I swear people

We agree pattyj..... we are studying for our permits now... School in December.

 

sounds almost like me. minus the fact that one of the lowest paying companies rejected me only for me to find a company willing to hire me that's starting wage is the highest i would have been paid at the first company.... Thank goodness someone up there is watching out for me.

 

Same here. I had brand new equipment and .40 cpm starting. I wasn't forced but could do as many miles that I could "legally" do. The company didn't take HOS as a joke. All I had to do was make sure my logs matched and at 8 am tell them if I'm empty or what's going on. I got real actual expirience. I have a little fleet and I still drive, and I would never hire a "20 years clean record guy". My philosophy is if you have 20 years clean driving record and haven't been a successful owner operator or moved on there is something wrong with you. Exception to those who love driving and own their rigs and what not. But in TWENTY years all you have to say is you have a clean record and ask for cash advances?? It seems that's how most guys from mega fleets turn out.

 

By lowest I mean they start you out with 32 cents and u max out at 37. The company I have an interview with next week starts student drives at 36 cents. ... frankly at this point I just want something to pan out.

 

If they see you aren't stupid they won't hire you. I was interested in US Express. They had a regional run and weekends at home. I knew I would take a pay cut, but j wanted home time. It was a northeast run. Recruiter was nice tho. She told me drivers make $850 a week gross. When I told her my pay she told me I should stick to it. At least she was honest and nice.

 

Well I did get another call back today so if first interview doesn't pan out I will have another opportunity.

 

That sounds like a good deal to me.

 

I think I know the program the OP is speaking of....Sampson CC...
I went to JCC, $1200 for a 8 week 384 hr program. 30% classroom 70% field. Have to have your permit before you show up. You learn a lot more than just how to pass the test...
The NC community colleges have an awesome program. But I think Sampson suffers from its location and lack of advertising I guess. I know a fellow employee that lives within a few miles of that school and went somewhere else cause he didn't even know it existed....

 

For too many, trucking is a choice of last resort. Not a planned career. My guess is most students can't go 10 weeks with no income.