You guys are killing me.......

So I talked to Roehl again today. They did confirm that the 75,000 or $3100 is to protect them for the cost of orientation and training. She said experienced drivers are not required to sign it.

Talked to Hummer and it sounds like a great company. No pet policy though. So that means mama would never be able to go on the road with me. Not sure if that is actually a bad thing.....
Now gonna call Schugel.

 

great info Fastlane.

I am out of school so can't ask my instructor but I feel I was towards top of my class. Only one to drive on freeway (I-15 through Southern California) on first day behind the wheel. He constantly took me to crazy busy streets through Fontana and Ontario or insane turns to test me while rest of class was still driving around the block working on shifting. I think driving fuel tankers through Iraq and other large trucks through Korea helped with my confidence in larger vehicles and lawless roads. Obviously until I pull up to that first dock everything else means nothing.

I am still leaning towards Roehl just because of the home time. Their 7 on 4 off, 7 on 3 off schedule just seems to be a perfect fit for me. Plus headquarters is about an hour from the house so I can come home every night of orientation. And I am sure I will drive right past the house regularly besides off time. Good rider/pet policy. I hate the $3100 training fee and I hate that it is slip seating with that schedule. But I like that I can change my schedule or run at any time. So if I decide I want more road time I can switch to say 14/7 or 21/7 at any time. If I want to try dedicated instead of OTR I can switch at any time or switch back if it don't work out.

She assured me the cameras only turn on with heavy braking but honestly if they want to watch me I don't really care, throw in a little extra pay I will do a dance for them.. haha

Waiting to hear back from a couple other companies and also applied locally at Sysco which would have me home every night.

 

I know that 7/4 7/3 and 7/7 are slip seating. I am "assuming" 14/7 would be also. She said I could run reefer, van, or flatbed all out of Marshfield office but truck gets dropped off at yard before start of home time so other driver could use it. She said they make it a point to make sure all guys using the same trucks are all smokers or non smokers. What you want to run determines what terminal you train out of but not work out of. So if I want to do orientation and train out of Marshfield I will train on reefer but can drive van or flatbed out of that office, just not train. If you want to run flatbeds you will do orientation and train out of Indiana. She said reefer would be my best choice because it will keep me local and get lots of miles.

Still waiting to hear from 2 other companies and sleep on it a few days before I make a decision.

 

Well honestly I don't want to be stuck in a hotel over Christmas while my trainer is at home with his family so I am waiting to go anywhere until after Christmas. Roehl has orientation every week and since I can drive home daily if I go with them I can start orientation on the 14th which wouldn't put me on the road until after Christmas. Hummer starts next orientation in January so either way I have time. Not sure on Magnum or the other company yet.