Do they route you home after training?

LOL Jonny. I'll use you as a referral for that commission LOL!!

In all seriousness people think 40 hours and they think wow not enough time. Well honestly it's one on one and that makes a HUGE difference. We all went to only one school to get our CDL-A so we can only judge that school and not any other school. At the end of the day I hold a CDL-A in my back pocket just like Joe Schmo that went to the "accredited" 160 hour school. It's too bad that the hiring is based on the school you went to. It should solely be based on MVR, criminal record, job history and of course most importantly the road test. That is what makes me and Joe Schmo different. Not the amount of hours or the school that we went to. Joe Schmo with 160 hours and me with 40 hours both have one huge thing in common. We are NEWBS with NO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE and we happen to both have earned our CDL-A.

Sorry if it sounds like I am preaching to you Jonny. I am sure you understand. Please don't take me the wrong way. This is just a topic that I have very strong beliefs on. It's all politics if you ask me.

For the update on me....I had a prehire with Roehl and was turned down because of a 4 year old following too close. No accidents, no DUI's, no speeding. The only thing on my 5 years is a following too close. I am not complaining. I have nothing against Roehl at all. They are probably the best starter company out there in my uneducated opinion. It's just too bad I caught a bad break with a really horrible cop that doesn't know how to do his job. Also my fault for not fighting it harder. It's a very long story and I'm sure people are thinking yeah sure you deserved the ticket. Well I didn't deserve it.

Anyways, I have a pre-hire with U.S. Xpress and USA Truck. I just got off the phone with USA Truck and they told me that they have a regional job in my area and I told them about my license exactly what was on it and she said no problem they only go back 3 years. So as of right now as long as she is correct than I will be going with USA Truck.

 

I have A LOT to learn. However, I think the fact that my dad is a retired teamster and all the years of driving he had helps me. I was always asking him questions. I was always trying to figure out how to shift a split shift and always nervous that I wasn't going to be able to get it. Was nervous that I wasn't going to be able to concentrate on shifting and driving a trailer at the same time. Well it wasn't as hard as I was making it out to be in my head.

I truly hope I am not coming off as an arrogant rookie that thinks he knows it all. Let me assure you that I am going into this (just as I went into CDL school) with ears and eyes wide open. Never get ####y about anything. Confidence is one thing out on the road but ####iness is another. I intend to listen to EVERY thing that EVERYBODY tells me. I am not going into this thinking I will have no problems and everything will be easy because I know that it won't be. There will be a lot of situations that I will encounter along the way that are MUCH different than CDL school.

I am not an exception. I am not the only one in the 35 years of my school's history that has gotten their CDL-A and actually put it to use. The school I went to has been in business since 1975 and been in contact with many starter companies that approve the school. Like I said before I plateaued at my 40 hours. Even at 35 hours I wasn't learning anything new. It's time to take the learning to the next step and get out there on the road with a trainer and really get the real learning down. 40 hours solely one on one is just as good in my personal opinion from my personal experience as any other school's 160 hour program that is 8-12 on one.

A lot of people go to CDL school and get their license just because they want to get a job. I went to it with much more passion for learning. I love trucks. I love everything about them. I went to CDL school because I realized two things. One, I feel I am an excellent driver and two, I love driving and the open road and I mind as well make a career out of it. Unfortunately a lot of people go into this industry thinking "oh yeah I'll just get my CDL and get a job" not knowing ANYTHING about trucks or themselves. I truly LOVE trucks and I have a passion for learning everything about them that I feel will help me succeed.

I am not the only one. I'm sure most that are on this site are just as if not more passionate than me. I can officially go to U.S. Xpress orientation and USA Truck for a regional home weekly position. Now it's just a matter of choosing and of course PASSING orientation and road test. Thank you for your concern.

You stated "as a few years ago it was not an option as they all looking for that magical 160......150?? hrs in school."

Funny thing is it's the opposite. I applied to Werner because I saw SO many Werner pamphlets and posters at my school. I got a call back from the recruiter he was going over my info. He said I'm sorry but we no longer take students from your school. I talked to my school and they said yeah Werner used to hire our grads but not anymore. They now want the 160 hours. My school wouldn't be in business if they couldn't get their students jobs. They have a lifetime job placement assistance. People would complain and word would travel really fast if they spent $5000 for a license that they can't even put to use.

 

Exactly. I wasn't at my school for one week. I was there for 2 months. November 16 - January 13 to be exact. The big thing is the fact that it's one on one. Honestly one on one makes a HUGE difference and most schools (I believe) are not one on one. I know the federal accredited schools are at least 5 students to 1 instructor. This truly does make a HUGE difference that most people don't realize.

If I was the owner of a carrier I would be not be looking at the length of the school that the recent grad went to but rather the work history, MVR, criminal record and driver's ability to drive by way of a road test first and foremost. MVR is needed so my insurance company will allow the recent grad to be put on. Work history so the recent grad is reliable. Of course most importantly would be the road test. Can they drive or not.

Problem is there are SO many recent grads out there they have to narrow them down into a smaller hiring pool. The only way they do this is by using certified schools. My school however has to be able to place their grads somewhere otherwise they wouldn't be in business so they get in contact with these carriers and "make a deal" if you will.