Looking to train with a big mill and run hard with them.

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by Wigidwack, Dec 6, 2009.

  1. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    6 thousand miles a week? Well, alrighty then lol. Seriously though, you wont get that in the beginning, but you will eventually. Keep your nose clean, your loads delivered on time, and never turn down a load, and you'll be headed in the right direction.

    Ummmmmmmmm, about 99.9% give or take.

    Welcome to the forum Ben.
     
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  2. DirtySideDown

    DirtySideDown Light Load Member

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    You're right Ben. The so called "better" companies require at least one year of "recent" OTR experience. Alot of guys on here just can't seem to understand that... so they repeatedly tell newbies like us that (insert the name of any company that will actually accept a newbie) is a "crappy" company and that you should go work for a "good" company. They will tell you that you are dumb for going with one of your only available options... because you should choose a good company instead. It's like telling a paraplegic that it is much easier to just get up and walk instead of having to get around in a wheelchair... and that he is making a bad choice about his way of mobility.

    I chose Prime myself because they have one of the most extensive and best training programs in the industry. I would have liked to got on with one of the "good" companies, but every wannabe eventually finds out that those companies aren't hiring newbies.

    Good luck to you and your friend.
     
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  3. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    "the great companies out there that may offer training " ?
    No such animal exists . They train because they are not so great and can't get experienced drivers .
     
  4. Wigidwack

    Wigidwack Bobtail Member

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    That seems to be the sentiment around the forums. There are a lot of helpful people here, and some with great attitudes wishing all the newbs well, but they have a strong dislike for the industry leaders(read as starting companies).
     
  5. Wigidwack

    Wigidwack Bobtail Member

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    For this post, let's think of great as meaning " notably large in size."
     
  6. Wigidwack

    Wigidwack Bobtail Member

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    I spoke with Watkins & Shepard today. It was very informative. They no longer offer tuition assistance/reimbursement/financing for their school. They charge $4695, which includes a room during the training in Missoula, Montana.

    If I financed this loan, I'd end up paying over $200 a month for 2 years and over $600 in interest. Facts like this make companies like Central Refrigerated look much better to me. They'll put you through school, and charge you $100 a month for 12 months and you'll be debt free. Even if things don't work out the total cost of school is only $3000. Each month you work for Central you knock off $250 from the cost of school.

    Con-way doesn't have a school. I'm really leaning harder and harder to the side of a company with a school.

    If anyone else knows of a few more companies I can research with their own school, I'd be rather appreciative.
     
  7. vinsanity

    vinsanity Road Train Member

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    The companies that train do it because they get cheap labor. They know they are being used as a stepping stone. They want the high turnover because it keeps costs down. People may say they are bad companies but they do quite well for themselves.
     
  8. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    GOOD companies are hiring every day. You haven't looked hard enough.

    If you think Prime has the most extensive training program in the industry, then you've been poorly informed.

    If like you say, good companies won't hire you due to the lack of experience. What does this say about Prime and their standards ???

    You get what you put into this industry. If you're lazy...you get butkus.

    There are 100's of smaller companies hiring, IF you're willing to do the work and find them. Unlike the mega-fleets, they don't have $100K to throw at advertising. They use their money to pay their drivers.

    I drive for a small fleet that requires 2 years minimum experience. They required it when there was a "so-called" driver shortage. ALWAYS have.

    The standards only change....when they (companies) want them to be changed.
     
  9. Wigidwack

    Wigidwack Bobtail Member

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    You are all for "smaller" companies but recommend Con-Way, which seems to be in the top 10 of all trucking companies.

    Watkins & Shepard looks good on paper, but their school is expensive and I've read enough negative posts for them to lose their halo in my book. It was a pleasure talking to their recruiting, and if my circumstances were different I would certainly consider them as a top 5 choice for my first employer in the industry.

    You recommend doing research to start with a good small company because you dislike all of these larger companies. Then you go and imply the company you work for as a good company, but mention that you must have 2 years of experience, when you know the people on this sub-section are interested in getting their CDL and breaking into the trucking industry.

    I appreciate your opinion and insight, but I get the impression you're missing the big picture.

    The reasoning behind wanting the in-house training of a large company for my particular situation is the tuition assistance/reimbursement/financing. Most of these companies don't do credit checks, and I also assume don't list the school financing through credit agencies until there is a default. This would keep my debt to credit ratio down. I also don't want to pay much up front for schooling, as I no longer have a five figure savings as I used to. I'm trying my best to get my credit score back into the 700's, as it took a bit of a dip over the last year with higher debt to credit ratio, and lower income. There are a large amount of factors going into my choices, and I struggle with balancing the scale.

    I'm trying to provide an optimal choice for both myself, and my friend. I have to take into account our personalities, finances, wants, wishes, home cities, families, work ethic, health, etc. So it's not about just finding your opinion of "the best," as much as it is finding our best option.
     
  10. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    I believe you'll learn soon enough....who has missed the big picture.