I failed my cdl test today....

According to that site, their safety record is above the national average(1/2 the national average when it comes to the drivers), I think that says something...Either they are picky, which I really doubt, or inexperienced drivers don't take as many chances, something is accounting for the lack of an unusually high safety issue...Prime, on the other hand, which has an 80K long training program has a much worse record when it comes to their drivers which was my 2nd choice...

Thank you for that link...

 

I always relate things to flying, I see this license as I saw my pilot's license, a 'license to learn', not a license stating I can handle anything and everything...

As far as feeling great, I'm still in the 'relieved' mode...

 

The company I'm going with has zero days with a trainer...

And I understand and respect your thoughts about winter so I just called and spoke to 2 W/S drivers and got their thoughts, experiences and opinions on starting at the beginning of winter...I still think I'm going to go with them with my main thought being that I believe inexperienced people(myself included) are less likely to do things haphazardly that they haven't done where someone that has been thru something once(or more) may say, "I've done it before, I can do it again" and run into trouble...I've seen that flying on many occasions, some not being able to live and talk about it...So if it means I'm driving 5mph in a blizzard in the mountains, so be it...If I see everyone else getting off of the road, I will too, I'm not Lewis or Clark or COlumbus and have no plans on taking maiden voyages or succumbing to pressure to take one from a dispatcher when I don't think my skill level matches the conditions...I think inexperience breeds more diligence and respect for conditions, or at least it should and I know myself well enough to know when it's time to stop and/or ask for help...I do appreciate the kind words and food for thought...

None of this is written in stone and I have backup plans(more companies I can driver for) if I find myself changing my mind and reconsidering my opinion...