ATTN: NEW DRIVERS!!!!!!

You forgot to correct Unicorn it's really Uniform....

 

ok..guys...lets be real here...I have nt a clue what school to attend..all I hear is salesmanship..I am living in Mich...but want a chance to attend a good school...and not a company mill...I would be willing to move to the hills...tenn or georgia...if I can get a new start...any suggestions...dont have alot of cash either....thanks:smt039

 

I'm starting a new school next week in CT.. financed the whole thing $25 up front...but it costs almost $7 grand, 480 hours of training in 16 weeks. New England Tractor Trailor Training

I was in the same position, I had no cash to go to a cheaper school and did not want to be an indentured servant to some company for a year to 18 months..

no easy to get into the career for a broke guy..but it will be worth it

 

Juststartin, check out the community colleges -- they tend to be less expensive than the mills and have better programs. Lansing Community College has a good program, but if money is an issue, you would need to look at financing. If you are unemployed or underemployed (less than $19,600 per year or $9,900 in the last 6 months), go to your local Michigan Works office and check into the WIA program. You will have to jump through some hoops (government stuff you know:smt083), but they will pay for your schooling and expenses to get your CDL. If you don't qualify for that, check into the out of state Community Colleges. I have seen some that have very good programs for less than $1,000, but they are in the Southeast. But, paying $600 - $900 plus room and board may work out to be less than you would pay anywhere in Michigan. If you still can't find a situation that will work for you, you may have to resign yourself to training with a company and staying the 12-18 months to 'pay it back'. If you have to go this route, I would recommend that you look at Schneider or Roehl. They tend to treat their new drivers better than most training companies. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

 

FOr the Newbies, if you have a problem ask another Driver for help. Some will help some will say no, or get lost. If they say no, just go to another driver.

I was on my first run for a new Company. There was about 4 trucks there from the same Company. I had what appeared to be an easy spot to back into, but that was the Problem, too easy. I could not get it in the door.. Another driver came and got it in for me. Put couple Peterbuilts and a SHoulder deep ditch in the way I would have gotten it in, but it was to easy to make.

After I no longer drove, and I saw a driver in trouble, I would stop to help him. Simple. Yes it a dog eat dog world, but we are also brothers also in a sense..

 

ex army
alpha bravo charlie delta echo foxtrot golf hotel indigo o i forgot i guess thats why i am ex army huh

 

juliet-kilo-lima-mike-november-oscar-papa-quebec-romeo-sierra-tango-
uniform-victor-whiskey-xray-yankee-zebra

 

As far as this goes it's partly true, unfortunately. When I started driving in '92, if I was stuck on the side of the road, guaranteed I was there no longer than a minute before someone asked if I was ok. Nowadays, it takes a bit longer, but there are still guys and gals out there willing to give a helping hand. Recently I found myself stranded with a blown air hose in North Dakota and a guy turned his rig around, came back and checked to make sure everything was ok....and not because I was a woman. He didn't even know that then. Anyways, he stopped, crawled under my truck, spliced the hose allowing me to get to a mechanic for repair, and made sure that I made it. Yes the help out there is not as abundant as it once was (and that's a shame), but it is there. It can be dog eat dog if you let it be, but it's not necessary. A couple of years ago, I remember hearing of a 4 wheeler in my city who was parked on the side of the freeway. Nobody checked to see if he was ok, it took two days before the police even checked on him, they found him dead behind the wheel. The autopsy showed a stroke, and the comment was had someone stopped the first day he may have lived. He was a single father of four. Just something to chew on.

 

hey I remember those days, I couldn't stop to pee without getting asked if I was ok.

 

I'd rather be asked and not need it than need help and be stuck for hours...or days. I miss those days too.