Need some help - but here is my plan so far

If you were to do your local school and then go to roehl you would get one week of orientation, etc... and then go out with your trainer..it lasts 9-14 days. It's not team driving although the trainer will most likely be driving during a portion of that time. You can learn by driving and also learn by observing the trainer. with flatbed you would get a few days of securement training too prior to going out with trainer. After 9-14 days the trainer drops you off at a terminal and you take a written and drive around town test with the training people and you go back and you're issued a truck...soon after you get your first preplan on the qualcomm and you are out with the wolves. It's called phase 3, you are solo and have a phase three fleet manager. the fleet manager is more available than a mainstream manager as they work with less drivers so you have more of their attention. They are more apt to be able to answer questions that might come up as a new driver too. I was pretty impressed with the program. big thing with Roehl is that they like an honest days work and honest communication. If you have a problem tell them, there will be a solution. I was challenged through a lot of the initial training and took it as such and felt very satisified when I accomplished tasks that I was initially unsure of or were new to me.

Whatever CDL school you goto, in reality it's just about getting you your A license. So now in retrospect, the biggest learning came afterwards during the trainer period and continues now that I've been solo.

One last thing, it is pretty fast but they won't let you out unless they know you are equipped to control the truck safely. Sounds like you have a good work ethic and like to work...That will work well with Roehl. I like to drive and have yet to whine about miles. I just go where they tell me and I keep them informed as to whats happening. Pretty simple concept. I think they are more selective as to whom they hire. My RDTC class had six and I was the youngest at 45y.o. All of us had good work historys and attitudes.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...201186-rdtc-starting-school-january-28th.html

theres another one i did one phase 3 too. just do a search under "rdtc" or "phase 3"

 

I went to PDI. I had a good experience there.

 

I'm pretty sure if you do well there they will help you get a job. Many companies recruit there.

 

I plan on attending one of their informational sessions ASAP but was wondering if you or anyone knows what the part-time schedule is like there? I sent them an email but got a somewhat canned response telling me to go to an info-session.

 

PDI for school then would like to get into OTR Flatbed with TMC if they will take me or will shop around. I would like to be o/o someday doing flatbed work but that's down the road. I'm not in a hurry to take a huge paycut. I'll wait for something that I can live on. I've got a deskjob that pays well but I am really hating it, keep 17 cents in my back pocket on the bad days.

We're in a somewhat difficult spot, because the cost of living is so #### high here, finding OTR work at a competitive wage isn't as easy as it is in other areas. I'm on the east side of Rochester for what its worth.

 

I went part time at PDI it took a few months. I went a couple days at night during the week and
Then on Sat. Roehl was calling me after I finished school,I never got a job after school but that
Was my choice. I know I probably could have easily got a job in trucking but I was making really good
Money at my present job.
I mainly got my cdl for a backup. Go talk to them at PDI they are very nice people but people
For the most part are nice when you are giving them five grand.
You will get good training, you will drive right in the heart of Rochester,ny, you will go where you
Would not think a semi can go. It's scary and fun at the same time, I'm glad I did.