Just enrolled. Sheridan Adult Vo Tech. So. Fla.

Call to companies you find in the forum here under "hire students". Ask to apply for a preeoffer and tuition reimbursement and distinctly say you will be attending a college vocational school.

If they tell you to call back once you get the license, fine. Many seem to try to shiffle you to a two week school with a 6-7k debt they will reimburse youover years, but it will be your debt that they can throw the balance at you at any time. But a preoffer says they will invite you to orientation.

for smooth sailing, you need to consider no duis, crimes, or drugs over the last ten years. Get a driver report from dmv regarding tickets, do not volunteer info regarding these matters. You will be asked about this stuff by your friendly recruiter but any could cause a problem.
Problems are as such and closes doors, maybe not all... But most.

same goes for hitting the road for 1-2 years is what is needed to apply local. Local usually has touch freigh meaning you unload.

no drugs, schools will test as will everybody going forward including any trooper or DOT inspector and anyone you drive for.

it is a school, there are no guarantees? It is what you make of it, and who you are as an individual.

back to preoffers, get 2 or three. More is better. Then forum people to hone your decision.

In the meanwhile, get your study on the cdl manual, all endorsements, while you await next class entry point. Then you need only to get the driving skills down and pay for the license, endorsements, hazmat, background check. Etc.

Colleges and tech centers give you more time behind the wheel, so you will emerge a better newbie trainee with whatever company you go to.

Lastly, you need to pass a dot physical or do mot bother. Diqualifiers are blood pressure or diabetes scenarios which are problems with ability to go interstate.

most popular 1st companies are usa truck, werner, swift, prime, us xpress. But you can also scribble down any truck you see, and look em up. Good luck

 

Also, call Schneider. Many say they are the best with noobs.

 

For the drugs dui and crimes- I'll just say this: never have and never will.

You ou mentioned going on the road 1-2 years then u can drive local, does this apply to like fedex or ups drivers or maybe the food delivery guys?

Thanks for for all the info, gonna probably go with Sheridan. Price is decent, and seems like a good program.

Oh and chinatown I was thinking about asking u about schools here since u seemed to know about the area lol

 

As long as the school is 160 hrs. minimum, it will be ok. Some companies hire from certain schools only, but they're few and far between; such as Florida Beauty Express, Superior Carriers, Trimac Transportation.

 

Yes. Places like publix and such promote from within meaning, guys that have been dockworkers or warehouse/distribution center for years, long hours, and you move the boxes. Not saying it won't happen... But a longshot unless you have an in.

 

I also live in Palm Beach County. I drive a large SUV. I'm telling you, go to Sheridan!!! You will find that the cost of driving there for 9 weeks, plus the cost of the tuition and materials will, by comparison, be less than what schools like Metropolitan, or CDL schools will charge, and neither will offer a 320 hour course of instruction. Moreover, the quality of instruction you'll get at Sheridan, will be incomparable to what you would get at schools like Roadmasters, which also costs 3 times what you'll pay at Sheridan. Let me sum it up, the only instructor in the State of Florida, who can certify other instructors as CDL examiners, teaches at Sheridan.

Also, unless you're as lucky as the last person to win the powerball, you will have to ve to go OTR right out of school. I graduated December 18,2014. But, because of a delicate family court matter, I've had to put off starting with Werner as I planned (Dec 29) and have spent countless days, gas, and time perfecting my résumé and going, in person, to local companies that have local jobs open, and NONE of them will look at a recent grad. You need, minimum, 1 year experience to get a local job.

There are two Miami based companies that will only hire new grads from Sheridan, or Miami Lakes Tech. Neither will touch you if you go to school elsewhere, and both require you to go OTR. Yet, the trips are short, and you'll be OTR for about 8 days or less. Do your research. There are many national companies that will hire you fresh out of school, with an attractive home package, fairly decent pay for a nugget, and may even offer you a sign on bonus and tuition reimbursement. One of them offered to fly me home and back to work, at their expense, for my 7 day home time.

Send me a pm anytime if you want.

 

Yea publix u have to be a selector aka pull the orders that go out on the trucks before u can become a driver depends on the center how long it takes n they don't care if u have a cdl or not wont help u become a driver any faster.. I know few guys who have worked at publix one said there one he worked at usually took about 10yrs to happen another guy said u could get lucky n become a driver within a year. They have sign ups every 6months n is based on time with company