Going to School

Well here goes. I am going to start school in April Community College, after everything I have read on this site. I was laid off after 19yrs at the same company. My wife and I recently divorced and children are grown. So I have nothing holding me here, and have always wanted to drive. I was a salesman for the last 10yrs for the company I worked for and drove 100,000 miles in a year. Granted compared to what you guys do that is nothing. However I had no complaints and enjoyed it. My question is will a trucking company talk to me after I graduate from Community College or can I call some and get prehired. I have an excellent driving record. Had a CDL at one point and let it go do to my eye sight (needed glasses) I have gotten glasses so no big deal but I did not renew the CDL as I became a salesman and did not need it anymore. I live in the Southwest and will travel where I need to. I have not made any commitments to any college yet so I can move anywhere in the country I have the finances to do this. What company would you oldtimers suggest? No ofense I am an old guy to. Thanks for any responses.

 

Why dont you go 2 a trucking school??? or do the college offer it 2 for 3 weeks??? and how much??? some of these trucking school are raping you in the rear paying out like 7,000 thats some bull.............Prehires well i cant give you no answer you can try.........

 

I was going to go to a trucking school but what I have read in this forum it's much better to go to a college. I have already gotten prehire package from Werner I checked out a trucking school here and recieved a package from them. I just do not want to end up miserable with a company. Would rather be happy and do my home work. Talking with the Professionals seems smart. Before I jump into something blindly.

 

Sounds like your a smart guy, the community college is DEFINITELY the better route to go, longer school, more road time, more class time, more 1 on 1 with the instructors, and cheaper in most cases.

Just to be on the safe side I would start calling recruiters just to make sure they hire students from that school, and while you got them on the phone you can ask about prehires. Although prehires really don't mean anything.

As for companies I would suggest you check out Gordon and May Transport, Watkins Shepard. I haven't worked for anyone yet as I won't hit the road till September, but Watkins Shepard is at the top of my list!

There's good threads on here about all three.

Oh one last thing that 100,000 miles/year you drove isn't that far off from a truck driver. Most drive 100,000-140,000/yr depending oh how they run and what kind of trucking there doing.

Good Luck with your new Career, See ya out there on The Big Road!

American Trucker

 

Thanks for your input, I will without a doubt check the companies you are talking about. The most important thing to me is safety and getting the miles I need to survive single so that should'nt be hard. And just want to be treated fairly I am not much for Whining just doing the job. Do some research and you have no one to blame but yourself. Thanks for the input my friend good luck to you.

 

Always do your homework AZ alot of companys out there and all have the same sales pitch so do some back ground work I went to the school and seen the company recruiters and went to trucks stops some good some bad but be able to see between the lines. I would go colledge first cheaper thats for sure than a cdl mill.

 

Hey Az Cats Good luck to you, I also will start school, at the Technical College, for trucking, I start April 5th, if all goes well. I will complete my admission testing tomorrow.
Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope we cross paths safely on the road someday!

 

Hello AZ Cats and Welcome

I think that you have made a good decision in your choice of schools.

If you would like, please start a thread about your particular school. We would like to follow you on your journey to become a truck driver.

Best of Luck to You and to Your Success!!!!

 

Hello Tinkerbell and Welcome, also

If you would like, please start a thread about your school, as well.

Both of you are welcome to introduce yourselves, to the board, in our Welcome Wagon:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/the-welcome-wagon/


We look forward to reading your post and Best of Luck!!!!!

 

Well hello back,
I`m Lisa, I currently work in a county job, however with furloughs and uncertainty of stability, I feel I need to shift mid stream.

Today, I will go for my admissions test at Flint river Technical College. Its a 10 week program, cost right at 2700.00. I`m thinking not bad with the research I have done. The instructors have been given great praise.

I`m hoping I'm making a good decision, changing jobs now. We shall see, I just hope to become a good safe driver able to go OTR and make a decent living.

Thanks for the welcome, I will check back soon