Looks like I'm headed for DTS

I just got accepted at the DTS school in Cheney, WA. State of ID is picking up the bill with their dislocated worker program. I've been laid off all spring and summer.

Was looking into the Sage school in Coeur d' Alene, ID. Sent for info package and got an email back saying they would call me to discuss options. They never called.

Lady at the employment office turned me on to DTS. They're owned by Trans-System who also owns System Transport and TW Transport. System Transport is at the top of my list of companies I've been looking at, so I figured I might as well check it out. The school doesn't specifically train for System or TWT, but they're located on the same lot. I figure that will give me a chance to do a bit of sniffing out of System before making any real decision about them.

A few phone calls and several emails with the school recruiter, Barbara, and I'm good to go for the class starting on Sept. 19 with a prehire from Trans-System. Looks like my unemployment is going to last just long enough for me to graduate on Oct. 19. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can come right out of school and land a job. If not, things are going to get pretty tight on the homefront.

My biggest fear at this point is not being able to get hired on with anybody decent and being left with Swift or Werner as my only options. I think I would have to say goodbye to trucking rather than put myself through what either of those two companies seem to dish out.

One step at a time.

 

I just realized I'll be training in Spokane but testing in Idaho (as per conversation with Barbara). that means I won't get any chance to run the actual test route or test in the same truck as I trained in.

That adds a layer of complexity to the situation.

I've already passed the written for Idaho about a year ago, so I'm not at all worried about that part. I didn't get a chance to do the skills test, though. The truck I was going to use got turned into a snow plow and sander before I could arrange the test.

I just hope I get enough time at the wheel to feel comfortable and confident.

 

Took my DOT physical today. Everything looks good.

Got my first glimpse of the school while I was at it.

First impression is that they're not going to hold anybody's hand there. Gotta keep up or forget about it.

Since I have no idea where my high school diploma is, I had to take an "ability to benefit" test... basic grade school level math and reading comprehension with a few CDL specific questions thrown in for good measure. Took about 5 minutes to complete.

They sent me home with both a Washington and Idaho CDL manual and a worksheet of questions to answer in preperation for getting a learner's permit. I gotta go down tomorrow to the driver's license office and find out if the fact that I passed the written already last fall might qualify me for a permit without having to retake the test.

I also gotta get the surgeon who took out my appendix earlier this summer to sign off on me doing heavy work.


Once I get that all squared away, I should be good to go.

 

I don't need any hand holding, but I can't say that I like the feeling of being hustled through the process either.

If I have questions, I want them answered. If I get a non-answer, a pat answer or a conflicting answer, I'm going to ask for clarification.

I got the distinct impression that the lady behind the desk was getting a bit peeved at me for this.

 

Forgot to add...

They gave me a list of companies that they say "work with them".

1. Trans-System (owns the school)
2. Swift
3. Watkins Shepard
4. Werner
5. Willis Shaw
6. Covenant
7. CRST
8. Gordon
9. Sanjel
10. May
11. Prime
12. Schneider
13. Squire
14. US Express
15. Stevens

This looks like a basic list of national carriers who hire recent CDL grads. I was hoping for a few obscure local and regional leads.

I think "work with them" means that these are the companies that send recruiters to their school.

I may end up calling a few of these companies to see if I can line up anymore prehires and satisfy my unemployment work search requirements for the next week before I start school.

If I had to choose any from the list (aside from System Transport who I already have a prehire with) I'd go with

1. May
2. Gordon
3. Schneider
4. Watkins Shepard

I'm pretty confident I can land a job with System so long as I do well in the class.

They're starting students at $500 a week while training. That's as high as I've seen anywhere for training.

Training lasts for 8 weeks, which suits me fine so long as I get a good trainer. I'd be in my own truck in the dead of winter, so extra training sounds good to me.

Once you're solo, you're started at 32 CPM and raised to 34.5 within a year with all the usual disclaimers and caveats.

 

One more hurdle out of the way.

The surgeon signed off on the medical release for my appendectomy... said as far as he's concerned, I can go do any kind of work I want.


One week to go before class starts. I'm psyched up and ready to get going.