Figured I would start a thread to document my experience with Celadon. So here it goes. I went to the Quality Drivers school here in Indy to get my CDL. I guess I got suckered in by their "3 week program" to be a professional driver. Welp, I soon realized when I got there, I wouldn't be able to be done in 3 weeks because there were SO many people there.. as documented in other threads on here about the QD School and its student/instructor ratio. I decided to stick it out due to the fact I knew I really wanted my CDL and the fact I hate having my mind set on something and not getting it done. So fast forward, after my 6th week there I test out. Boom. I feel like the man. Next is orientation, drug test, road test and then out with a trainer right? NO. My driver advocate did not update my phone # in the system and I get terminated 3 weeks later due to "lack of contact". I blew my top. I made sure to write down my new contact info and pressed him to update it then and there only to get a "I will change it for you". So I have to take another physical.. drug test and get put back into their system as an active employee. So I thought I would be good money, but due to my own negligence I let my CPAP compliance drop below 70% so 2 weeks later of daily usage I'm DOT compliant. Get assigned a new driver advocate and I think there will be a short wait for a trainer...NOPE. Received a call Wednesday to come to the terminal and bring my stuff. Talk to the advocate only to get the response.."Oh I think I jumped the gun.." REALLY. But yesterday I get the call I'm good to go. So today I met up with my trainer, very cool guy with a lot of experience. So the truck is Lone Star with 55k.. 13 speed behind a Cummins I believe. 1st load is going to Cleveland but not until Monday morning. He let me drive from the terminal to my house which was cool because I never drove a 13 speed and I never floated gears before.. so we leave out tomorrow morning and before someone brings it up, yes I read about Celadon and the gas skimming they were doing.. SMH. Only thing I care about now is keeping a positive attitude while getting the much needed 1 year of experience under my belt.. I will try to update as I progress thru my 10k training miles..
My Celadon Experience
Discussion in 'Celadon' started by PacerTrucka, Feb 7, 2015.
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Good luck, sounds like you might make a good one.
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Good luck looking forward to it
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Thanks fellas jbatmick & jrdude5
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Well first day in the books. Left the terminal in Indy.. drove to OH for a drop & hook. That gave me a chance to get some backing practice in because it was a tight spot. Took me about 15 mins to get er done. Trainer said he was impressed so that felt good. In Cleveland now for a load that goes down to Atlanta tomorrow so that is gonna be fun because I have read about the traffic down there. Ugh. Really liking this 13 speed . Few more days I'll be shifting like a super trucker Lol. Trainer is awesome, tells me how it is.. keeps the truck clean & reminds me how much money I'm gonna make him haha can't be mad at that. In the sleeper.. cpap machine about to take me to lala land.
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Well, what's up with your thread?
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Well.. been running hard since the last update . I'm at just over 2300 miles in. Down in Panama City getting loaded up for a run to Minnesota. Downshifting is coming along .. I'm not getting as frustrated as I was at first Lol which is a good thing. Ill try to update every couple of days or so.
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Thx Pacertrucka for the info. I will be attending Celadon/Quality training in Indy in April. Be safe on the road.
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Well Up to 5300 Miles now which means the truck goes into team mode. Last night was quite the experience.. drove on I68, which made me almost crap my pants ! Lol. A lot of Big hills.. 5% grades going down for MILES but I kept calm & downshifted as needed to maintain my speed. A nice test my trainer warned me about as we decided to take a route w/o tolls going back west from Barrington, NJ. Driving thru the Appalachian Mountains is serious trucking to say the least. West Virginia. 3 words Hills Hills Hills. Haha. But this is all part of the job right! Finally headed south to Texas with a load of Freightliner axles. It will be good to be in some warm weather. This time next I should be done with my training miles .. hopefully. My trainer is awesome can't stress that enough how lucky I am. S.W. Sweet.. good luck on your journey as well. Quality Drivers school is definitely what you make of it. Have fun.
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