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What Should I Do

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by what2do, Feb 23, 2011.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Feb 23, 2011 #1
    what2do

    what2do Bobtail Member

    38
    16
    Feb 23, 2011
    0
    I'm in a place of deciding between USA truck or Swift!!! :biggrin_2551:
    Terrible place to be from things I've heard on other websites, videos I've watched in YouTube, etc., but it's where I am as I don't have transportation to travel to a local truck school and these two companies will train.
    I was originally told by 'Driver Solutions' (who hooks you up with USA) that I would go to C1 driving school in Indiana and then get a paper transfer which I could take to the Virginia DMV and then pay to get a hardcopy CDL. I felt a little 'sketchy' about this at first but then figured maybe it's for real as the lady keeps telling me they recruit out of Virginia all the time. BUT, recently I called to check up on an application I had with Central Refrigerated and the man talked really professional telling me they couldn't train me AS I LIVED IN VIRGINIA because Virginia has a law where CDL's cannot be transfered from out of state training or schools. I looked at the Virginia DMV book and sure enough it said they don't accept papers from out of state truck schools, but it didn't say anything about not transferring CDL's from other states. I called 'Driver Solutions' and talked to the lady; she told me that she didn't know about that and people have come out of Virginia all the time and if I did have to take the test again it wouldn't be hard as Indiana is one of the hardest CDL states.
    Swift just seems such a bore of a company -- the videos I have to watch before I train have no passion and heart in them AT ALL!!! It's like watching someone pick their toenails!!! My recruiter from Swift also seems like she's just going through the motions of her job (unless she is just really going through a hard time right now).
    So, I write all of this to get any feedback from drivers out there!!!
    Is USA so bad that I shouldn't use them for one year to get my training and one years experience?
    What do you think about Swift?
    Central Refrigerated? If I could go to a local school, are they okay?
    Thanks!
    :yes2557:
     
    what2do, Feb 23, 2011
    what2do, Feb 23, 2011
    #1
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  3. Feb 23, 2011 #2
    rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

    4,246
    5,231
    Feb 25, 2010
    SoCal
    0
    Go with Swift
     
    rachi, Feb 23, 2011
    rachi, Feb 23, 2011
    #2
  4. Feb 23, 2011 #3
    Emulsified

    Emulsified Road Train Member

    3,663
    3,499
    May 6, 2010
    Dallas, TX
    0
    Once you have your CDL, no matter which state..you can transfer it. But you must be licensed in the state which you test in.
    If neither company interests you, check out Stevens, Schneider or Crete.
     
    Emulsified, Feb 23, 2011
    Emulsified, Feb 23, 2011
    #3
  5. Feb 23, 2011 #4
    rocknroll nik

    rocknroll nik High Risk Load Member

    4,490
    5,770
    Oct 18, 2008
    can't read the sign
    0
    Out of the two you mentioned I would go with Swift. Yes there is alot of bad things said and posted about them but they are one of if not THE largest trucking company out there. The job is what you make of it.
     
    rocknroll nik, Feb 23, 2011
    rocknroll nik, Feb 23, 2011
    #4
  7. Feb 23, 2011 #5
    supertrucker74

    supertrucker74 Bobtail Member

    2
    0
    Feb 23, 2011
    wmorgan1974@yahoo.com
    0
    Stay away from Swift. Training is low pay and the school will cost you about $7000. Don't believe a word they say. Go to Prime for school and work for them for 6 months and find a better company. I went to Prime and got my CDL and went thru there training for 6 months. Then I worked for them for 6 months and quit. Never paid a dime to them for school and while I was in training I made good money. Then went solo and made less money than while I was training. That is the best way you can start out in this industry.
     
    supertrucker74, Feb 23, 2011
    supertrucker74, Feb 23, 2011
    #5
  8. Feb 23, 2011 #6
    aztrucker11

    aztrucker11 Light Load Member

    162
    57
    Jan 12, 2011
    surprise,az
    0
    Why not get a CDL book and study it.Then take the test for $25.00 and $10.00 for each endorsement. work where you live save money and use someone else's truck. in AZ they have 3rd party testing site's. they range in price. then get a CDL job!!!
     
    aztrucker11, Feb 23, 2011
    aztrucker11, Feb 23, 2011
    #6
  9. Feb 23, 2011 #7
    Bumpy

    Bumpy Road Train Member

    6,534
    5,264
    Jan 27, 2009
    New Ulm,MN
    0
    Except for a couple of minor changes,that is exactly what I did.,Although 15 years ago,if it can still be done that way,do it..:biggrin_2556:
     
    Bumpy, Feb 23, 2011
    Bumpy, Feb 23, 2011
    #7
  10. Feb 23, 2011 #8
    sherrielee

    sherrielee Bobtail Member

    2
    0
    Feb 23, 2011
    springfield mo.
    0
    I would go prime inc, out of springfield mo., they have the best training program around.its not all classroom stuff, to get your cdl you go out on the road with an instructor for 3-4 weeks, this gives you a real feel for the road and if this is what you really want to do, trucking is not for everyone.
     
    sherrielee, Feb 23, 2011
    sherrielee, Feb 23, 2011
    #8
  11. Feb 23, 2011 #9
    FINALCUT

    FINALCUT Bobtail Member

    47
    20
    Jan 16, 2011
    Bradenton Fl.
    0
    I have to say Prime also.I didn't go there for training,but I know alot of people that did,many on this forum,and thier training is the best in the industry.It is a long training process,I think the longest out there,but well worth it and becuase of that we have one of the safest records in the industry.I have been here for four years as of next month(March 9th)and I love it here.

    This is my second lease,but I would not advice leasing right after training.Get your CDL thru Prime,then if you decide to stay over the road,go Company here for and get some experience.Where ever you go,just stay there at least a year so you can keep your resume looking good and don't jump from company to company like a lot of people tend to do in this industry.I have been driving a Truck for six years,and this is only my second job.Keep that record clean and don't job hop too much and many doors to some great paying jobs,long haul and local,will open up to you.If you decide long haul isn't for you,just think of it as an enlistment in the Military,it may suck and you may hate it,but when you are done it looks great on a job application.
     
    FINALCUT, Feb 23, 2011
    FINALCUT, Feb 23, 2011
    #9
  12. Feb 23, 2011 #10
    dstar

    dstar Bobtail Member

    35
    8
    Feb 18, 2011
    toledo, ohio
    0
    DO NOT and i repeat DO NOT get your cdl from a trucking company! Your freedom is priceless.
     
    dstar, Feb 23, 2011
    dstar, Feb 23, 2011
    #10
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