 

Refresher Course is a reasonable request since you don't have much solo experience. It will make you more attractive to other trucking companies. I'm guessing the course is just demonstrating to the CDL school you can do the various backing tests and drive the road test. Is the company with Oregon HQ asking you to do this a place you want to work or just one of the companies you've applied to?

 

Just one of the companies I applied to. I was a little surprised as I figured they would do their own training in house (May Trucking Company).

 

These courses are probably not cheap. I dunno, there are probably companies that will just train me as they feel is needed.

 

Call a CDL school to find out the price.

 

I plan to. I imagine it will be $1000 or more.

 

I was out of driving for 5 years still had cdl i found.
Dee king trucking on craigslist . And they gave me a free refresher to get back in the game there in Amarillo Texas idk where you live.

 

I live in Orange County California. I plan to just keep looking I think. Since I would likely be paired with a driver trainer, where we are supposed to have make time to practice backing etc, why a refresher course is needed?

 

Check with your local community college.

 

If you get paired with a trainer AND YOU ARE HIRED FOR OTR you will practice while you and the trainer run OTR loads. That could mean sharing the trainer's truck until he's satisfied you are ready for solo. That could be a day or a week, or month depending on your skills.

My backup company If I have to drive ASAP would probably be Palmer Express of Missoula, MT. They drive 11 Western states and get home weekly. They are not reefer. If you can do reefer I'd consider Jim Palmer Trucking in Missoula, MT or Prime Inc. Neither company requires you live near Montana. Prime recently reduced their "ride with a trainer" requirement for new drivers to 25,000 miles from 40,000 miles. While I hate reefer, Prime isn't the highest paying company, but they seem to be predictable and organized. Prime would certainly put you with a trainer before assigning you a solo truck so you probably wouldn't have to pay for refresher course out of your pocket.