Checking in / update time

Howdy Y'all! It's been a little while since I've paid a visit, so quick recap: I'm 28, baby on the way, and been in a PTDI course at a local college for about 15 weeks now. It's a 20 week course, so the big test is sneaking up. I've got a bout 40 hours of driving time (we drive with a local company that's hooked up with the college.)

Coming up this next week: Saftey Symposium, and the infamous skid pad.

After that, we buckle down for 15 hours of range/driving with the instructors just prepping for the test.

I'm not regretting going into a 20 week program at all. The thought of getting everything down in a 3 week dash, with all the regulations, just downright scares me. I feel like I've absorbed a lot more with the slower pace.

Anywho, I've got a couple companies interested at the moment and thought I'd drop their names here to see what y'all think.

1)Warner
2)US Xpress (Rumor is they're all automatics)
3)Davis Transport (Flatbed, 48 states, 4 weeks out)
4)Swift (They'd be interested in zombies, if they could drive)

There are a couple companies that run regional near here I like, such as NTB, and Roehl has a Great Lakes regional run. There's also a possibility the contractor that works with the college may open to hiring students again. They run the mail for the USPS with very tight schedules, but it's local.

What am I looking for? I'm not sure yet. I've been training on 48' vans, but I'm not opposed to flatbed or tanks. What I'm hoping for is something that will at least get me home weekly. The wifey and I decided I should stay a student until the baby arrives around April 1st, but we know that I'm going have to pay my dues on the road for about a year after that.

Anyone make the jump into trucking with a family on the way?

 

Thanks Notarps! I'll keep on researching. One way or the other, we'll get there.

 

Man, it's hard to believe there's only three weeks to go. Yesterday, I and a small group of students went to the Skid Pad up here in Marshall, Mi. Whooo weee! Press in the clutch, release the brakes, and that tractor spins. Waves of water everywhere (or at least that's what it seems like).

I hope I never have that trailer come around on me. I know what to do now, but it sure is a scary sight.

 

Michigan.

Saginaw. Are you the Cheryl in my class? Wait, no, I see you are in PA, yes?

 

So, here we are. 20 weeks in the program, and I just took my last graded class yesterday, which was a mock Third-Party test.

Inspection: 100%
Yard test: 100%
Road Test: 96%

I lost points on the road for missing parts of questions about railroad crossings with Hazmat loads, and another question about going down a mountain grade. I hit a curb or two as well, but was told that was not a failing offense, just a couple points. Overall, I did great! Whoo hooo!

On the Yard/range test I nailed everything on the first time out, even the 90 degree back! I was so thrilled!

Now to keep myself humble and cautious as I approach my real test date (the 23rd). Then, I get to choose my new employer.