Starting company for CDL driver aspirant.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Paul T800, Feb 16, 2018.

  1. Paul T800

    Paul T800 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    26
    Thanks Received:
    27
    Location:
    The Thumb, Michigan
    0
    Thank you for the input guys. Much appreciated.
    Yeah hopefully @FerrissWheel see this post.
     
    FerrissWheel and Steel Dragon Thank this.
  2. Old-school trucker

    Old-school trucker Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Messages:
    186
    Thanks Received:
    331
    Location:
    Mississippi
    0
    The way you write you should forget driving a truck and become an English teacher
     
    Steel Dragon and Paul T800 Thank this.
  3. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2009
    Messages:
    4,709
    Thanks Received:
    5,409
    Location:
    Airlie Beach QLd
    0
    If your completely new to the transport industry i'd do dry van first, till you get the hang of things, the reason is because with a van there is less worries about securing your load you just close your doors and off you go, with flat bed you've got belts ropes, chains, and tarps to worry about if something comes loose it can fly off into traffic, in a van if something comes loose its still secure in the van. Having said that providing you get the right training in flat bed and you take on board all they teach i guess you'll pick it up if that's what your determined to do.
     
  4. Paul T800

    Paul T800 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    26
    Thanks Received:
    27
    Location:
    The Thumb, Michigan
    0
    Lol I get it as a compliment? English is not my native language lol.
    Moved in US for love from the Old Europe..
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2018
    Steel Dragon Thanks this.
  5. Old-school trucker

    Old-school trucker Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Messages:
    186
    Thanks Received:
    331
    Location:
    Mississippi
    0
    You write very well. Reminds me of my English Comp. professor when I was in college. I meant that as a compliment. No disrespect intended
     
    Paul T800 Thanks this.
  6. Paul T800

    Paul T800 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    26
    Thanks Received:
    27
    Location:
    The Thumb, Michigan
    0
    Thank you very much brother. :) very nice of you.
     
  7. Paul T800

    Paul T800 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    26
    Thanks Received:
    27
    Location:
    The Thumb, Michigan
    0
    @Chinatown

    Got an offer from Celadon. They would send me to train for CDL in school and then training with them in Indianapolis(Swift would train in Detroit).
    What do you think about Celadon? I read that they had a very "intense" 2017 to say the least....
    But looks like they are recovering if I am right?
    Someone knows about Celadon?


    Their pay I think is 1 or 2 cents higher than Swift. But honestly don't really care that much, is much more valuable to me that I end up in a good place and I get a good training.
    Celadon would pay me 450$ gross a week during the training, Swift would not. But again, I don't really care that much because I am looking at the bigger picture here, my career.

    Thank you for whoever can help.
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2018
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2011
    Messages:
    74,707
    Thanks Received:
    169,877
    Location:
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    There's a lady that posts on here that's been with Celadon for a few years and has no complaints. I think she's with the dry van division. Celadon is probably as good as any to get the career started.
     
    Paul T800 Thanks this.
  9. Paul T800

    Paul T800 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    26
    Thanks Received:
    27
    Location:
    The Thumb, Michigan
    0
    Thank you very much as always @Chinatown
     
  10. FerrissWheel

    FerrissWheel Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2015
    Messages:
    1,993
    Thanks Received:
    5,896
    Location:
    NV
    0
    Well time correct the recruiting Dept yet again.

    For Swift you would intiatally get CDL training and the basic stuff in Michigan. They would then have to send you to the Gary IN terminal for a few days of tie down training while you wait on a flatbed mentor. Which wouldn't be much of a wait in Gary. Our trucks are there all the bloody time. Then 200hrs, road test, and then flatbed securement test at either Phoenix AZ, Greer SC or Gary IN. (Securement training is payed a flat rater per day.)


    I have not mentored in over 6 months, and we have underwent multiple payscale changes and they have experimented with giving students a flat rate. That being said I do not have current info on all that. I can try to dig it up. But your intial CDL school phase is still unpaid.

    Im on a Dedicated account running drywall, so I don't really keep up on things anymore. But if you have specific questions I'll try to get you an answer.

    I can only speak for our securement training in Phoenix, they literally teach you the green book. It's not company BS. I'f you can pay attention at all the info they spit at you in Phoenix you will know everything you need. Including certain tricks of the trade. Some of the more obscure tricks will likely depend on your mentor.

    I can't personally vouch for our other schools, but Phoenix was fantastic for securement training. .
     
    Paul T800 Thanks this.