Need good advice

Alas, to get the training we all must go through a national carrier. It is actually a good thing. There are some carriers that are better than others. The main thing is to do it for 2 years. Todays national carriers will expect you to team drive for at least 6 months on the average before you can solo. The important part is not to wait too long before you go to a national carrier. Otherwise after 6 months of no driving they may tell you that you need to start training all over. Lame I know, as that is what I am looking at as well if I am to return OTR.

 

Put where you live in your profile...general area. This will help us others help you.

 

First.. they are not trying to take advantage of you because you are female.... I am a female and have done well in this industry... I have faced some challenges. . But not be ause I am a female.. but because we all face challenges, ups and downs and such while getting started in this industry. ..

If you are wanting to go OTR.. all 48... then yes,teaming is strongly suggested.. two drivers, keeping the truck and and load rolling vs a solo driver shutting down for 10 hours after upto a 11 hours of driving...

However, the solo driver can find many good dedicated and regional accounts, that would not work for teams...

If you are worried about getting scammed.. then go to a good private truck driving school or a community college. ..

 

Go ahead with your plans and leave in 4 days. Get the training and CDL, then if you're not content, you can change companies. There's lots of negativity on this forum from those that can't hack the program; ignore all that and get rolling.

 

I went to and graduated from Diesel Driving Academy in Shreveport, La in 2009. It cost me 10k but with a few grants I qualified for it cost me $5,500 out of pocket which I was able to get a school loan for. DDA is a nationally accredited school. My class was 5 months long (4 weeks in the class room, 6 weeks on a backing pad, 4 weeks of interstate driving and 6 weeks of city driving) The testers that give you your road test are the trainers at DDA. The school also has job placement. I was able to obtain a local driving position right out of school because with the amount of training I had the company I had applied with took that as having 3 months exp.. Best of Luck to you..

 

How's it? My advice? Go for it an jus cuz you have island stylin. Shootz

 

^^^^^^^^^^Huh???^^^^^^^^^^

hokulani70; you don't HAVE to go with a company that forces "team" driving (like CRST for example)---there are plenty more options out there for newbies.
You WILL, however, be forced to team with a trainer for 4 to 8 weeks (on average) to start out, no matter where you go, so that the company can be assured you are capable of handling the truck and the job. You can't expect them to take you or your schooling at it's word and just toss you the keys to a $110,000.00 truck, and have you hook up to a $37,000.00 trailer, to go pick up a $500,000.00 load without knowing you are 100% capable, can you?

Like it or not, that is part of the job. If you don't feel like you can muscle through 4 to 8 weeks in the truck with a stranger---then you can either take your chances at finding something local, or move on to a different career all together.

But, no, you do not have to choose a company to start out with that forces two students to team up for ANY amount of time---I wish those companies would dry up and blow away, because I honestly can't think of a stupider way to run a company except of course someone dumb enough to toss you the keys to a $110,000.00 truck, and have you hook up to a $37,000.00 trailer, to go pick up a $500,000.00 load without knowing you are 100% capable.

Just shop around, and good luck to you.

 

hokulani70, I'm not sure where you're from but, I went to Coastal Truck Driving School out of Hammond Louisiana. 3,000 dollar, 4 week program. 1 week in class learning logs and rules, 3 weeks learning to drive and back up the truck. I received certain grants for my tuition, which you may be eligible for some as well. The school did job placements with reputable companies that offered tuition reimbursements after 6 months or a year. Whichever one you go with, you will need 4 to 8 weeks to drive with an experienced trainer. I went with FFE/American Eagle and trained for 6 weeks and have been on my own since. You just have to deal with being in the truck with someone for a short time during training, unless it's absolutely unbearable, then you can request a different trainer. Don't let anyone talk you into doing anything you don't want to do. You make your own decisions on what makes you comfortable and happy. Good luck to ya!

 

I am an independent recruiter and I have seen many people go through this, and wish that I could tell them this before they start driving. Ok, I would first (if possible) pay or get a loan to pay for you to go through an accredited CDL school (not a fly by night school). Then you will have more options as far as who and where you want to go. After graduating, a lot of these trucking companies will take over your loan as long as you drive for them, while still earning a decent paycheck. You can be out on your own after a few weeks with a experience driver, which I think is extremely important, because you can learn a lot from a driver with experience. I am not looking to recruit you...I just think this is the best option that I have seen for drivers. I could be wrong, but definitely give this a thought...I would hate for you to get into driving and then get with a bad company to give you a sour taste of the business.