newbie looking for some advice

Notes on training. Many companies reimburse per month. Some schools are better than others, same for companies. School is not about driving, they are about CDL. If you get yours, it was a good school. Costs - $2,700 thru $7,500, same CDL. Rocky Mountain Truck Driving School in Albuquerque is very low cost, very stong curriculum actual truck driver training in real trucks. The trainer/finisher isn't usually 2 months, more like 3-4 weeks of misery...that is a small apartment for sure. The truck companies get a federal subsidy for graduated students, maybe $4,500, then they charge the students as much or more. The big ones are in it for that subsidy, you have to figure. Best.

 

Pre screen some companies that hire out of your area, OTR, regional and local. Haveing a job (paycheck) right away is a reason that company schools are a good idea for some. Plus you have a "home" of sorts ( it will be someone elses til you finish training) so you are not incuring extra bills.

If you have a spouse and/or kids, a cc is a better idea IF you get all the financeing. What you drive is what you get paid.

It's your choice, their are a couple of companies that make it a priority to hire vets.

 

Prime with a different name. You'll train per Prime, pull Prime trailers, deal with Prime's MIS system. Just happens to say "Wil-Trans" on the door. Nothing more.

 

take advantage of those benefits while they are there.

 

I'm really sorry people, but I have to say this:

I almost fell out of my chair laughing, when someone says SCHNEIDER was a good place to start, but stay away from WERNER, COVENAMT.....
Too funny to even think about. The guy is right about the ones to stay away from, but the orange pumpkins are no better than the others.

I saw a trainee once at a loading dock, that was on his 5th week in the truck, yet had done absolutely no backing yet. That is not training. That is using the trainee as a body, to get more miles of driving from the truck. Don't get me started about PRIME. I have seen their drivers at some places, and to put it mildly, I would have felt safer being next to a truck being unloaded by my 4 year old daughter. They are not bad people, just poorly trained.

Go to an independent school, but be careful about that too. Check on their percentage of JOB PLACEMENT for their graduates. A good school, that is doing it right, should have companies knocking down their doors, looking for good drivers. If not, they are doing something wrong. If the school tells you they supply drivers to a company, then contact that company directly, and ask about their attitude toward a graduate of the school. People in this industry will lie to you, as much as a dishonest used car salesman. Don't trust anyone....HECK, don't even trust me....unless what is promised is in writing.

 

Just to add to my comments about PRIME:

There is a reason their tankers do not do ANY HAZMAT whatsoever. Their drivers are so bad, they can't be trusted with any liquid more dangerous than liquid sugar. I guess in that aspect, Schneider has then beat, but not by much.

 

Your best bet is to start with the Mexican Cartel..Free Training,Get to see the Country,Canada and Mexico for free.500,000+ your first year and all the most beutiful woman in the world,a man could ever lay eyes on...

 

Hmmmm that much dough I'd rather be a pilot. . .: