Ask a Trainer - For New Hires and Potential Employees

I live in SD; and took the written CDL General test; and I obtained a DOT physical. I want to keep my "day job" but want to learn to drive Semi on the weekends and will pay someone who has a truck and can teach me. I AM NOT LOOKING TO QUIT MY JOB TODAY AND GO TO A THREE WEEK SCHOOL. Does anyone have an advice or suggestions to possibly learn and get started and see how I like it? I meet all qualifications; clean background history, no tickets, very good car driver...would like to learn and possibly work weekends and get my feet wet and decide if I want to go full time. thanks for any advice or help. I live in Brookings.

 

Ok,Thanks i appreciate that and it sounds like the physical wont be too bad.im cramming for the test more than anything.

 

If you go to CristCDL.com and practice their tests you will not have any problems passing your test for the state. It's the best site I've seen so far.

 

What's the average training time from start to finish for a newbie. Before going solo ? The reason I ask is for the money situation I am concerned of getting myself behind financially.

 

Roughly 8-9 weeks start to finish...not counting any hometime or downtime, layover, ect.

 

Just depends on the trainer. I got lucky and got a trainer that didn't take any home time and got out of his truck in 6 weeks.

 

I was out of the trainers truck in 7 weeks. My trainer was very considerate of me and focused on getting me trained. If you get lucky and get Dan K., you are getting an excellent trainer.

 

I crunched my numbers from last year. I was employed with Millis for 29 weeks, including training. I was through with training after 7 weeks. I was OTR for 17 weeks and SE Regional for 5. I went back OTR and you will understand why when I finish this post.

Training pay:
7 weeks with gross pay of $2857.75 ... $408.25 weekly

OTR Pay (Non Per-diem)
17 weeks
Miles: 39168 / 17 = 2304 week
Gross Pay: $18450.28 / 17 = $1085.31 weekly

SE Regional (Non Per-diem)
5 weeks
Miles: 7470 / 5 = 1494 week
Gross Pay: $3466.86 / 5 = $693.37 weekly

Total
22 Weeks
Miles: 46638 / 22 = 2120 week
Gross Pay: $21917.14 / 22 = $996.23 weekly

Real numbers from a May 17, 2013 MTI grad.

 

Does Millis do hair follicle test?

 

Yes, The best way to get around it is to shave your head completely bald and then have your wife take your razor and shave the rest of your entire body. Yep even down there. It might feel a little funny at first but think of it as a good trade off to getting that good truck driving job.