Stopping in Fargo??

Bigrig-

I'll be finishing up with my second year shortly. You don't make a lot of head way going to school part time. I was looking last night at Roehl and it looks like a good program. From all of the other posts on here, it seems like any company has their ups and downs. I like the fact that I wouldn't be without a paycheck for 2-3 months. Granted, I'm sure what you make during training is tiny, but any little bit helps.

So far, no one has posted their thoughts if going through a company is a good idea or not. I would be interested to hear as well what you guys thought. I also heard that Schneider has a good program, but all I remember growing up while on the road with my dad was how crappy that company as a whole was. Anyone out there have some other advise or heard otherwise?

 

I'm just another one Dennis...this being my 2nd post to these here forums.

I served my time in the early '80's serving in the military, got out and ended up going to a Vo-Tech school for truck driving - did it for 5 years before starting my college days...ended up with two degrees and working a profession dealing with a lot of people all the time the past 12 years so much so that I long for the simpler days of driving a truck; and so much so I've actually been hanging out in these forums the past four days reading as much as I could about what has been going on in the trucking profession (which isn't easy at all: seeing how truckers, like America in general, is so divided anymore...) and admit it seems a bit difficult seeing how the economy is heading to zero etc...so I'll keep looking to see if there's a way to get back into the saddle again via trying to get my CDL again via some route; followed by trying to get with a company I like...and going to drive more on my terms (ie., regional, flat, or van...avoiding reefers if possible...)

Those first 5 years of trucking, I'd admit now, I was kicked by the companies I worked for (meaning, I'd stay out 4 to 6 months at a stretch with very few days off when home...); things have changed for me now and will work it sensibly this time for sure...

 

bigrig,

I finished driving school in December and have recently gone to work for a carrier based in Fargo. I just completed my training with them and was assigned my own truck this past week. As soon as I get rolling again, I expect that I'll be in Fargo nearly every week, or every other week, at least. If we can coordinate our schedules, I'd be more than happy to meet you at one of the local T/S (I like StaMart) and answer any questions that I might be able to.

For the record, I have a college degree from one of the best schools in the nation. I've worked in management and have owned my own business. I'm very new at it, but thus far, I'm thrilled to be driving a rig. I assumed that I would be one of a handfull of drivers out there with a degree... WRONG! There are many, many drivers out there with some impressive degrees, engineers, MBAs, etc.. A lot of people assume that a degree guarantees a cushy office job somewhere making six figures... wrong again. The unemployment lines these days are full of folks with a degree.

 

I think young people should complete a personality profile of themselves before wasting tuition on either academic or trade school courses. They should find out whether they are suited to supervise others, sell to others, or operate machinery solo. I read wedding announcements and notice whether the bride and groom are working in the field for which they have been educated. This is a great country, but a lot of education is being wasted.

Throwing my hat in the ring of this off-topic topic, I myself am an educated derelict. Without adequate counseling for myself and my parents, I followed a management path although unsuited for it. I gave it my best shot and graduated with honors in business administration and economics. While attending graduate school in transportation administration, I decided to follow my dream and go to truck driving school. It took a long time to cut the umbilical cord and follow my life's script. The years I spent hitting the books were an aberration from the plan best suited to my personality and abilities.

A college degree is not something to fall back on once a person has followed a blue-collar occupation. In academic and professional careers, one must read a book per week to keep up. Employers look for promotions on white-collar resumes. Time out for truck driving will sound an alarm.