My Quality Drivers/Celadon experience April 2014

missjane, There are many options for you that Celadon won't even tell you about. If you are getting a WIA grant, you may want to consider a community college driving program. You can get your license through one of their Certificate programs, and they offer programs lasting from 3weeks to 3 months. If you have the bucks to live on, the longer programs will open more doors for you. In any case, a CDL license is ALL you get from ANY school. It will qualify you to be trained, nothing more, nothing less. Then, there are many companies that will actually reimburse you the cost of your training without deducting anything from your earnings. I went to a college driving school, then went to work at Covenant Transport for my training. I received a $2,500 sign-on Bonus, plus they paid me $125 per month in tuition reimbursement, even though I didn't actually pay the tuition myself. As a Celadon employee, you would be paying them for the 'privilege" of getting reamed. The cost of their School (unless you're homeless and have no money at all, is Exorbitant. Just another example of how Celadon takes advantage of every situation to make money.. And, if you decide you don't want to work the 14-18 months it will take you to get that 120,000 miles, they Will take Aggressive actions against you to collect what you owe them.. As far as the cost of the permit and license, I was able to have those costs, and the cost of my endorsement tests, included in the grant.. Good Luck to You! Do some more research before you get caught up with 'Celadump"!!!

 

fishnman, I concur about the Celadon school. I got the WIA grant and am scheduled to start school on 3 June (private school, four-week program.) My issue was them not explaining why they won't hire a person who has been unemployed 18 months prior, and I've been out of work three years, ergo the grant and CDL school. Nobody will call me back, so screw 'em.

 

I'm glad you found a school.. Finding a good company that pays well during training may be a challenge, but patience and research will pay off. Depending on the reason that you were unemployed for that length of time, you shouldn't have too much trouble.. If you were unemployed due to incarceration, or being in a long-term substance abuse program, or some catastrophic medical issue,you may have some real challenges ahead. If those don't apply, then there are companies that will give you a job. The main reason that they are so sticky about the employment issue is that the background/employment checks are required by the Transportation Security Administration. If you can document your past, the issue should be moot.

 

fishnman, I was only unemployed because I haven't been able to find a job. At my age (59) it's more difficult. In my quest for prehire letters, as I prepare to enter my mobile class room, virtually all the companies I've contacted merely require any periods of unemployment be documented. Celadon is not one of them. I have no moving violations, no DUIs, no felony convictions. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs - I've never even tried pot. I'm sure potential employers will find that far more important than me not working for a couple of years. So, once again, screw 'em.

As far as training pay, I will just be ecstatic to work and take my little road warrior dog with me. I'm divorced, both my sons are Marine officers and my house is paid for so I don't have some of the encumbrances others have. I look forward to buying a car and finish my house remodel.

 

Thought this was only 4 weeks? Also, what is the higher-skill areas?

 

I'm pretty sure its not a company requirement to show proof of any employment for the previous five years or what ever. It all has to do with the DOT from my understanding. So companies are forced to ask/have it. Maybe someone could correct me if I am wrong?

You could have always got a notarized letter or something from the bank that states why you were out of work and that you were simply looking for a career change. People don't realize that it takes time to find a decent new job. I've been out of work almost three years my self. No one seems to be hiring, even after multiple attempts to call them. I always seem to get the same answer. It's just as difficult at the age of Twenty-two then it is fifty-nine to get a job. Times are changing.

 

Insurance companies have a lot to do with you being hired or not. Not just DOT.
They don't want to insure some one that is proven or has a history of being unsafe ,etc. A history of incidents and or accidents, tickets.

 

Dumbolnd..how are you doing? Are you still glad you made the choice to go to caledon? I know it has gone past the 4 week mark and you said you were working on the higher skills. I was just curious because you were posting every day or two, but in the past week or so you seem to have stopped posting.

It is a little worrisome to me about these schools because I have seen a couple of other people on other trucking message boards follow the same pattern. They seem really upbeat at first, posting just about every day about their experiences. But then after a couple of weeks, they just stop posting all together. it makes you wonder about these schools and if it is a path i should follow. Rarely does someone follow all the way through school, get a good driving job, and continue to post and let people know that they were successful. It's usually high expectations, Start school, a couple of weeks of posting and then.....nothing....they never post again. Hmmmm

 

Will be leaving this coming weekend. So we will see and I shall post.