Info on Knight refresher course in Phoenix, AZ

Discussion in 'Knight' started by Aflak, Jun 22, 2015.

  1. Aflak

    Aflak Light Load Member

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    Jun 6, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV
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    So I have been out of trucking for just over three years had to leave in 2012 for personal reasons. Been trying to get back in with not much luck for the past few months. From what I can tell having your cdl and not having any recent experience makes it more difficult to find a trucking job then just not having a cdl and no experience at all. Con way was going to take me but wanted me to pay them 3500 dollars upfront to go back thru their school I said no. Tried prime and that recruiter told me that prime does not hire people that are unemployed and to get a job at taco bell for 6 months and hung up on me. Tried Gordon, US Express, James H Clark and sons, Navajo Express all were a nogo. Tried some other training companies but none of them will hire for refreshers out of my state. And I was also surprised how limited my availability of companies were by living out in the west coast. I mean the westward expansion has already happened right? Not according to some trucking companies.

    Just fyi I have a fully endorsed class A EDL CDL (TX) with hazmat and a TWIC card and a valid passport with over 8 months of solo otr driving experience, A clean MVR clean DAC, clean PSP and no criminal history. None of this seems to be worth anything if you have not been driving in the past three years and I have not been able to quality to get any type of a refresher unless I pay upfront. Was about ready to go back to swift but I really wanted to try a different company so I kept filling out apps and I got a hold of Knight and they were willing to speak with me.


    So the details of what I just went over with the recruiter. I will join squire refrigerated. I will go to orientation for 4 days in Phoenix, AZ. Then I will go thru a week refresher course in Phoenix and you have to pay for hotel during that week. But 4 day orientation hotel is paid for. Going to rent a car and if hired knight will reimburse me for up to so much not sure on the exact number. After a week of class and hands on I will then go with an otr road trainer for up to 4 weeks. Once I have done that I will test out and go solo otr 48 and Canada. For 30000 miles at 33-40 cpm. After I do 30000 miles I then go to the normal Knight refrigerated fleet at 37 to 44 cpm. There is a cost of 1200 dollars (around that amount) for the refresher course that I have to pay in weekly installments but once paid off they will then start to reimburse that amount via weekly installments until it’s paid back to me. I was offered 11 west but I chose 48 and Canada as I did enjoy my OTR time with swift. Normally stayed out about 2 months at a time. I miss it. Not sure why but I get the feeling like being home sick when I see a big rig up close smelling and listing to the rig idle. Not sure why I was only at it for a little over 8 months LOL.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Earl Henderson Trucking will probably hire you. One of their trainers lives in Las Vegas.
    Their new pay package has a guarantee of minimum pay for 2100 miles per week @.38 cpm.
    Just don't turn down any dispatch and be on time for the guarantee.
    They provide one person private hotel room and 3 meals a day while in orientation.
     
  4. OverDrive

    OverDrive "A Watchman on the Walls"

    Most of the OTR truckers I've talked with over the years will agree that trucking is a "love-hate relationship"..i.e. 'love' cruising the open road, traveling across the country and seeing the scenery, being on your own (alone is not lonely), roar of the diesel and whine of the turbine sounds, etc; but, the 'hate' part is being away from friends & family for long periods, having to drive thru bad weather to meet delivery schedules, rude customers (shippers. consignees), driving in strange cities at rush hour, making sense out of wrong directions, dealing with bad trailers, scale tickets, dealing with shop ppl in getting tractor serviced/repaired etc.

    It's all part of the job, both the good & the bad..Good Luck.
     
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  5. Aflak

    Aflak Light Load Member

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    Jun 6, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV
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    I did apply for them on the 14th and they also turned me down since I had no recent experience in the last three years. I very common problem I have been having. Also tried will trans But I have not been able to have anybody from that co return my calls. :-(

    This past month has been a very demoralizing experience for me. Remember in my cdl training class teacher always said even if you leave trucking always keep that cdl and you will always be within reach of a good job. I know now that is far from the truth in this day and age. After talking to all these trucking company's I fill a 2 dollar hoe has more to market then I do. :-(
     
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    I'm really surprised at the difficulty you're having. Knight will be ok though. Good place to get back on the road.
     
  7. Aflak

    Aflak Light Load Member

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    Jun 6, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV
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    Well I filled out dozens of online forms took the 100 questions questionnaire and its all set. I start in PHX orientation on Monday. I do not have laptop or smart phone atm so I will not update regular. However when I do have access to computer and internet I will update this thread. Seems the Knight form is a bit dead so I am sure any update is good. :)

    I am thinking about upgrading my flip phone to keep up with the rest of the world before I leave. Looking at the Lg G4. maybe?
     
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  8. Dna Mach

    Dna Mach Road Train Member

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    Good place to get your feet wet again. Shouldn't take but a few months to get out of there. There is a reason why only Knight called you back. You'll have your choice of trucks to choose from.
     
  9. Dharok

    Dharok Medium Load Member

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    Anyone know if Knight offers manual transmition trucks? I might go to orientation next monday, forgot to ask the recruiter. I know most likely their volvos don't but I'm keeping my hopes up. Hate how everyone is switching to automatics :(
     
  10. Aflak

    Aflak Light Load Member

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    Jun 6, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV
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    Keiler05 I cant seem to find a way to PM you this silly willy new forums do not have a PM option! But to answer your question from the info I got while in orientation was right now its a mix of automatics and 9 speeds. However there switching to all automatics with in the next 2 to 3 years they will be at 100% automatics. They say the reason for the switch if fuel savings and lower maintenance cost.
     
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  11. Aflak

    Aflak Light Load Member

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    Jun 6, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV
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    Well I'm back at home. I did not make it thru the Knight physical. Well I did make it thru the process of doing the physical but I guess the doc did not like what he saw and only gave me a 30 days pass which was a disqualifying factor in ordination. I and 2 others were cut for health reasons and we were all the fat ones in the class LOL. Silly thing is I had to take a dot physical couple of week ago since my medical expired on 6-20 and all I need to do is take one of them sleep apnea in home test and Concentra will give me a 2 year dot medical certificate. So Knights medical is a lot more strict and I will admit that Knights medical was the hardest I have ever had to take out of all physicals I have ever taken in my life.

    Good thing I did have another job lined up before I left for Knight Orientation just in case. I start that job on Monday. It’s just a standard 9am to 5pm cubical type job but it is a paycheck plus good health insurance and other benefits. But I am still very bummed I could not make it. The people at Knight were all professional and enjoyable to speak with in a group and one on one.

    They had some odd rules with having to come back to you're home terminal quite often on a set schedule for A and B service truck maintenance. For as much as they want you to bring you're truck back to the terminals I cannot see how anybody would still have problems with their trucks. But other than that I felt I would have enjoyed driving OTR with Knight. They advised me to lose some weight and apply again when I am in better shape. I will join a gym and start working on my weight and health but not for the sake of truck driving but for Me my well being, quality of life and to be able to attract women, As I do enjoy a good women or even a couple of good women? :) So If I can lose 80 to 100 pounds by this time next year I will try again.

    I will try prime first as I will be working when I apply with them next time around. I will use Knight as a secondary if something goes wrong with prime. Only reason I was not able to go with Prime this time is I was unemployed and as per recruiter I spoke with they do not hire unemployed people. So that is that I am ok as for having a job witch is a big monkey off my back and I will do what I must to get in shape. I might revive this thread next year if I join on with Knight. Will see what happens. Thanks for reading and anybody on the road you stay safe out there.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2015
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