Journey begins with Maverick

August 12


Just a little over a week ago I received a call saying that there was an opening in the next session of training with Maverick Transportation. The question was simple, could I come to training?


I had been corresponding with emails and phone calls for over a month with the hope that I could get into their training program as a student driver and earn my CDL A. Let me back up for a minute and explain.


I had sent in a simple email requesting information on Maverick’s program after doing days of research on the different programs and what they offered as well as the companies themselves. While standing in the Orthodontists office I received a call from Ryan, who would be my recruiter during the process, saying that he wondered if I had a few minutes to talk. He basically did a phone interview about who I was, why I was wanting to drive and asked many questions trying to see if I would be a fit for Maverick. After our conversation was done he said he would be sending me out some information to look over and fill out and the process had begun. This was a good sign to me because they wanted to know about me as a person. Over the next month or so I worked with the HR department and Ryan getting paper work filled out and signed by myself and doctors who’s care I am under for my different medical issues. Maverick wanted to be very sure that when I got out to their headquarters for orientation that there wouldn’t be any snags in getting my DOT physical and agility testing. They wouldn’t want to pay to get me out there only to have me turn around and go home after one day in the program. Side note, Maverick will pay for your transportation to and from the training process. I believe that they will pay for a Greyhound bus ticket from the closest terminal from where you live to North Little Rock, or if you choose to drive yourself they will reimburse you in your first pay check the amount of what the bus ticket round trip would have cost. I think I also heard that if you are within a certain distance, like 50 miles that they wont reimburse.


I arrived at their headquarters Saturday afternoon around 3 and stopped at the gate. (if you arrive in your own car take note that there is a guard house in between what I thought were the entrance and exits of the campus. It wasn’t The right side upon arriving at the campus is for Tractor Trailer entrance and exit. The left side is for personal vehicle entrance.) I entered the guard house and was greeted by 4-5 friendly people and they had me sign in and they gave me my welcome packet with the information I needed concerning where I would be staying and other miscellaneous information.


I unpacked and moved into my room and settled down for the night. The room has two full size beds with pillows, sheets and a comforter as well as a bathroom with a shower and toilet. The bathroom sink and mirror are actually located in the bedroom. There were two open closets about 4 feet wide and about 5 feet tall with a storage shelf underneath about 4 feet wide and 2 feet tall right next to each other. We had a mini fridge and a shared night stand between the beds and then two small desks and chairs for us to use to do homework at. The onsite hotel that we stayed at had an Ice machine as well as a lounge with TV, microwaves, sink, coffee maker and a small table to sit and eat at. There was also a propane grill out on the back porch area that was available for our use.


I was anxious to meet my roommate and to sleep for the night as I had driven about 20 hours to get to North Little Rock. After meeting my roommate I hit the hay to be ready for class and breakfast at 06:30.