Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

LOL Yeah seems to be a lot of that lately.

 

They will charge you just as if you we're a new student. May only be half it's called a refresher course no pay for that and the same pay any student will get when he's out with a trainer. In the past the only way you would get hired is if you leased a truck after your training ended.

Good luck

 

Refresher use to be only around a week, or 9 days. But it really depends on how well you drive.
I did one with Central and was 9 days. But several people at the school said that they had 2 "refresher" drivers the week before I got there, that had to do 2 full weeks. But this was because they really did not have any experience and could not drive any better than the students.
I had to do 3 days in classroom, drove with the instructor 1 time for 20 min. Then was stuck in the backing yard for 6 days teaching students how to back up a truck. Had to pay 2 grand for the privilege.
I could not get an OTR job though, since I had only local experience in the prior 14 years. So I was basically paying for a job.

 

that's no different then the rookie students paying for a job. only there price is 3 times higher. LOL.

 

Ah - well, hope to see you on the road then sometime - have fun!!

 

Wow ... this is beginning to sound troubling! I could understand getting to orientation and being required to take an initial evaluation test. But if a CDL holder is reasonably well-equipped to begin his OTR training then why not? I can't imagine coming in with my CDL and "paying" anyone for remedial training. Also, if a company only wants drivers who are willing to sign a lease when they are just starting their career, then you can count me out! I see no difference in that business model than with CR England.

Someone help me out here.

Will Central require me to come in to SLC with my Virginia CDL that I received 9-6-12 and then PAY for their training?

Will I be in any way expected to sign on to a lease?

I was looking for a company with decent or better equipment, reasonable starting pay and the opportunity to run all 48 states, especially a chance to get out West. Have I misjudged/misunderstood Central?

Thanks for the input from those of you with solid, current and accurate information!

 

Whoa ... you PAID THEM $2,000? Did you already have your CDL or not?

Thanks!

 

Pretty sure they make everyone go through the course unless maybe have one year verifiable experience hauling reefer, not that kind kids... The school payment is stretched over a year and you get a grand off with military experience. They don't require a lease but they make a LOT of money off those trucks so they push it very hard. I'm company and I make more than I did as an office manager so no complaints here outside the normal stuff. Shippers and receivers are often lazy good for nothing slobs with no respect for those of us out here actually working. One day they'll realize I'm still driving a brand new truck and take it away, lol. Umm, idle rules are stupid. Trip clock gets reset and you stop for a 34 hr restart. Turn the truck on maybe two hours so your battery doesn't die and you're over 30%. Kinda mad I can't have my dog with me. Would also be nice to have a gun, although probably good that I don't! Hope that helped...

 

IF you got your CDL from an accredited school you dont need the refresher. Talk to a different recruter and explain the situation. Refresher is for people who get CDL's from bad schools or have gone more than 24 months without an OTR job. 160 hrs behind the wheel is BS from someone who doesn't know what he's talking about; I think I got about 4 hours behind the wheel before leaving with my trainer.

 

Yes, and you've been helpful before Frost. I don't know...I think paying for a course when I just finished school and got my CDL would be a deal-killer for me. Heck, the school I went to (4CDL.com) is even accepted by EPES out of Greensboro, NC...and they're definitely a cut above most of the starter companies. They pay better but basically just run the I-95 Corridor. And a lot of the Northeast (even though they pay a 7 cent bonus for deliveries north of Washington, DC). Now while good OTR training should be a consideration in any decision by a newbie on who to go with, the reason I was attracted to Central was the opportunity to see the country...especially out West. I also was under the impression Central's equipment was a cut above the rest. I was willing to settle for a little less starting pay in order to get those attributes.

Now I'm wondering!

But thanks for your insights!