How long does it take..........

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by numbers, Apr 28, 2013.

  1. numbers

    numbers Light Load Member

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    Apr 26, 2013
    King Of Prussia, PA
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    I am going to be using a friend's address here in Philly for the first couple of months. Once I get going and figure out what terminal I will be working mostly out of, I think I will take Chompi's advice and find an address close to there at a ups store. Others have suggested doing this also. I think at some point, yes, I will probably move to Texas, but not in the immediate future.
     
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  3. MtnTideRooster

    MtnTideRooster Bobtail Member

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    Oct 5, 2011
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    Hey numbers, glad to see like it might/SHALL work out, good luck and be safe!
     
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  4. numbers

    numbers Light Load Member

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    Apr 26, 2013
    King Of Prussia, PA
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    got back to philly early this morning...those red eye flights are brutal, not a single nice person on the whole dang plane. Everyone was tired or what not.....just plain nasty.

    Started making my phone calls this morning to the various companies I have offers from, already have a few things to fax.
     
  5. numbers

    numbers Light Load Member

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    Apr 26, 2013
    King Of Prussia, PA
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    Well how things have also changed this morning.

    What I thought were some serious offers weren't really that serious apparently. Wil-Trans emailed me all of this official stuff, I filled it all out, then they faxed back an acceptance letter and an open date to attend their school and everything.....turns out they want me to pay 1500 bucks to go to their school.....cross them off the list.

    USA Truck doesn't like my recent brief period of unemployment, so I apparently have to go through the whole process again with Drivers Solutions but this time for PAM Trucking.

    Knight doesn't currently have a spot for me until July.....need to do something before then.

    Putting together a list of things I need to fax Prime, so they are still on the list.

    Putting together a list of things to fax Swift, so they are also on the list.


    Also Yesterday, I picked up a Phone and called a couple of other places I put applications in.

    Got in touch with Roehl, and got the process started with them, The need a few hundred bucks for some things and I pay for lodging, but They seem like a really decent company so I'm willing to give it go if need be.

    Also FINALLY got in touch with someone at Central Refrigerated, They had already done most of the work as far as my background and driver's report goes back when I filled out their application. Turns out I was assigned to a recruiter that had to take emergency medical leave, so I was in "limbo" with them....got a new recruiter, and after a few minutes talking to him, he asked me a bunch of questions over the phone, and then emailed me an offer to train and become employed with them.

    So I am waiting to get a final word. Central is leading the list, but I am going to wait on Roehl for a few days, the only reason is that you don't have to sign a contract with them, yes you would have to pay a prorated portion of the school cost if you don't complete 120k miles with them, but the cost is only $2200, compared to the 4500+ most schools want you to sign up for. And if I go to Roehl's school I could opt not to work for them and go work for someone else and that could open door up with a bunch of other companies as well.

    Soooooo, Either way I'm going to work ASAP, I really have no reason to be picky, so basically Roehl is on the clock, if not I'm gonna take the Central position and be off to training real soon.
     
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  6. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

    5,653
    3,485
    Jun 21, 2008
    Deland, FL
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    Of course it matters who you drive for. If not ,then you are going to get taken advantage of. There are so many good smaller carriers to choose from out there. It just takes more effort to find them. That's what the mega-carriers are hoping for, you to be lazy. That way they can make lots of money off of you and then dispose of you once you become experienced.

    You seem to be serious about this career so don't just go with the flow. Take the time to do it right and find yourself a good carrier to drive for! There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that you have to sacrifice yourself because you are a new driver. Once again, that's what the mega-carriers are hoping for.

    Your chances of financial success are going to be substantially higher driving for a smaller carrier.

    Central is just my personal recommendation. You don't have to go with them if you feel they aren't a good match for you. If you are interested in them though keep in mind that they get thousands of phone calls a day and you must follow up daily with them. Squeaky wheel gets the grease! Central is very big on professionalism! Keep that in mind when interacting with them. If you do get hired on with them, make sure your physical appearance is also professional. Believe it or not it will make the difference on what truck you will be assigned!


    Give me a shout if you need any help...
     
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  7. numbers

    numbers Light Load Member

    87
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    Apr 26, 2013
    King Of Prussia, PA
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    Just talked to Roehl, Everything should be back by tuesday (holiday weekend) So that will be the day I finally make my final choice. Central is ready, they even wanted me to start on the 3rd of june, but I respectfully asked if I could wait the weekend and let them know on tuesday, they said ok as long as I let them know by end of business tuesday they will be able to get me on the list for the 3rd...not sure I want to take a 2 1/2 day trip on a greyhound lol, but whatever, life could be worse.

    So barring anything that might come up its down to Roehl or Central. And I am good with either company, they have above average ratings by a bunch of people around this site, seem like the pay and benefits are in line for most companies, and they seem to have plenty of opportunity and no shortage of freight.

    I'm feeling pretty good about it and actually a bit relieved aver it all.

    Gonna spend the weekend listing and selling some of my stuff on craigslist, and gonna go through clothes to donate to salvation army.
     
  8. snowd21

    snowd21 Light Load Member

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    May 19, 2013
    Phoenix, AZ
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    what did you have to fax them? i didnt have to fax anything. I did an online class, took the permit, got the dot psychical, gave them my driver license numbers and done. I start Monday. I hope im not missing something, my recruiter is kinda wack
     
  9. numbers

    numbers Light Load Member

    87
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    Apr 26, 2013
    King Of Prussia, PA
    0
    Had to fax them a clearance to run my PA motor vehicle record...apparently PA is one fo 2 states they have to have a release form to be able to do this, and I had to fax them my 1099g from year 2012 showing that I did work. My employment was legal just the way I was being paid wasn't, they wanted to make sure I was working and had a taxable income I guess.....

    I had Tamala Jones as my recruiter at swift, yeah I would have to get my cdl permit and physical before I left with them, but they never offered me an online course......
     
  10. Florida Playboy

    Florida Playboy Road Train Member

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    Dec 19, 2012
    Florida
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    Between Roehl and Central which has a terminal closer to you? Which pays better for training and once you are solo? Important things to consider.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2013
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  11. numbers

    numbers Light Load Member

    87
    36
    Apr 26, 2013
    King Of Prussia, PA
    0
    Roehl has a drop yard they share with Boyd literally within walking distance of where I live right now. They told me on the phone where it was, so I walked down to the corner, looked down the street, and sure enough there it is. I knew something trucking related was there but never paid much attention to it. It's all flatbeds but there it is. They have a much larger drop yard in Bensalem apparently witch is only 30 or so minutes from here.Central has a drop yard in the Philly area and one up in the allentown area, not as close. I'm not planning on taking hometime in this area much, gonna play it by ear, do what some others have suggested since I'm a single guy, and take home time in various places, kinda see the country. So if I am running out west and getting close to some needed time off maybe I go to the coast and see the pacific ocean for a few days, like wise if I'm south, maybe I take the time and go see my family again for a few days......

    As far as the training, it's about the same. Roehl pays you per mile during training, central gives you a set amount. After training Central uses a sliding scale to pay .44cpm for short haul loads under 150 miles out to .28cpm for long loads over 300 miles and in between the rate slides. Roehl starts off at .28cpm in reefer and van and .29cpm in flatbed for the first 30 days and then pay increases every month or so for the first 6 months. within first 6-9 months roehl will have you at .40cpm.....Central will get you to .38cpm for loads over 300 miles in the same time frame.

    However Roehl does give the option of van, reefer, or flatbed to start out on where as central is obviously all reefer.....something to consider as well.
     
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