Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

plugs in the lighter socket??? The one I had replaced had to wire in the harness. Claimed they couldnt replace just the compressor yeah right

 

About the only thing I miss about being stationed in Germany is the excellant beers and the prices of their wines. Talk about getting sticker shock when I came back to the states for the good stuff.

My brother turned me onto the Smithwickes and have been drinking it ever since. Only when I home of course. wink wink lol If I could afford to drink it all the time, Oatmeal Stout would be my choice. At $4 a can tho.......

Well I am finally in OKC and winding down just a little before I call the bro and have him pick me up. Am sooooooooooo ready to get out of this truck for a bit and away from the idiots and their stupid policies that I work for. Am sure that my attitude will be MUCH improved after 4 days home.

Ya'll have fun out there and be safe.

 

Yeahhh thanks

 

Nah when I seen direct I mean its wired in! So JJ says!

 

ok I'm with ya now

 

u welcome

 

Well thank you all for your replies. I feel pretty good now that Central will be a good place to start with zero experience. I should be starting school next week and look forward to seeing you all on the road.

 

Yes, there is a bunch of checkboxes that you can check yes or no to on your physical paperwork. If you select yes to something it gives you space to comment and then you and the Dr. go over it.

There are 2 physicals - health/DOT physical:
Make sure you can see good. Check for color blindness. Check your hearing. Check your blood pressure. Look in your eyes, ears, and mouth. Listened to heart and breathing. Pushed on stomach to check for hernia and for any other issues. It's a pretty basic little physical. You are in the room for about 5 min.

and the Work-Well physical which is about making sure you are capable of performing the requirements of the job. I have talked about it, in more depth, on a previous post.

Poobah - thanks for the kind words. I appreciate them. Rules have changed... you can leave in the first week and not get charged (Friday until Midnight. If you leave after the first week it becomes pro-rated. So if you do everything good, and don't pass the road test - you get a certificate and a $3k bill.

I am at home now and there are a few prospects for jobs around here. I know quite a few people and finding something shouldn't be too difficult.

There are several reasons why I chose to leave. I'm not really scared of a 70 ft vehicle and if others could do it so could I. I've driven older farm vehicles that required double clutching so I have just a little experience there. The main thing that worried me was the fact that they were letting people go sooo fast. I could've done everything they wanted, but if they try hard enough they will find some reason to let you go. You would think that if you have gone thru their training, gone OTR with a trainer, passed your upgrade and are waiting for a truck that you are good. For one guy that wasn't the case. He had been staying in their VIP rooms for just over a week waiting for a truck... when they finally found a reason to let him go.
I can't go into this and be let go with $3k hanging over me.
Do I think I would have made it? yes.
From my estimates what are the chances of making it? From my math 47% didn't make it past the first day. If 2 or 3 leave everyday that drops it down even more. I estimate that there is an approximate 36% chance that you will make it thru their course and actually work for Central. That would vary by week, my statistics are based off of this weeks trainees. So out of the 65ish that came the first day... only about 23 will actually make it thru. 43 people - x goes home = 23 x= 20. That means that 1/2 the current class will still be going home. A 36% chance is not good enough for me. If it was closer to 70%... I would have stayed.

If I were to try to get into this industry again, it would be when I have the money that I could pay for the training where I want. There are several other schools around here that are about that price. I probably wouldn't go to a company sponsored training program. Trucking is still a possibility, but all good things must wait! Patience is a virtue!

 

A lot do get sent home even after finishing training!!

There is a reason they get sent home, the trainer talks to the training department and lets them know that the student really wasn't capable of doing the job in a professional manner, they find something in the background check that wasn't disclosed, and some fail the tests in the school.

You used to be able to go to a private school and then go to Central and just go out with a trainer for 28 days and then upgrade to Solo driver, BUT Central changed that when they realized they can make a lot from the training school.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

 

So, will we be seeing you in SLC???