Start c-1 in 2 wks why so many going thru schl

I cant speak for everyone or every carrier. I work for a very small owner op fleet (3 trucks). We normally have no problems finding loads in the spring and summer but things slack a little in the fall and winter.

If you are just getting into trucking, expect a few things. First, expect to be the companys b#%^...litterally. You will have to do what they tell you, when they tell you, period. With the CDL mills churning out so many people, larger companies dont tollerate any kind of crap.

Second, just be aware this isn't the money making career it was years ago. Some still do OK but since the economy took a dive, it hit drivers hard. I know as a flatbedder, I used to haul a lot more coils (large rolls of sheet metal) to auto factories. Its kinda slacked off. I still haul them, just not as frequent.

Do your job, do it right, and do it by the book according to the company. If you survive your first year, you can consider yourself "in the game". The first year is sheer hell for anyone.

 

Bluedog,
I just finished C1 Little Rock on Thursday. My class started with 13 & ended w/ 8. The class right behind us started w/19 & had lost 3. The class behind that one started w/23. About 90% are going to USA, with majority of rest going to PAM. There were about 2/ week coming from USA for failing their initial pad test. One of them told us that there were about 60 people in USA's orientation class last Monday. Doesn't look all that bright of a first year, but looking forward to trying. It's got to be better than the job market here in Alabama.

 

Since I went to C1 under the Company sponsored tuition program, I had only 2 choices, USA or PAM. I chose USA simply because I had never heard of PAM. With the State paying your tuition, you will be free to choose any company that will hire you. Talk to the instructors once you get there and they can give you some good info about other companies.

 

hes right yall i know i only made like 28k my first year but however last yr i made almost 50 good luck to yall hope ya make it

o n one more thing make all the money you can b 4 halloween b c freight (mainly dry freight) will slow way down around nov till bout mar or april

good luck to yall

 

Don't listen tothe "when I started "stories from drivers that started over a year ago . The conditions are totally different now . Gt away from unsubstantiated statements on forums and do some worthwhile research starting here . http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/datadisp_table.xml . Forget about things getting better anytime sooner . They hve to get a lot better before rates get bac up and drivers are needed .
If you are considering a company go to financial websites like Forbes , Hoover's or Yahoo Finance and read quarterly reports on the company . Here's what you'll find on USA Truck .

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/USA-Truck-1Q-loss-narrows-on-apf-14946888.html?x=1&.v=1
Reports from other carriers are similar . All have reduced their fleet size . Almost all have cut pay and benefits .
So why do they keep hiring ? Because as you said , they won't hesitate to fire for minor incidents . There are a lot of recent hires quitting when they get a reality check when put on the road . The physicians used by carriers for DOT physicals are much more thoroug than the physicians schools recommend to get your CDL .
Only people with personal connections that assure them of a job should consider getting into trucking . Things are bad and going to get worse .

 

I would milk the unemployment then consider my options.