GI Bill

I am in school right now and will be doing the apprenticeship. I know TMC, and Werner partisapate. Swift, and Stevens do not. That is all I know on that.

The way it works is, You have to finish your road time with your trainer. Then when you get your own truck you get relatively 900 a month. This lasts for one year, coming to just over 10 grand.

Also, TMC didnt have a school when I talked to them, They Higher alot out of Roadmaster Drivers School. I noticed your info says OKlahoma. I am going to the school in OKlahoma City.

 

I know you've heard this many times but believe me you'll agree later on. STAY NAVY. I wished I would have done 10 more. The jobs will always be here. But of course I did the "make more money" thing which I did but I could have done that later on too. I got out in 90 and landed a top job in 91. However, I had plenty of verifiable OTR experience even before I left the military. I drove commercially when the Navy went to a 4 day work week out of Jacksonville FL and then I was a Equipment Operator in the Seabees where my last duty station was hauling this special R&D equipment all over the states. So I had 6 years OTR experience not even counting all the other loads I would pull. I would not like it much if I had to start at the bottom so I would suggest that you look hard and long at the companies out there besides the ones listed on the computer. Look for the companies that want military people. That will make it a little better.

Someone will answer your question about funding because I know it's there. Choose smartly on the school and make sure it's accredited. Good luck to you and keep in touch. EO1.

 

Thanks for your service guys!

 

The school is not bad. It is very fast passed. There is alot to learn in a short time. Week 1 is all classroom, getting you ready for your written test at the dps. Once you pass that you get your permit. Week 2, Mornings are all working on backing in the yard and the evenings are on the road around the city. Week 3 and 4 are the same basicly, but with more time spent on what you need to work on individually. The school does do placement with companies. They are all rookie companies like, werner, swift, TMC, MllK, Stevens and so on. They do work hard at that. In only 2 weeks I have 4 prehires with them.

 

I heard the other day that Central refrigerated started a program where if you are prior service and provide your paperwork, they will credit you for there school.
Basically you stay with them for a year and at the end of the year the school is paid off.
They actually take the money from your check for the payment, then credit it back in each check.
You would have to talk to some of the guys in the Central thread to learn the details though. It is better than having to pay for it, and they do a decent job of keeping you running.

 

The trucks are certainly not something you would want to live in. But they are in good shape. They got 4 or 5 old Freightliners that are just used to practice backing, and your first day of shifting, those are the worst ones. That makes sense if you ask me. They also have 4 or 5 newer Volvo's that you use once you get a little experience in shifting and basicly not tearing up the truck. Werner also gives them a truck to use, that is traded out yearly. The volvo's drive great, but like i said, not in the shape to take on the road, most of the living stuff has been taken out, IE the beds have been removed and seats are installed for more drivers to ride with and so on.