I do know it all. However, after reading many posts on this forum I realized that trucking just isn't my field of expertise and I knew exactly jack/squat. I'm not discouraged though, and I fully intend to become a trucker. My name is Toby. I'm from central Texas, and after searching continuously for a month for a school I finally found one! ATDS is PTDI certified and has accepted my post911gibill! I found them on the list of certified schools on http://www.ptdi.org/schools/index.aspx If it weren't for this forum, I wouldn't even know what PTDI is, and I'd probably be knee-deep in contracted debt with a major CDL Mill/Carrier making pennies per mile.
ATDS told me that they'd pay for my hotel before I get there and just take it out of my housing allowance (comes with gibill) which will cost between 400-500 dollars for the one month that I'll be training there. I think they will arrange for a hotel if you aren't a veteran, but they wont pay for it in advance (I'm not sure. You'd have to call). That leaves me with around $500 left over for other expenses, since I'll be living there at their school in Waco, Tx. The classes are from 7:00a-5:00p/5:30p M-F, so it wont be just a couple hours of driving time per day, like some people on this forum have experienced. Thanks for pointing that out guys! I probably wouldn't have even considered hours per day in a school if I hadn't read that post.
Ya'll all say the same thing: Don't join a CDL Mill, go to school and get a trucking job on your own terms. Well, I intend to do just that. Since I've only read one complaint about Crete I suppose they might be alright. They pay students well (34-35cpm, first year) and ATDS is on their 'approved schools list'. ATDS tells me that they place many qualified students with Crete and Shaffer before they graduate, who then go on 8 week long (non-team24hr) training hauls with experienced drivers at Crete. You can become a company driver after one year with them and get paid .41 cpm and join their profit sharing account. I also hear that Crete gets more miles than Shaffer (Not sure on that). From their own website: 'When you think of trucking companies that hire inexperienced drivers Crete Carrier may not come to mind.' Like ya'll told me on the forum (and it makes sense): 'If they come recruiting, there must be a high turnover rate, and if there's a high turnover rate, there must be a reason for it.' In other words, be wary of companies that go around proselytizing newbies like myself with promise of great wealth and "Hometime". IMHO Smart businesses don't have to spend money on recruiting.
Well, I wish all the newbies like me Good Luck in locating a place to train you and get that CDL! And, I'd like to thank everyone in advance for answering all the questions that are to come (even if I don't start a new topic every time).
Just a note for Veterans: I thought I was going to use the Hazelwood Act Exemption at Houston Community College of Continuing Education, but they don't accept it. I got the impression that most Texas colleges don't accept VA funding of any kind for truck driving training. You just have to prioritize your search to include schools that accept VA funding. I know for a fact that ATDS accepts the new CH33 (post 911 gibill), which includes the housing allowance for Full Time Students. They made a deal with the government that allowed their school as an exception. (They really are full time though). The secretary told me that even guys with only 3 years active service recieved $1k for their one month of training at the campus in Waco. I am expecting to recieve $1200 for my training, since I did 4 years active. ATDS seems to be the most highly qualified school that we veterans can attend for free in Texas.
As a final note: I hope I'm not breaking a rule by doing this. Here's the url for ATDS if you're interested. And, I'd appreciate it if someone experienced and/or someone who's been to ATDS to let me know what your thoughts are on this school: http://www.truckingschool.com/index.htm
Hi there, I'm Mr. Know-It-All
Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by stone24, Sep 26, 2011.
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Welcome to TTR Mr.Know-it-all..................It's a great place and lots of fun!
Hope you continue to learn alot and just ignore Dogknot---of course he has a very special way of differentiating himself from the rest of us sheep!!!
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dogknot: I know.
88M: no shorts? Wasn't planning on it anyway though. Thanks for the feedback on the school. I'll let you (and everyone) know how it goes.
everyone else: thanks for the welcome -
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If I was a young vet, I wouldn't waste my GI Bill on a measely truck driving school. I would save it for your kids college which will cost about $60,000 by the time they reach 18.
Rangers are going to come back and win!
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