Looking for Paid CDL for western US ie... FFE Transportation for CDL

You hit the nail on the head Tip!

You must have your LP before you go to the school. They pay for your physical, drug test then you take the test for your LP then head off to school. They say you are in the truck by the second day of school. You will run unloaded and actual loads while in the school with a trainer. So there really is time with a trainer just no slave labor for 9 weeks after schooling. They also have trucks available for you to practice with after hours and on weekends, and encourage you to practices. (I am not sure how this actually works with the practice ie... if they have someone to drive with you or it is just in the lot or what.)

 

Well I have been in the W/S training for 2 weeks now and it has been great! They bussed me to Missoula and I stay in a room at the terminal right down the hall from the truckers lounge. They have a kitchen for us to use as well as 2 cars we can use when not in class. School runs form 8 to 5 M-F. We have 10 students to 3 instructors.

We were in the truck bobtailing on the first day of class around the yard. We were on I-90 and frontage roads on the second day and by the end of the week we where hooking to empty trailers running I-90 between Missoula and Superior, MT. We go up and down every on and off ramp along this stretch of 70 miles or so. 3 students and on instructor in every truck. We swap out at various exits along the way. We did this run twice a day there and back before lunch and there and back after lunch.

In the second week we have been driving in the morning and in class after lunch. We have done backing (45, 90, glides, docks and DMV backs), city driving and mountain passes. On the passes we ran a 6% downgrade up and down all day and then the next day we did McDonald Pass between Helena and Missoula a 8% grade, up and down at least once for each student with fully loaded trailers.

So far it has been great training. I had never been in a truck before this training and am already feeling comfortable behind the wheel. ( I know I still have lots to learn) I am not perfect by any means but feel I have been taught well enough to deal with handle most situations with out panicking. Next week we will be taking live loads from Missoula to LA.

I feel very good about the choice I made to go with Watkins and Sheppard and would highly recommend it to others.

Efergstar

 

Most students have roommates, I do not. I was last one in so all other rooms were full. They do put some 3 or 10 day students up in a hotel but they share rooms as well.

The classes run M-F but the trucks are available for in yard driving 24 hrs a day and you are pretty much expected to practice on them as much as possible.

My schoolmates are great. I think W/S is a little more picky about who they hire so the classmates are all pretty good. There are 10 students in my class to 3 instructors.

The instructors are cool and range from l 4 to 9 years of experience at W/S. Some have more experience with other companies.

They tools you need are just the basics and I actually had most of mine around the house already, here is the list they sent me:

Small assortment of tools:
9/16” wrench
Flat screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Vice grips
Heavy hammer
Crowbar or Prybar - 30”
Pliers
Knife
Duct tape
Tape measure – 25’
Hope this helps.

 

The training has been great! I got my CDL on my first try yesterday! The program is awesome and I would highly recommend it to anyone. A couple more days of classes and then I get my own truck! The company has been straight forward and has done a great job. Most the drivers I have met in the lounge (and I have met a lot of then), for the most part are clean and happy. There is the usual venting about a load or dispatch here and there but even those end up saying the company always keeps then going! They all also say the Prepass(for the weigh stations) and company safety rating is worth it's weight in gold! I have been very satisfied! Look forward to seeing you around!