Starting out for rookies

I would like to say thank you, for posting your comments and information about the trucking industry.

I have received my Class A permit about a week ago and will be going to CDL Class in Tampa Florida next month. Hopefully be employed after I graduate. I have also been calling a few companies and some will hire out of Florida and others will not.

So I will pray for the best.

 

As a trainer I can tell you that as many have already stated here that you will need to have some type of training. OTR is your best option. I can teach somone alot more on the road doing otr then I could if we were in the city. The city drivers will tell you they are good drivers and yes 80% are and they got that way because sombody took the time to teach them the right way and had the time to do so..hence the otr trainer. Best of luck and holler if you have any questions I could help with. Until then Be Safe Be Good Be Gone.

 

I had my class b cld for 5 years driven vac trucks and box trucks but now i want the big money so i just got my class a permit . I went to all state ,smith & soloman and american driven . i dont no what one is best . only thing different is the prices for 2,500-5,200

send me a message thanks

 

Well you get what you pay for. The experience I have seen and experienced has been that the STATE or COMMUNITY run schools do a better job most of the time compared to the privatly run crap. The companies that put you in a school will want you to sign a contract to stay a certain amount of time after you get hired on or owe them the cost of the tuition. Check out tech colleges or community colleges. Good luck. let hear how you do. Be Safe Be Good Be Gone.

 

I agree with that and I'd go a step further and check out the companies you have an eye on. Check around to see if they have a good training system in place because your real training starts there. Remember that you need to stand out from everyone else to snag a decent job. Don't do what everyone else does and get out there and talk with the employers(not recruiters). I've hired a few drivers that came into the terminal and asked what it would take to get a job. That showed me they really wanted the job. Let us know.

 

I'm going to start us truck training school in Michigan, anyone know anything about them. It would be very appreiciated. ??????? Thanks in advance RJT

 

yep. they appear to be straight up with you...of course they try to tell you that the jobs are there like the others, but not so much bs.

They do want you to succeed and aim to prepare you for the test. Others I had checked into made it souond like there was no slow down in the economy,etc. these guys appeared to be straight up with you.

Dobnt know how the graduates are doing these days....last winter they were waiting up to six weeks just to get to orientation at Werner.. that was with the January class. according to the neighbor....so who knows what's going on now.

wishing you success in your new adventure

 

I am a recent graduate and have been applying to more than 20 companies. So far none of them are hiring or are on hiring freeze. I have a pre-hire from Stevens but orientation is scheduled for March 2010. Good luck to everybody to find a job in this market.

 

I just graduated myself on Oct. 23rd and have orientation on the 16th of Nov. the school i went to was eight weeks long and by week two i was putting in apps. everywere i could, most never called back and the ones who did wanted a year or more exp. was not until the recruiters started coming in that i got a call back and got the ball rolling.
Yes i am going otr but that is what i wanted to do right now anyways so it works.

F. Y. I. stay away from companies that will school you and than give you a job. First of all tuition is very high if you leave or if they let you go and sec. who wants to be straped to a companie they realy hate because they have to pay them back the tuition GO to a cummunity college and take the class ( "the trainer") is right they are better schools and you will only PAY a 1/4 of the tuition you would otherwise have to pay

 

Thats why I wanted to go with a company that would train me and pay me. I can't stand the job I am doing and I want to be in the industry very badly. I say get the experience and go for it.