Roadmasters and no experience question

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by senelcoolidge, Aug 20, 2018.

  1. senelcoolidge

    senelcoolidge Bobtail Member

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    Aug 20, 2018
    central florida
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    I lost my job last December and it's been a rough year financially thus far. I applied with a company and got my Class B CDL for free. But I soon realized that I don't like to drive passengers. I prefer to drive alone. I'm an introvert. The class B is limited in what I can do. So now I'm considering upgrading to a class A. There's a private school not that far from me (Road masters) that only takes 3-4 weeks. Is Roadmasters a good school? Also, I can't leave my family for long periods. My wife doesn't even drive...how would she get to work. If she's working I'm with the kids. I wish I would have done this years ago when I was single or newly married. With a Class A with no experience would it be very difficult to find something dedicated or regional. I can't be away for weeks...I could do days..just not weeks. If the money is really good than I would tell my wife to stay home, but she loves to work. This is quite a dilemma.
     
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  3. CJ701

    CJ701 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 6, 2018
    North Dakota
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    see if there is a community college that has a CDL program it maybe cheaper than the private school and can you wife not drive for medical reasons?
     
  4. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    Your wife really needs to get a drivers license. There is no reason not to. Has she been revoked too many times? Or has a serious handicapping medical issue requiring a vehicle to be built custom with hand controls? Or is she blind?

    If you cannot be away from your wife then trucking is not for you OTR with a tractor trailer sleeper. You can however find a day cab tractor trailer to work or a yard jockey which is not true driving experience or something like that. Your wife needs a license.

    As far as the Class B, you can do mixer work for concrete. Those are B's Or Dump truck work for 15.00 a hour things like that. (Just cannot tow a airbrake trailer or similar, those are restricted A's) Or work for state highways driving a specialized vehicle that is a heavy one in the Class B range. Or drive a lineman's truck usually supporting the electric utility. Or a box truck in a airport expedited situation. zip around with mckesson medicines from Memphis to local hospitals as far as you need to for the day filling orders for trauma kits, narcotics, cancer treatment, saline bags etc.

    There are still all sorts of things besides buses.

    You might have to put on a public face, smile and say good morning ma'am, sir etc as part of bus work. You don't have to engage in small talk or say anything. Just be a strong silent type.
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Are you near Orlando? Which town do you live in?
    @CJ701 is right, community college cdl school are cheap and high quality.
     
    Dan.S Thanks this.
  6. senelcoolidge

    senelcoolidge Bobtail Member

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    Aug 20, 2018
    central florida
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    Yes I live near Orlando. My wife is not disabled, she just never got her license. I've encouraged her to do it, but she never seemed interested in learning how to drive. My mom was the same. I've learned that there is a technical school in Orlando, so I'll talk to them and Roadmasters. I did a some shuttle driving, but it's really not my cup of tea. I used to be the bread winner of the family and now it's my wife. I need to regain that title. A year ago I would not have considered truck driving...they can be intimidating, but I like the challenge. I'm really eager to start.
     
    Chinatown and x1Heavy Thank this.
  7. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    Im going to ask you this. DO NOT EXPLODE AT ME.... this is strictly a detached question, and NOT a personal attack.

    "Is your wife too lazy to drive?"

    Do you understand why I asked that question? Driving requires a certain amount of stress and in some areas a little bit of fear and non-happiness due to some of the other drivers being downright dangerous to you and or her.

    One of my grandparents never drove. But after her husband died she went out and got a license easily enough. She only had a year and two months to live (No one had any way of knowing then) but she was free. (Finally) been married to a domineering ####### who wont let her do anything for 60+ years. (That might be a part of it...)
     
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    I wish mine was.
     
    bryan21384 Thanks this.
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Sygma Network - in Orlando is home daily or maybe a layover once in a great while.
    With this job you'll be teaming with an experienced driver and helping him unload at the customers. They haul for Sysco customers and probably get outbound loads at Sysco warehouse.
    CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
    • Class A Commercial Driver's License is preferred.
    POSITION SUMMARY:
    Provides assistance to SYGMA Delivery Drivers by properly delivering and unloading product for SYGMA customers according to customer invoices and company standards.

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:
    • Unloads product from trailer, by hand or using hand cart down ramps, stairs, or docks, in all weather conditions and places in designated customer storage areas according to customer specifications and company standards (e.g. handling product according to preferred work methods, scanning product as it is delivered into the store).
    • Picks up, loads and unloads damaged goods and customer returns.
    • Provides assistance to driver in route with map reading and giving directions on route; helps with situations involving low clearances (e.g. getting out of vehicle and directing driver under a low underpass to ensure proper clearance); assists driver in backing situations by getting out of the truck and watching for hazards.
    • [​IMG] upload_2018-8-20_16-26-19.jpeg
     
  10. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    Airlie Beach QLd
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    I really think these driving schools are a big con seriously it don't take 3 weeks to learn how to drive a semi especially if you've already been driving straight trucks when i first got my CDL Australian equivalent was a HC licience or whats known nationally as a heavy combination licence i went out and spent about 10 hours max before i got mine that's roughly 1 1/2 days training so these schools are just taking people for a good old ride i mean seriously are you all slow learners or something?
     
  11. taodnt

    taodnt Light Load Member

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    May 6, 2017
    North of Green Bay
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    My wife grew up in the city. EVERTHING was in walking distance: schools (grade school through university and nursing school), shops, entertainment, and etc. She never learned to drive because she had no need.

    About a year after our son was born I told her that she needed to drive because I would not be able to work and be a taxi service at the same time. I taught her how to drive in my ‘77 GMC Suburban. She took the DL test in that thing and even though she backed into and knocked over a sapling doing a Y turn the examiner passed her saying that he would never drive a vehicle so big.

    I never had a problem being a passenger when she drove, she drove just like I did....
     
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