Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

School, job options in Colorado

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Daniel17452, Jun 21, 2014.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Jun 21, 2014 #1
    Daniel17452

    Daniel17452 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jun 21, 2014
    0
    So, I am hoping that soon I will be able to get into school to get my CDL. This is something I really want, and am curious about a couple things. I normally do my own research, but would like to hear from some of you if at all possible.

    I am in Colorado, and looking at going to SAGE Truck Driving School in Henderson, Colorado. I was wondering if this is a good school to go. The advantage for me is that I have my Military GI Bill that I am able to use, and not a lot of schools will accept it, but SAGE will. If I remember right, they do 170 hours of training, but I am wondering if there have been a any reported problems with this school, and what I should probably look for.

    Secondly, I have been doing some research as to what company to work for. I am wanting to do OTR, but I am honestly not sure what to look for in regards to getting employed to a good company. I know I have found a couple that have been stated to stay away from, but a lot of the better companies don't seem to accept new graduates either.

    Any advice here would be greatly appreciated. Or if you have something that I should know but didn't think to ask, let me know. Thanks!
     
    Daniel17452, Jun 21, 2014
    Daniel17452, Jun 21, 2014
    #1
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jun 21, 2014 #2
    ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

    17,502
    12,015
    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
    0
    I got my CDL from SAGE in Henderson, and IMO it's far above what you'll get at other driving schools in the Denver Metro area. That being said, CDL driving schools can only really afford to get you past your road check. You'll graduate with a good CDL and lots of knowledge, but it's still a long road to being a "trucker."

    Look into Prime... we have a drop yard and sales office up near 64th and Pecos. Plenty of receivers in the area to get you home... freight coming out usually gets you sent to the meat patch. Training pay is good, and you'll start at 42-cpm in the reefer division with a variable fuel bonus that is paid weekly. Reefer not your bag? There's flatbed and tanker divisions too.

    http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...27-new-prime-inc-what-expect-springfield.html
     
    ironpony, Jun 21, 2014
    ironpony, Jun 21, 2014
    #2
    gpsman Thanks this.
  4. Jun 21, 2014 #3
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    74,888
    170,684
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Dozens of companies hire new CDL graduates.
    Most companies hire from Sage. The 170 hr. course is good because most companies require 160 hr. and some 140 hrs.
    Get all the endorsements on your CDL, especially tanker/hazmat. Get TWIC and a passport.

    System Transport(Denver terminal) and Melton Truck Lines hire in Colorado. Many more do, depends on what type of trucking you want. Which city/town will you live in; maybe some OTR tanker companies hire from your area.
     
    Chinatown, Jun 21, 2014
    Chinatown, Jun 21, 2014
    #3
  5. Jun 21, 2014 #4
    warhippy

    warhippy Medium Load Member

    378
    335
    May 9, 2014
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0
    SAGE has a good reputation and companies do recruit from them. I went to USTDS in Colorado Springs. I completed my school two weeks ago and start with Schneider the 30th of this month.

    You mention what to look for...I have done a ton of research on the companies in our region and they all have the good and bad. I looked at safety records, equipment and which companies had a Military Apprenticeship program. If you don't know you can receive GI bill benefits for 12 months after you start . That means an extra 1200 a month tax free while your learning the business. I talked with May Trucking and they offered 30 cpm and a guarantee that you would get one day off for every week your out. So that basically meant you might be out two to three weeks at a time with a two to three day refit. Didn't sound like fun to me! Werner recruits heavily in our region and their recruiter will come by your school. They also start at 30 cpm with a 6 week orientation then you can hit the road. No guarantees on home time but they did say you would get loads and miles. Schneider offered 32 cpm plus safety bonuses and guaranteed home time (7 out and 2 at home). I only plan on doing it a year and looking for something local.

    If your willing to relocate try TMC. They didn't have anything in Colorado but they have a good reputation. You can find which companies have the Military Apprenticeship program on one of the posts here if you want to find out more. If you want to go with Schneider let me know and I can put you in contact with a recruiter.

    Thanks again and if you need anything just post in on here and people will reply.

    Warhippy
    Sapper US Army Retired
     
    warhippy, Jun 21, 2014
    warhippy, Jun 21, 2014
    #4
  7. Jun 21, 2014 #5
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    74,888
    170,684
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Something else to consider when choosing a company; APU's. If you enjoy electronics; TV, X-box, computers, cooking in the truck, etc. choose a company with APU's. During downtime such as layovers, 34 hr. reset, long detention times, the APU will make life much more comfortable. The website "apucenter" shows examples of APU's that the better trucking companies use.
     
    Chinatown, Jun 21, 2014
    Chinatown, Jun 21, 2014
    #5
    gpsman and jbizzle Thank this.
  8. Jun 22, 2014 #6
    WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

    3,424
    2,143
    Apr 1, 2011
    Broomfield, CO
    0
    What are you looking to get into? Construction? Oilfields? Freight hauling? Construction... there's a lot going on, especially with that joint venture between Granite (who I've worked for previously in North Carolina) and Ames on US36. But, it's largely seasonal work, so there's that caveat.
    Otherwise, you have options... this isn't the hottest place to go looking for any kind of open deck work (flatbeds, RGNs, stepdecks, etc.). Refrigerated companies are always present here.
     
    WitchingHour, Jun 22, 2014
    WitchingHour, Jun 22, 2014
    #6
  9. Jun 22, 2014 #7
    Daniel17452

    Daniel17452 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Jun 21, 2014
    0
    I looked into Prime, and am actually kind of impressed with what I saw. I really like that they will allow me to take my dog with me after I finish with the company trainer, which is a big plus on my side. Once I get my CDL and if I actually manage to get into PRIME, I will remember you. I saw that they do have referral bonuses, so figured that I could at least do you that favor for the help.

    I planned on going ahead and getting my tanker/hazmat endorsement as soon as I could. Background checks and all won't be an issue, so I just need to study up for the test a little. As for the passport, I know that some companies do run into Canada, but for some reason hadn't even thought about it. Thanks for the heads up!

    I didn't realize that the GI Bill would be able to do that. That's not a bad deal at all. I thought they would only pay for my schooling and then basically say I was on my own. I will do a little research myself on that, so I appreciate the help there!

    I have looked into a couple of those companies as well. I guess what I want though is to be out as much as possible. I just went through a divorce that cost me everything, including my house and one of my dogs, so I really don't have much of a home life at all. I just kind of want to work as much as possible, and then have a day off here and there. I don't care about or need to be home every week right now.
     
    Daniel17452, Jun 22, 2014
    Daniel17452, Jun 22, 2014
    #7
  10. Jun 22, 2014 #8
    ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

    17,502
    12,015
    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
    0
    OTR will certainly get you "out as much as possible!"
     
    ironpony, Jun 22, 2014
    ironpony, Jun 22, 2014
    #8
  11. Jun 22, 2014 #9
    warhippy

    warhippy Medium Load Member

    378
    335
    May 9, 2014
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0
    warhippy, Jun 22, 2014
    warhippy, Jun 22, 2014
    #9
  12. Jun 23, 2014 #10
    WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

    3,424
    2,143
    Apr 1, 2011
    Broomfield, CO
    0
    Where in Co. Springs are you, Warhippy? I lived there a little over 3-1/2 years before moving to Broomfield this past February.
     
    WitchingHour, Jun 23, 2014
    WitchingHour, Jun 23, 2014
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 5