Hi everyone. I am in serious need of some advice for continuing my trucking career. Here is my back story. I attended the FFE Driver Academy in December. I was doing well for the most part, but I was having trouble learning to shift the truck properly. I received good marks for turns, backing, parallel, etc. but I really needed more practice on working a manual transmission. I was dropped from the school after my final road evaluation due to my shifting problems. I tried to talk to the school admins for more training, but they're not really set up to offer additional one-on-one training, so I was let go. Since then, I have obtained my Class A CDL on my own without any issues. When I tested, I was driving an automatic truck so shifting wasn't an issue. Now that I have my CDL, I'm trying to find a company that will hire me. I've gotten a lot of calls after I posted my resume online but the conversation quickly ends when they realize that I am a new driver. I did receive an offer with a local company and they sent me out on a trial run with another driver. I drove back to Ft Worth from Bonham, about 95 miles or so, and didn't have any issues except for imperfect shifting. So I know that I can drive a truck with a bit more practice. Now that company doesn't seem willing to really work with me. I looked into three major companies that do hire inexperienced drivers. Werner and US Xpress told me that I was not eligible for hire since I did not complete the driver academy. PAM was the third one I looked into, and they have a partnership with Driver Solutions, so I looked into them. I have an appointment Monday to talk to a DS rep. I feel like my only option is to go through CDL school again in order to find a job, but I've been reading a lot of horror stories about Driver Solutions and PAM. I don't have any money to my name, I'm staying with family right now. I cannot afford to pay full tuition to a truck driving school that will give me the training I need on the specific things I am having trouble with (i.e. shifting). I'm almost ready to give up on the whole thing, and the sad part is that I have a full Class A CDL and valid medical card in my wallet. It's extremely frustrating. I just wanted to get some honest opinions from the people here... am I making a mistake going with Driver Solutions, or is this most likely my best option? I'm looking for objective options supported by facts... please don't respond to just say that "Driver solutions sucks." or "PAM is horrible." Give me some facts to work with... I'm really depending on the good people on this forum for some help. Thanks in advance for your time!
they are sup. to TEACH you how to do that...thats messed up ....i am sorry ....i dont know anything about Stevens, but i know they hire people with no exp. unfort. most of the companies that hire ppl with no exp. from what i heard arent worth a flip...i wish i knew where to point you to....hopefully someone on here can!!! hope it all works out for you...but you will def. need to go with a trainer to work on your shifting....(which they will make you anyway)
Go online and apply at Swift, you have a CDL A already, they will work with you and are a good company for newbies; THEY ARE A TRAINING COMPANY. Don't sweat the small stuff. They may be able to help you.
Driver solutions and Pam aint the best or horrible. Since i was in same position you where in had cdl and medical card but no experience. So i was filling out applications and driver solutions and pam contacted me after i had pretty much giving up on driving. So i went to there fort worth location and since I already had a license I was told to basically just sit there each day and go back to hotel after each day of training and wait for the training to be completed and receive cert. you finished training. So basically sat in texas for 3 weeks (mini-vacation). Then went back home and sat for a week, til i got picked up by a trainer. Did there 4 weeks training which turned out to be 6 weeks. Upgraded to a truck and did the year requirement they wanted. So going to pam thru driver solutions is a option. The pay sucks at first but goes up slowly during your first year. If you can deal with poor communication, waiting on loads, breakdowns(if u get older truck) and the headaches you will get. You can get thru it and get your experience.
Check up on Giltner and Rhoel from what I hear in the forum Rhoel is solid they will help you. Giltner is also a training company. Good luck driver.
Hey guys, thank you for your kind responses! I've put in my application with Roehl but it'll probably take until Monday before I hear from them. I'm hoping to avoid having to spend $6,000 on a school, even if I'm paying it out. Any further advice is always appreciated.
