Getting started, DON'T make my mistakes.

Hello,
I wanted to start a thread about getting your CDL, school and starter company's. I'm still a noob but I've put a ton of time in to research and talking to recruiters and experienced truckers alike.

First and for most, schooling, you can't cut corners here. I made the mistake of jumping the gun and spending money on a one day program with a 3rd party testing school. I did get my CDL on the first shot, but it makes no difference when the fact is NO ONE will hire you with out 120 Hrs. of classroom and behind the wheel successful school time. I made this mistake and it has delayed my goal by a tremendous amount.
Here's the deal, you will have to go to an accredited school Min. 120 Hrs. in order to land that entry level job. No way around it. PERIOD! The good news is if you look in to the schools in your area you will find the ones that offer career assistance. They will get you Pre-hires where the trucking company's are offering to pay for your school provided you sign a contract agreeing to work for them for a period of time. (6 months to a year.) This is where you seriously need to educate yourself as to what your signing. Do your home work. I just bailed on an offer to go to Fontana Cali. for school and drive for CRST. The contract forced me to drive team at .22 cents a mile for 8 months. I at first assumed the pay broke down like: The truck earns .44 cents a mile split 2 ways. WRONG. Both the miles and the pay were split. This misunderstanding is the deference of $1000.00 a week, or $500.00 a week on a truck that will run 6500-7000 a week. It would have been a desperation move on my part and I would have cost myself time and money.

I have talked to many experienced OTR guys about company's, DAC reports, contracts. Here's the deal, if you do sign a contract with a company and decide you hate it and bail, more than not you will not be able to claim the experience when applying for a better company. Here's why, I was told by a US Xpress recruiter that IF I signed with CRST, USX wouldn't hire me until that contract was fulfilled. If you bail early some company's will burn your DAC report and there's no question that their going to burn your credit. If you have any hesitation about a contract, don't sign it. If a recruiter wont send you a copy of the contract prior to Greyhounding you across country. DON'T GO! Once you get their if you don't like the contract they will ask you to leave the room and good luck getting back home.

I have now taken the correct steps to starting a career. I have signed on with a local school who (IS NOT) under contract by any of the Mega company's. The school works with all of the company's that are hiring entry level drivers. I have all so applied at a few company's that I spent the time talking to their recruiters and know I'd be happy driving for. I was a little bummed that US Xpress will pay for my school, but would require me to run teams for my first 12 months. I'm looking for Solo and a passenger policy that would allow my wife to ride with me if she wanted. I'm now looking at Central Refrigerated or Schneider. IMO... (And this comes from hours of researching these company's.) Schneider, US Xpress, Central Refrigerated are going to be the best company's to start a career with. They ALL make a point of keeping the drivers they have. If you read the Term. drivers mill in reference to a company, It's a red flag. This site has a wealth of good information that experienced drivers have taken the time to share. Take time to read it. I wish I would have paid more attention in the beginning.

You will have to ride with a drivers trainer for 1-2 even 3 months in some cases. Don't even waste time thinking you can get around this. The best you can do is make sure you have some say so as to who you will be in the cab with for weeks on end. Best bet is to find a company that runs the training truck more like a solo, It should be "training" not $400 a week for a team driver. Load planning and dealing with dispatch is the difference between making money and getting fired. I personally want a good trainer. My future with any company will rely on the information this drivers trainer teaches me. I want this part absolute and in depth.

I'll keep posting as time goes on, I should be starting Western Truck School here in Phx. next week. I have an appointment with staff there tomorrow to get enrolled and start the process (THE CORRECT WAY)
My main purpose for starting this thread is to help someone else avoid some mistakes like trying to rush the process. That mistake has cost me time, $$$ and frustration.

 

Hey, by all means have the podium, please share with us your wealth of knowledge. I for one will listen to you up until I decide you're full of BS.
I have more of an issue with NOT going out with a trainer. I want that time to see first hand the correct way to run the truck.