Beginning at the beginning

So after reading a bunch of drivers gripes, praises, woes, etc...I tried to make a semi-informed decision about what company I would least mind working for, as a first time OTR driver.
I'd looked at their websites (all smoke, mirrors and sunshine) and saw how EVERYONE has "the newest fleet" or "best pay per mile" or "most miles" claim...very non-helpful.
So I figured I'd find a forum...yeah, that's it! A forum, where the great (and not so great) (un)washed masses could come and discuss all the ups and downs of the industry, many of which I'm aware. Where thoughts would flow like cheap wine, and grizzled old veterans would impart their wealth of advice and knowledge on the uninformed.
Somehow I wound up here. So I checked threads, mostly on the companies I was considering. I crossed many off the list, and the one that comes in first place is Roehl. In my situation, it makes sense. They have their school, so I don't have to go through a tech college that might or might not be accepted by a company I want to get into. They're in my homestate (yay!), and to boot, the training center is around 75 miles from home. Which means that even if I get the Great Kiss-off, I just hop in my car and go home. Unlike heading to another state and being told "lease a truck from us or find your own way home, sucker." Yeah, not much up for that.
Okay, okay...done rambling for a moment.
So I took a few days to fill out the printed application with as accurate info as I could. I then filled out the ONLINE ap with all the info I'd scrounged (it looks prettier with everything typed than my sometimes non-legible writing), sent it off by 3pm or so, then e-mailed to ask for confirmation that everything was received. Confirmation was sent within like 1/2 an hour.
Then I hunkered down to wait. I was going to wait til at LEAST noon today before I called to ask if there was anything else I needed to send, or try and schmooze info out of the recruiter...just because I'm that patient. This morning, I was thinking how I was going to come up with any pertinent (or impertinent) questions I had regarding the company and their policies...in the middle of my "pretend yoga session", my phone rings. Heyyy, waddaya know? The recruiter from Roehl is calling ME...so we got to talking, and I tried to NOT ask any questions that would require her to blow sunshine up my butt, and I feel like the questions were answered honestly.
Why? Because we have a sisterhood type bond after chatting for 5 minutes? Nope. Although she DID mention a place near the hotel in Marshfield that has good chicken...hmm...oh, I digress, sorry. Because I've asked some of the same questions on here, and the answers all are very similar. I also asked her questions to things that I have seen other drivers ask, and same deal.
Now...do I think she's capable of making a smoke screen that would make 007 proud? Yup. Am I giving her the opportunity to fleece me with fluffy bunnies and kitties with balls of yarn goodness? Umm..I don't think so. I didn't ask if I can have the newest truck...or if I can have a cute, hygenic trainer...or if I can trip to Disney Land on the company credit card for a week...
And my boyfriend DID mention that she probably called back so fast because I'm a woman. Could be. Could also be my app was all good, I don't know. Either way, this is my first step toward the open road...
Beginning of the beginning...or the beginning of the end...we'll have to see.

 

Mic, thanks...I'm looking forward to starting the next chapter, and seeing how it differs from the previous. Now, hopefully your experiences will continue to be good!! Have you made Canada yet?

JBear, I talked to Kim, and she said pretty much what you just told me...3 weeks worth of trainees, 6 at a time, and there's a pool/hot tub available. So you're saying they FROWN on skinnydipping, right? Now that you're out of the first phase of training, how long do you wait before going out with a trainer?
Yeah, trucks can be intimidating...they don't hurt other people, they kill them. It's a lot of pressure, if you let it get to you. Thanks for the info, I'm sure a lot of people feel great right out of training, and I'm hoping that warm fuzzy will stay with ya long afterwards. I'm still trying to get the $$ end cleared up before I can start.

So, I can't imagine that the pre-work screen (lift and squat and carry) is too difficult, I KNOW I'll pass any drug testing, unless they test for caffeine. I hear haz-mat is required...how hard was the studying/testing? I'm considering getting a jump on things and grabbing a book at the DMV to get a headstart.

 

Totes? I was thinking little bags (or the shoes) that women carry around... my bad.
So, you're saying no to hazmat, but I seem to recall either on their site or on some PDF file I found there that they do? I don't want to ask the recruiter, she seems nice enough, but will I get a straight HONEST answer? I've been careful on what I ask, so far.