Trying to make up my mind.

I too have been researching for a couple weeks now, trying to determine the "best" company to go with (need to attend school, as I have not been in a "big rig" since mid '80s). After much reading of others comments throughout this "forum platform" I've narrowed it down to Roehl... but was open to check out Millis, but the website I come up with don't give much in way of explaining if they "train" and then hire... maybe I don't have the right website?
Thanks for any suggestions, advice from y'all.
Good luck awjones on making your decision.... but humor me a moment, please and I'll add my two cents... which is... maybe you are "thinking" too much as to "what might happen" and the like. You end up just talking yourself right out of it. From personal experience, I have found the best way to over come doubt/fear is to face it head on! If it don't work out as you wanted, or planned, at least you can say "ya gave it a try". Instead of wondering what if. I'll put a prayer in on your behalf that you will find the confidence to believe in yourself... and make a decision... whatever that be. God bless you sir.

 

"Grab the bull by the tail and face the situation!"

 

big dubber. i have been accepted to millis and am going to class april 8 in wisconsin. only way to get hired by millis is to either have experience or go thru their school. when you make it thru their school you work for them. in reference to having money put away it is a good idea if possible but i know in my situation i will save by not paying rent and utilities. plan on having my bills paid for the month of schooling and a little extra if possible.

 

Was there a particular website you went to to review how Millis' school, and hire, works out, etc? The only website I've been able to see is vague and takes me to an "enrollment" page when trying to get more details.
Thanks for your input.
Good luck! I look forward to hearing how your "training" works out for you.

 

millistransfer.com i think this is it and then there are drop down menu from the right side for the different catagories. call them at 800-937-0880. the one i am dealing with is ellen.

 

I feel the need to open my mouth, first thing on my mind is you need more than $500.00 in your pocket to get thru school, even with Millis and Roehl which are for the most part no cost up front. Then there is what you need when you get on the road, truck stops arent cheap to eat at, and you are going to be with a trainer so there is not alot of room to bring lots of food with you. Then when you get your truck, you need a CB $100.00, and GPS, the truck kind not the car kind $400.00 and at least a cheap electric cooler or fridge $80.00 and some kind of bag for shower suppies (back pack or something) plus alot more. What I'm trying to say is the more money you have put away the easier it will be. Plus you need money for tolls, yes they pay you back, but you still have to have it up front. The pay is a whole story its self, dont include bonuses when you look at the pay, you might get it you might not. As a new driver you're not going to get the best miles, the company idea is that it helps new drivers get used to it,,,ya great but for the driver it means less pay. If the tires are'nt moving your not getting payed and there is going to be alot of time your sitting in parking lots waiting to get un loaded or loaded, by the way the CB is'nt for gabbing to other truck drivers, its for the yards you will be in to get loaded or un loaded alot of times they will tell you on the CB where to go , what bay to go to. I told my trainer that I was promissed $35000 my first year and he laughed at me, so dont expect to get rich. The truck I got, shocked me how clean it was being a used otr truck but most of these companies have them detailed before you get them. I've never seen a bad looking Millis truck or Roehl and I see Schnider is selling off old trucks and getting new ones. The main thing to keep in your mind when you look at reviews is the numbers, a company with 10 drivers and has one thats not happy is no big deal right, well same numbers if you have 2000 drivers and 200 are not happy or 6000 drivers with 600 not happy, its still the same % but you hear more bad reviews of the bigger company just because of the %, not because its a worse company to work for. One thing I think is a plus for Millis and Roehl is where their school is, you get to learn how to drive in a smaller town. I would hate to have to learn how to drive a semi in Phoenix or Dallas. Which ever place you or anyone goes to make sure you can stay with that company for more than 1 year, and try to stay at least 3, even jobs in the oil field running on dirt roads want 3 years otr. I dont want to make it sound all bad but people need to keep their eyes open. Working 12 to 16 hours a day some where and going home at the end of the day is alot different than being in a truck for 24 hours a day. there....I'm done venting.......good luck to all.

 

Maybe it does make sense to have one but I wouldn't classify it as a need. Most of the advice given on here is learn how to read a map and use the atlas properly. All kinds of ways to make sure you don't miss your turns and exits besides a gps. As far as using them to get around construction and things like that, maybe they're useful but still not a necessity.

 

I actually called and talked to a "recruiter" today to find that I don't live in their hiring area.
So I am going to pursue gettong on with Roehl. Will be talking to a "recruiter" there tomorrow.
Thanks for your reply.
Good luck on your end!