80 hour truck driving schools, is it enough time?

Hi guy's been reading this forum for a while thanks for all the informative dialogue! Finally signed in and I have a question for anyone who can help!

Chinatown I've been reading your really knowledgable posts for a bit. Thank you especially for sharing all your your years of experience, "great posts and answers"... Perhaps you might be kind enough give some advice.

I'm in a similar situation to BigBopperRunner accept I'm from the NYC area. I think from reading some of your posts Chinatown you might know the NY tristate area so hope you might chime in.

I'm looking for a local driving school like Bopper. I Would attend one of the company sponsored programs but I'm 59 years old and I'm not sure about this career shift so late In life.So trying to feel it out.
I'm Not quite ready to get shipped to some hotel room in the mid west yet and the commitment to a particular company for a year or more? Would like to get my feet wet a little slower before I do that jump so I thought starting at a local private school would be better choice for me! at least for the first stage of this journey Any thoughts on that? Can I get myself started that way?

Long road trucking always something I was interested in.. been around trucks my entire life because I worked, "still do" in the Movie Business so trucks all sizes, Rv's etc a part of my daily thing 30 years (being around them and in them) but I've only driven smaller ones. cubes etc some large cubes and Tow vehicles etc .. The film business for the most part in terms of trucking run by the Teamsters Union. "In my younger days a closed shop".. Though I'm in another union.. I had Many Teamster friends over the years "most now retired" or passed on. Only recently did I start thinking about driving long road as my family commitments changed. Was always on some gig in a hotel room somewhere many years.. So the wandering life not that unfamiliar to me.. but now I'm even more free to purse this new career.. I think many business opportunities for me beyond just driving in Trucking.. These days the movie business not as lucrative as it once was terms of my old job category, and terms of hours worse then trucking "believe it or not". "No Not the glamorous movie business laugh " Hey some great moments! These days this new world, the Trucking thing might open up some new areas in the movie business for me and I'm also not stuck in that fish tank if I choose not to be! "For now I really want to just drive". Kind of want to be on my own..
Anyway hearing this you think it's possible to still enter the field at my age? From what I read other threads age not the main issue but my approach to doing this has to I think be my own?
For starters most importantly like Bigbopper who posted the question in Cali, I'm curious if anyone knew any decent schools in and around NY, NJ, Connecticut. Would like to train for 4 weeks see where that gets me terms my abilities.. I'm lucky to be in perfect health still running 8 minute miles..

There are some schools listed on this sight. Sage I hear is great.. but not that close. iI'd love to commute to school for starters not jump in head first! Once I know I can do it and I have a little experience don't care where I go! or for how long! See a listing for a school, "Commercial Driver Training" in West Babylon on Long Island and "Windsor Tractor Trailer" in Lindon New Jersey on this sight, Windsor has a reasonable 100 hour course to get. myself started $2900 seems to cheap to be good?
I see these other schools listed when I do a google search for CDL Class A local schools near me
"Sunny Truck Driving school" in Flushing. "Heritage Auto School" New Rochelle "Real close by for me. "Ferarri Driving school" in the Bronx, "Al Sorano's" professional driving school also in the Bronx. There even one in Manhattan "Barnes" Driving school" and a bunch in New Jersey "Easy Wheels", "Jersey Tractor Trailer training". Master Driving school in Patterson NJ.

How can I tell if any of thees school are ok.. and secondly Does my approach seem sensible or stupid given my situation.. Just trying to get the feel of the industry and the companies that might hire me.. Once I know it works for me going at it full steam with at least a little driving experience seems sensible or is this a stupid way to start because I'll be unemployable? Once I know it's a go for me I'd be happy to commit and to do a company sponsored training program also for a year. Does this sound like a stupid approach?

All the schools I listed look like all around driving schools (cars motorcycles busses) with a CDL class A training program of some type and some trucks as a part of their repertoire So not sure if that is legit..
"Has anyone heard of any of the schools I mention in this post.. and or does anyone have any other suggestions or feedback my situation? Especially this first stage which is just getting experience behind the wheel training.. Most of the written stuff I can handle myself.. it's the driving shifting and logistics. That I know you can only get experienced with actually driving and being trained.. I need to ease my way into this first stage try to be strategic...Not sure how to not go at it "to fast or two slow at 59" either approach I k now has it's downside

Sorry for this long post guy's and gals but simple starting point for my original question is. Anyone
heard or have experience any of these schools I listed or suggestions for any others. . Hoping you might pipe in chinatown.. Sorry all for the the long winded post from an old guy who's not so old a guy at heart!

 

@Spence1 - long haul trucking is probably a good fit for you. I'd contact a couple of trucking companies that hire new cdl school grads from NYC and ask about which school you should attend to qualify for their hiring.
You'd probably be a good fit for Leonard's Express and Calex Logistics. They both do west coast turns.
~~~~~~~~Calex Logistics~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Leonard's Express~~~~~~~~

 

Today's trucks have become so push button so to speak my 90 year old mother in law can probably move it. Not very well but it's easy enough for her to do it in that cab.

 

Here's a post a couple years old about Calex Logistics.
"Calex Logistics Pittston Pennsylvania and you'd be delivering wheelchairs to Las Vegas 3 times per month and then going to California to grab produce to take to the East Coast."

 

That's true... they're fairly simple to operate. A 90 year old granny can do it.

But.. what happens when it's not just driving across the country?
What happens when that delivery in Teaneck has about 3" to spare if you do it perfectly ?
Or, you get dispatched on a multi-drop load "as a favor", and it's all in strip malls that you have to maneuver around cars, and dumpsters, and yellow poles, low hanging wires, etc ?

What happens when your cross country one drop is on a very busy 5 lane highway that you have to blindside into the dock while MAKING the traffic stop all by yourself... because they're not giving you an inch?

These are the things those 80/160hr course can't begin to scratch the surface of.
Neither can 3 or 4 months with a "trainer".

IMO.. you got it.. or you don't.

 

Hey guy's.."Chinatown" "all of you" thanks for the responses. Very generous with the helping info! I've been reading the board for a while, finally signed in and posted, so happy to get such quick dialogue back... Chinatown I'll start that process calling around.. see "who's who". check out those companies

x1heavy thanks for assuaging the fears about driving.. Not so worried about the trucks.. Know if I get into the right training environment can master that.. Funny post about grandma.. It's cool that it's getting easier to drive "class a vehicles" auto transmissions etc but I totally want to learn the right way to shift, rigging flatbed. Hazmert whatever. I'm an obsessed curious life long need to know learner, a good thing? also get you in trouble "Laugh"

Kind of building my way up to jumping in to a new career.. Trucking something that always interested me but to busy working at what I was doing to make a turn...Now hopefully freed up a bit to try something new and go for it!

Funny the trucking thing feels very much like my other career in ways, but different also obviously. "I know it isn't easy." Jammer 910z's post about blinding into a dock in traffic.. I've seen this before in NYC where I still live, have at times stoped too try to help a driver with a tough traffic mess! Just being around that in the film business where the drivers get a lot of help.. It can still be hard.. Parallel; parking the 23 foot boat I used too tow around was at times a pain in suburban spots but I'm glad I at least have that experience! With the hole in the water I threw money into!

Anyway I'm hoping if I can proceed.. trucking won't force me to give up completely the other career I still love but to tell truth that old world hard to make consistent money at any more! Thing about a truck is I can be on a computer and or writing from anywhere, when I'm not at the wheel, Kind of a choice I want also "Anywhere". seeing different things was always really important to me! I guess lots of possibilities? The idea of that cross country from California to New York to me would be amazing "Chinatown"! Yep thats why I asked about the 80/160 thing "Jammer" and best way to go at it.. I know getting good at what you are doling, (route planning, making sure your equipment in good condition and dealing whether, logistics, and rules rules rules rules is not something you learn over night! I know it all requires a lot of focus especially at the beginning but also just seems like lots of business possibilities if your ambitious and if you can find the time to learn. Please correct me anyone on here thinks I'm off the mark! I wrote that not because I know but because I'm happy to get your perspectives.. You all I'm sure have many different experiences regard your careers in trucking... and everyone comes at things from a different place.. why I finally posted trying to analyze my situation and figure out best way to start. Try to not just jump in without a little analysis who you work for and how to train.. "the choices you actually have vs I'm sure lots of BS and hype? In the changing chessboard of on the road commerce,

Last night was watching this Frontline documentary last night about our trade situation with China and realized that the trucking world in a strange way might be better protected then many industries for a while. whether we are producing it here "obviously a good thing" or somewhere else. Stuff has to be moved and even the conversation about automated trucks is in many ways a mute one as you described "xheavy".

In my case spending a life dealing with computers and technology.. I know humans are still absolutely necessary in the trucking world...I don't care how automated things get terms of driverless vehicles etc . It's still life in the "real world" laugh whatever that is? Way too many variables and dangers for full automation until our entire infrastructure re-arranged! "good luck with that one, way our system works .. more likely to collapse first. I'd love to see a driverless vehicle operate in an urban environment like NYC.. "Not likely" So it seems like a good move for at least the foreseeable future. Certainly not without stress.

The one thing that concerns me is the move toward Driver facing cameras and microphones.. For me especially disturbing because I spent a long time pointing a camera for completely different purposes at other people and things . I think the front facing camera thing is Ok but part of doing the trucking thing is not so much freedom and autonomy. "Thats a lot to ask for in this world" but a little sense of that feeling would be nice! Just to be on your own! Any opinions on that one guy's? seems a lot of the smaller companies shy away from the camera pointing at you but to get one of those jobs you need the experience with a major carrier first? Not a problem for me.. just want to know I'm doing it right and I'm not non the hook like a slave.. always try to measure starting off liking what you are doing a bit vs getting your ars kicked

I was lucky for a long time.. I spent most of my life doing something I cared about was in many ways my own business an independent contractor.. I still love that world but funny how with all the technical change in that world it has become more of an avocation last few years for many of my generation if making films rather the just working on them your goal.. As I worked my way up that became what I did/do.. Over the last 5-10 years unless you were doing the big feature scene, what was once high paying very skilled labor and craft became $15.00 an hour work. "Not always" but more and more.. Anyone with an I phone can create content.. Good and bad to that. "Just what it is". love to watch the trucking channels on u tube.. and lot of other things. " a fast changing world". yep to fast perhaps? Digital age has effected all of us! Depending on your age like the industrial revolution effected our grandparents and great grand parents same seismic shift in labour. Have to adapt. no choices!

Thing Is my old business is probably more stress filled then trucking. many ways Almost no rules no regulations on your time or your rates. Union pretty much powerless.. In trucking the rules and regs seem to have gone to far for most drivers "a bad thing". kind of also what I'm measuring... Interacting with 100 people or more every day in the craziest locations what I did for a long time can get ridiculous Often harsh weather, freezing cold, crazy heat in any possible place a rooftop or on the desert in the snow, outside 16 hours sometimes in a stretch can be nights can be days, nights into days... "Sound familiar"? can really wear you down. So stress and hard work no stranger to me. In and aroudnall of that trucks always there! I wasn't driving one though. think my I'm a techie guy background might help me? I dealt with a lot of cranes very expensive cameras up ladders scaffolding many stories high, rigging.. So I feel like I have the kind of aptitudes to do a good job as a trucker and sleeping in a Vehicle part of the time for me is not at all a problem.. been in some pretty crappy small hotel rooms! Guess that's to be seen over a long haul. I'll try to get started some of all your suggestions.. ask about those schools. Try to pinpoint some companies?
Also if anyone has any insight into the driver facing camera's and is it important to try to find a company with a depo near where you live? so if you want to get home you can? for now this is important... once I start could be that home could be anywhere? Sorry for the long post again. thanks for reading and responding!

cheers all of you and thanks so much for your insights. hopefully will keep the dialogue going as I learn more!
Spence

 

@Spence1 - pull reefers and no worries about a downturn in the economy; people eat food whether the economy is good or bad.

 

Thanks again chinatown for more input! yep it's true.. terms of the refer thing.. Still exploring all the options! Going to start those calls this week as you suggested. Go visit some of the schools as well. "Talk to them"
... I'll post as I get more info about local trucking schools in NY that companies would consider hiring from.. and there various protocols.. Obviously 80 ours or 160 hours in a school can't replace experience.. Then question that started this thread by Bigbopperrunner.. I guess the short and long answer is lots of different methods out there and lots of companies that will consider you based on a variety of experiences? Hope that's the case? Not just the major companies and their training programs with their 1 year commitments average. apparently the consensus is that nis the best way to go if you are starting out fastest way to learn! Would still consider it if I found the right company at the right time... Not sure weather too talk to recruiters just for the hell of it. Still for me probably start with the private schools.. If I find a good one to get myself going.. I read a post I think of yours about drivers working for pharmaceutical companies its a while back and the plus's and negatives of doing that? namely danger involved... Never thought about things like that.. but obviously there are many many types of drivers and routes and approaches.."Learning as much as I can? My age trying to be as strategic as I can how I enter to avoid as much negative experience as I can.. though always be some tough stuff to face in the process of learning and moving forward. Thanks all for the input.

 

Read Post #12 again; probably a good place to start.

 

yep will do thanks so much for all the great info across all the threads will be in touch as I go step by step