To ALL You Newbies out there

Hey Scott! As a newbie to the industry, I'll be looking forward to reading your posts. It'll be nice to have someone that is an instructor on here that can point out the important stuff for us new guys to learn.

 

Do you offer refresher courses , im looking forward too your post welcome from a former driver wanting too get out there again its all i know 3 rd gen trucker Everett.

 

Do you advise new candidates with more than one ticket to wait until their tickets clear?

Do you advise new candidates that may have problems driving in Canada to fix that first before trying to find employment?

There are few (if any) jobs out there for someone new with any tickets, wrecks, DUI's, or felonies.

DON'T TAKE THE CLASS IF YOU FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY!
Your phone will never ring, you will never get even a reply from most apps, or a call back after an interview should you get that far.
Know with certainty that you will be able to find work prior to spending the time and money to obtain CDL.
Do not take someone's word or optimistic guess that you will find work driving.
Schools that provide assistance finding employment usually just hand you applications that you can obtain online.

 

Well, since you offered and I was about to make a post about schools in the Flint area...

First I've narrowed it down to two options so far. CDI up in Saginaw and US Truck Driver Training in Fenton. I'm leaning towards CDI mainly as the recruiter 'felt' better. She wasn't pushy and put out a lot of pluses and minuses of even getting in the industry. The recruiter at USTDT seemed a bit pushy. Nice enough but calling every other day to see if I decided and to come in and sign up. I guess it's just she seemed desperate to get bodies in, and if they are I have to wonder what kind of school it will be. Do you have any suggestions on either one?

Of course saying that, I looked in Detroit, Flint (where I live), and Saginaw without even thinking of Lansing as an option. What school do you belong to/ (And asyou never metioned it in your original post, PM me if you don't want to say to everyone please.)

Steven

 

what about the companies that offer training, then driving with them after cdl completion....I am hearing alot of bad experiences. I live in Dallas, TX.
and we have Stevens Transport and Drive Solutions in Fort Woth?

 

thanks for spending time here lcctdt, what I come to know about Lansing cc, is they been training from like 1965.

what I want to know from you, is what is significance of having a ptdi certification as a school? Another question is why Lansing community college doesn't pursue this certification?

what I come to know is that some companies want this certification, like Crete.

because really I looked at your school first, then considered another one. However, I like the proximity of your school as to the other one, it will give a lesser drive home.

ps. I am still a student of lcc, but never continued the process of filling out for aid and what else.

thanks

 

Hi LCCTDT,

It's nice to get a different perspective on here.

I'm looking into a few different options for obtaining my CDL. As in a lot of life's choices, the options each have their own pros and cons and I'm trying to decide which is best for me, given those pros and cons. Perhaps you could weigh in if you have a minute

Choice 1: company training. Probably with Swift though perhaps a different company if one fits my location and accepts me. I wouldn't accept a company requiring a lease or team driving after training.
Pros: No down payment, easy no interest repayment, job after training, train on company's equipment
Cons: "locked in" with the company for 12-18 months, can be dropped by company from program, working for a "bottom feeder" (this Con seems open for debate depending on the company and personal fit), quick training

Choice 2: "CDL Mill" There are, I feel, a couple of good schools in my area that I've heard good things about. The strongest contender for me would be Commercial Driving Solutions in Lakewood (CDS).
Pros: Local, job assistance, chance to start with a "better" company, training is not specific to just one company, frequent training
Cons: Price, quick (4 weeks), no job guarantee

Choice 3: Community College. Again, a couple of good, comprarable choices in my area.
Pros: mid priced, long training (up to 11 weeks), local, chance to start with better company, training not specific to one company, possible tuition assistance
Cons: lenghty training, infrequent classes (2 or 3 times/year), price (not free), no job guarentee

I'm sure there's more pros and cons but that's a snapshot of what I'm looking at. So for my situation:

30 years old, live in the Seattle area, no wife/kids, job is ending soon, not a lot of money in the bank.

If I'm going to get a CDL, I'd rather do it sooner rather than later. If I wait for winter qtr for a community college, I'll be paying rent and living costs for many months before I can even look at getting a job. I think working during school is both uncertain and would be very tough to manage.

I can probably pay the costs of a local cdl school, but it's not going to leave much left over unless I put it on my credit card and make payments or get some miracle fuding. It's a bit a of gamble because if I can't find a job, I'm hosed. I do think though I could learn how to drive in the four weeks and pass my cdl. I'm just not sure it would be worth the risk of being broke and homeless

company school- I think I could learn to drive in that time and I don't need a large paycheck to get by since I'm not supporting anyone but me. I don't like the idea of being at some company's mercy though. I know plenty of people do fine with the company school route but this forum has more than it's fair share of naysayers and I can't just dismiss them out of hand. I definatley don't want to be left holding a $4000 bill and no CDL or job

My record isn't perfect- 2 tickets on my record (11 over in july 2010 and 15 over may 2009). Swift doesn't seem to mind that nor watkins and shepard. I need to start calling other companies. A lot require some OTR experience first so that limits things a bit.

I would appreciate your toughts LCCTDT (or anyone else's) on whether I should step thru door number 1, 2, or 3.

Thanks to all for any thoughtful advice or suggestions.