Help me out? I don't know what would be the safest way to start my trucking career.

You will face the same issue when you apply with a trucking company and go to their orientation. Just because a company accepts you for training or even call you to attend orientation, "don't count you chickens before they hatch" You did not mention the medications that you are on and you shouldn't, because it is a private issue, but when it comes to employment, the private issues become the business of the company and it is up to them if they will hire you.

 

1. Go to private training school. DON'T get locked into a contract right out the gate with a carrier that may or may not be a good fit for you.

2. Pick your first trailer, then pick a carrier. Do the research!!! Talk to the drivers, check'em out on the web, LEARN a carrier before you show up. Personally, I'd recommend going either flatbed or tanker out the gate. Yes, they are more complicated trailers to operate, but the pay is much better than the standard training pay in dry van or reefer.

3. If possible, try to stay away from the large training carriers. There are smaller mid-sized carriers that take students and will generally offer better training and opportunities. Again, do your research.

Finally, it is my recommendation that you stay away from the pennies per mile pay scheme. That works fine for dryvan where you do a lot of drop and hook style freight and can keep the miles up, but in flatbedding you will lose money. Percentage is the way to go with flatbeds. Shoot for the low mile high money runs. You don't need to kill yourself running 2500-3000 miles per week to earn a decent income. When I ran regional, I barely broke 2200 miles in a week and still brought home better than $1,000/wk (that's net, not gross. Taxes and insurance already deducted).

 

If you can get CDL training at a private school then do so. As far as the meds are concerned, when you go for your DOT physical, you may want to mention those to the nurse taking your information, and here's why.

Get into an accident and the lawyers crawl into your crawl space. If they find that you are on meds (and they will) and you kept this secret from your DOT physical, you may be hung out to dry, and no company will back you.

So, and I say this, NOT KNOWING your particular meds, and I care NOT to know, if they are some sort of narcotic, you really HAD BETTER fess up on any DOT physical. Some ARE allowed for drivers, some may not be, I am NOT an expert in medications, so someone else may be of better help to you.

Good luck. I wish you well

 

You will need a DOT physical anyway before attending school. Get the physical from a doctor that's registered to do DOT physicals, then proceed from there if you pass. Some companies don't require another physical & accept the one from a private CDL school. Contact a private school you can attend and ask where to get a physical. There's some relatively cheap CDL schools in California; which city are you near?

 

I think you would be well advised to check on the medications before spending any money or making any plans. If you are taking medications, it makes sense to also be sure you will pass the DOT physical. If you have any issues with that casual physical, they'll send you to a primary care physician for an in depth analysis. BTW, if you withhold information on your medications from the DOT physical, that's not a good thing if you are later involved in anything that leads to disclosure of your little white lie. I probably wouldn't say anything to a company, but I think I'd try hard to see if those medications are acceptable. (not a threat to your ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle)

I don't like the company sponsored training programs. Not because they're not competent, the state DOT or MVD will administer the CDL test from any source, but because they seem to charge quite a bit. Also, if you do it with a company program, it takes a long time to pay back the cost, money that will come out of your paychecks/settlements.

Other than being sure you are OK with your meds and physical, there's lots of companies out there looking for drivers. Best.

 

I don't see the connection between choice of training and safety?

 

spoke with a prime trainee,,he he was paired with an experienced driver and paid 10cnts/mile,,,not good

 

Funny how PRIME info indicates differently

You will receive $600 guaranteed minimum per week for the first 20,000 miles of training (typically 4-5 weeks) and $700 guaranteed minimum per week for the remaining 20,000 miles of training. Recent graduates from other schools may qualify for tuition reimbursement up to $1500! Ask your Recruiter to see if you qualify.

 

Hmmmm... to believe employee or recruiter... hmmm