Which of the megas have reasonably short training periods?

Most places aren't going to be several months. Most will be 3-4 weeks and the longer ones normally aren't more than 6 weeks. They have it for a reason you need someone to show you how the industry works in real time. For example I went with USX and their training is 175 hours of you driving, which could be 2.5 weeks or 4 weeks depending on how much you spend driving.

But I gotta say if you are looking at the cab as a prison cell you should probably go get your welders certification or something like that cause you wont like this job.

 

You are right on with your advice. This cab gets to feeling mighty small sometimes. Even when I'm running solo. If OP can't handle a few weeks with someone who can show him the ropes right, he is gonna have a tough time long term.

 

I know, right?!



Yeah, I know, suck it up and do your time with whoever gives you the time of day. Or go weld something.

I do want to learn. Reading everything I can read on this forum and other sources is currently and will continue to be an asset in the future. Still, I know that I need to learn in real time/real world much more than I can glean from experiences posted here. If I thought otherwise, I would have probably already bought or leased a truck...

As it stands, the options I have seem to be limited. I'm all but stuck with a megacarrier; all the freight in the world can move through my town (Albuquerque, NM,) but if almost nothing loads or unloads here, I may as well live on Mars.

I don't view a cab with a trainer as a jail cell. However, if I were to end up stuck out there with someone that either I couldn't stand or someone who couldn't stand me... I just want to minimize the potential for personal problems - if I'm the only person in the cab, win, lose, or draw, it's all my responsibility. And that's where I can succeed.

 

I hear ya, and understand. My comment was in regard to the:

"I'm also confident that my current skill set (road and aviation) will give me an edge over the average CDL mill graduate".

That just sounds ####y right outta the gate.

 

Most places, when you go with a trainer and you two have issues, you call the training coordinator and they will route you to a terminal and give you another one. But yeah you're right if you show respect he will most likely show respect back and it'll be fine. Most companies don't just let anyone be a trainer, although some stories have surprised me.

 

youre not going to be with a cell mate for months unless you choose CRST or covenant.But nothing wrong with a couple months.But then again most trainees learn everything on their own no matter how long the training period is.

 

Understood. I figured I should throw something in that would establish me as some sort of a someone. I miscalculated.

 

Just be yourself. The pros here, in my experience, will bend over backwards to help you. They want to see you succeed as much as you do. Seriously.

 

The real learning starts when you get out on your own and the most important things like judgment and patience can't be taught. The only reason I can think of for months long training is companies trying to fit square pegs in round holes.

Can't help with your question but wanted to throw that out there.

 

I had the same apprehension, I was close to signing up with one of the megas but decided I could not live in a truck 24/7 or get any sleep in a moving truck, and possibly be stuck with a trainer who don't believe in hygiene for $350 a week.
You may want to look into a local community college to obtain your class A. After school completion you should be able to go to work with minimal training with a small to medium company.