Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Is there internet access in the dorms at SLC or the hotel (if I get there) for our laptops? Forgot to ask that part today, thanks

 

Good day today. Got my CDL today(no more permit) and took the DOT test. After we got back from the DMV we wrote down our preferences for trainers(some already have one, some don't) and went through some things. This I would like to kinda expand on. I'm not an expert but I will give my 2 cents.
First off, the lease. In my opnion, you should first see what truck driving is all about then make your decision. 90 days after you leave your trainer to me is to soon to get the big picture. If you do decide to lease after 90 days, that is your perogative but go into it with eyes wide open. In my 2 weeks at the SLC terminal I have heard alot of things. I have talked to drivers that are pissed off and ready to quit and drivers that are happier than a pig in mud. The one thing to point out here is that most of the unhappy ones are always at the terminal and not driving. Some are there because of truck problems. Understandable. Others just don't want to do the work. 1 guy I talked to today said he refuses all loads that go to Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona. How in the hell do you make money by turning down loads??
2nd. You have to be willing to go out there and sacrifice alot. I know what I am sacrificing. I have been married 15 years and have a 10 year old daughter. Are they going to miss me? Hell yes. Am I going to miss them? Hell yes but I knew going into this what it was going to be like. Every job/career has its upside and downside. It's what you are willing to put into it. I already have in my mind that I may only be home 1 day a month. That is my sacrifice to support my family.
Sorry to be preachy and by no means am I saying not to lease but know the facts before you decide to drive a truck or anything in life for that matter.

 

I have been driving a few days, and I have read there lease.
I personally would not sign it. If I was a trainer and full OTR then maybe I would sign it, but then I have to worry about a trainee messing up my truck, and I am very very careful with my truck, and I dont even own one lol.
Biggest reason I would not lease one from them or any other trucking company is that I don't want my lease company to have anything to do with the company that I get my freight from. Plain and simple.
I have been a company driver for a long time. I have made good money doing it. There is nothing in the rule books that says an experianced driver needs to be an owner operator.

 

Miles are all over the place, never anywhere close to the same week to week.

As for me, I'm on west coast regional and right now I'm in Albany, NY so you do the math on that one. Pickup tomorrow in Springfield, MA & deliver near Detroit, MI on the 25th.

I want to get back to my side of the country.

 

Chvyman,
Will look for you too when I arrive! Ryan is probably yours too lol.
BOL gents and ladies too!![/quote]

Actually I've been working with Rick. Looking forward to meeting everyone also.

 

Good luck to all starting school soon!

Hopefully JJ gets a good load of hometime!

 

Well I'm thinking of making the job into trucking .. And Central seems like a good option. I was an insurance adjuster now working at an autoparts store due to the economy. any advise on filling out the app. any thing they may turn me down for?

 

reading it as we speak thanks for the advise no criminal record here some bad credit after loosing a 75k a year insurance contract job due to economy and a bad temp agency that relocated me to arizona with out having a signed cotract from the company

 

Only thing I can say from what everyone else said is don't leave anything out or "forget" anything. They will probably find it and then you go home. I have misdemeanors from 15 years ago that wasn't a problem, and a negligent driving from 2002 that wasn't a problem. Guessing that one had to be at least 5 years old. Other than that just make sure you're healthy enough (blood pressure, etc..) to pass a DOT physical. Oh and my credit is crap as well and no problems. That's about all I know so far!!

Just got back from the doc, and he signed off on my prescription release form for my BP meds so I think I'm finally done with everything. I'll see whomever next week!!