Profile For Robin Hood

It's legal in almost every state to "yield" not "stop" when doing a right on red.

Where do you get that from? I've never heard of yielding on red.

Tennessee rarely requires a stop on red, if turning right. And will very quickly get you rear ended, or a ticket for obstructing traffic if you stop and it’s clear, but that’s here. Idk but in West Virginia I also seen many places with yield to right on red also. But I’ve seen it illegal, but I thought we had to stop regardless?

I just got my CDL permit two days ago thanks to the training materials located on this website. I'm currently applying to companies that will train me for my CDL. I'm leaning heavily towards Millis or Roehl with Prime as a backup. Does anyone here have experience with these companies? I would love to here about your time working for them and going through there schools. If anyone has any other companies I should be looking at feel free to chime in. I'm located in Chattanooga, TN.

TLD TLD dude go TLD. They are awesome!!!! Very home friendly, pet friendly, passenger friendly, and have different loads and they train you on a 10 speed.

Thank you . I have applied to Millis, Stevens and Prime.

The only big requirement is the pet policy as I have German Shepherd and he is already 60lbs and not even a year . So that disqualifies from a lot of company. I don’t care too much for home time as I’m single and no kids and have been living away from family for awhile and already only see them 1x a month.

Avoid stevens, they aren’t pet friendly, and you won’t ever be home. The company I’m with, TLD, has a lot of old Steven drivers and I haven’t heard anything good. Except the mileage. They pay is decent but no pets and they’re trucks are autos. But best of luck!!!

Congratulations, Robin! If I may ask, did you use the High Road Training Program on this site for study? How was the test? Easy? Challenging?

I did partly!!! It’s helpful and will help you in the long run to study ahead. And the test itself is simple knowledge, especially if you study on this site. It’s just how they word it. I just got my CDL A license without endorsements so I didn’t have any extra tests. It’s honestly super easy once you read into it, just so the practice tests and read up cause it’s all simple to take in. Learning to drive? That’s the challenging part truthfully

I got my cdlA permit!!! We got to drive the truck a bit today and I have questions and you guys are experts! Ok so how long will it take to adjust to high and low switch on the shifter? It’s a 10 speed on a freight liner, btw. And will the double clutching be easy? I have to double clutch my car but the truck is hard to feel the clutch bite, or let go. And any advice for small guys? I’m 117 and the seats are made for 3 times my size lol. But I’m super excited!!! Thanks in advance!

Sooo big news! I’ve officially started trucking school!! TLD had an offer I couldn’t pass up, and they brought us in this morning, practice tests, signed the school contract, employee hiring contract, I’m excited!! All the stress has almost melted away, and I’m ready for it!! 1,080 miles left, since I’m driving to and from each day, but other than that I’m ready!! My little Mazda is killer so not the best ride, and the teacher/trainer is easy to get along with, doesn’t hide or sensor answers so I have a good feeling about this, he even says we may get out in 3 weeks since we can all drive a manual, and 3 people is a small number so we get plenty of driving time a piece so I’ll feel more comfy about the whole deal. Definitely feeling I made the correct choice!!!!

Orian:

Did you confirm with your apartment management that you will be allowed to park a Semi-tractor at your apartment? That is highly unusual for one to allow that.

It’s a private owned, and actually the way we’re situated it’s 6 apartments to 2 buildings with plenty of space. Now a trailer? That there’s honestly my only issue

You stated you were not sure about Steven's pet policy. If you have a pet you want bring with you when solo, you had better find out for certain what bvb their policy is.

After 90 days from my college recruiter, But TLD logistics sounds safer and more secure for me, and I can have PUPPIES!! but according to the recruiter for TLD apparently they have a driver who has goldfish he keeps with him so...

I trained with CFI and was OTR only a short time before going "local" for the company I currently drive for. I thought everything about CFI w as good as a new driver could ask for.

The responses I received from them was Awesome, polite, informative and courteous. I’m just scared to pay to get my permit cause I have to get a physical and my cash is currently as boxed up as a snappers shell so I’ve been studying cash routes.

Their paid training? A+ My experience with my trainer? A+ "Mike" did a fantastic job getting me ready to go solo. My experience with my dispatchers? A Always helpful and understood what we new drivers were experiencing, both relatingbto the task at hand and being "counselors." Haha.

The one absolutely worst thing going with CFI? THE God awful experiences I had on the Grey Dog (Greyhound Bus) traveling roundtrip to Missouri from Ohio. Twice! Absolute joke.

I dread that if I go with Stevens lol

Good luck in your journey.

And I thank you don!

Old school, I’ve narrowed it down to either TLD Logistics, or Stevens still. Stevens’s recruiter hasn’t exactly been a batch of roses to me, and where they don’t guarantee hire until I’m already in Texas, and I’m dropping everything into this. I’ve thought about driving and being solo, on my own schedule, I don’t fear it. TLD so far seems safer in the sense the recruiter has been more than polite, and has assured me that as long as I pass my cdl road test I’m hired, no extra interviews, no hidden bs, she told me to do this I do have to drive to Knoxville everyday, and for that I kinda worry cause that’s 2080 miles for my ol Mazda, which won’t be drove much after. TLD also will have me home every 2-3 weeks instead of stevens, and even though I’m not from crossville, my younger working history is spotty because I was a stupid child. So I’ve kinda made this retirement community my home, and the fact TLD is in town and offers parking 4 miles from my apartment? A clinic down the road? That’s free? Plus the fact the recruiter answers the phone and isn’t rude when I ask questions is huge to me. Which I’m 22 and I’m a hermit, so in truth I’ll stay out as much as possible. Furthermore, my store manager, district manager, and store owner offered to assist in food, gas, and if need be cause blue tears up, transportation. They all prefer TLD because either, they want me in crossville, or know people who drive for them and know how they treat their employees. I’m southern to my core, and people.. have issues with my dialect. Don’t think Appalachian, think banjo boy off deliverance, or turtle man. I lived in West Virginia for a spell and no one understood me lol. So going to a big Dallas truck orientation and being nervous and anxious as a possum in headlights, I’d freak. But TLD definitely seems my better bet. TLD is just more solid I guess? But I do appreciate your advice and especially the information on what all is in orientation, that part was scaring me. But the in a truck with a stranger, as I’ve thought on it, makes me ease up a bit because I’m a pretty likable person so I’m just worried about a wrong company choice at this point.

Have you tried CFI? Our traing is 3 weeks of free school, pas your CDL then paid orientation, then either home for up to 7 days or out with a trainer. Our current time with trainer is 21 days unless more is needed. Then upgrade to a truck that is 3 years old or newer.

You go home with truck and trailer and there is a Pilot in Crossville you could park at for hometime.

At CFI your traing is free. Stay for one year and owe nothing.

Time out with trainer is dispatched as solo, you do all the driving, backing and work. You are paid 29 CPM during this time. Trainer shows you how and is in the passenger seat while you're driving.

Once you upgrade, you will start at 35 CPM. By the time you reach one year you will be at 41 CPM. Solo drivers average about 2500 miles per week.

In case it wasn't obvious, I am 100% biased to CFI.

Best of luck to you.

CFI sounds like a good company, my thing is finding a good company to stick with honestly. Stevens sounds nice but at the same time all I see are reviews about it being a training only company. I really want a company that’s easy to settle and build with, that treats employees fair enough to maintain a good relationship. I don’t think I’ve seen their application so I’ll definitely do my research, I greatly appreciate it!!

CFI treats us great. I would not be here if they didn't. In the last 3 years they have been getting rid of the old equipment for new.

We have over 200 million miles with the company. That is a long time to be with one company.

It is good to do what you're doing and casting your net wide.

Hopefully you will end up with several companies to choose from.

I am definitely looking into CFI, I’m not worried about starting pay truthfully, I want a company that makes for a lifetime career. My career path thus far is bumpy because I was young, dumb, and didn’t have a steady home. But I’ve lived here for almost a year and held my job for well over a year, and CFI definitely has a lot of potential and has expressed interest in me, I honestly need to talk to them more. But I’ve never had the option of me choosing companies cause I’m used to hoping I get hired with x but going with y instead. This has been the exact opposite

I guess I’m looking for helpful ways to bash this worry and anxiety over what I hope is gonna be the fulfillment of my boyhood dreams.

Honestly, I don't think you can bash your worries or anxieties about getting into this career. Getting started in a new trucking career is a commitment. A big one at that. It will be something you will have to settle in your heart and mind before you take off for orientation. I used to compare it to riding a bull for the first time. Anybody that tries that knows they are in for a huge conflict that they are going to struggle with for a time before they get the hang of it. If they want to be a bull rider, they make a commitment to see it through no matter how difficult it gets. That doesn't mean they don't experience anxiety or fear and disappointment. They just push their way through it until they've reached their goal.

Let me share with you my personal experience. I had a lot of trouble getting started, and I think my experience can be somewhat helpful to others. I went to three different company orientations where I got rejected for one reason or another. It was a pathetic way to get started. I had made up my mind that I was not going to be demoralized by the people who didn't think I had what it took to do this job. I persevered until somebody gave me a shot. Once I got my opportunity there was no looking back. I applied myself diligently to the things that I thought would make me a successful truck driver. I learned the rules. In fact I mastered the log book regulations because I saw in them the path to being able to outperform my peers at this. Trucking is all about competition. It takes a competitive mindset to understand how you rise to the top in this career.

Top Tier Drivers make their way in this career. They rise to the top and succeed based on their performance. Everything about trucking is performance based. We don't get paid for being on the clock. We get paid for getting the job done. We get paid by how many productive miles we can produce for our employer. We get to measure out our own pay level by being more productive or less productive. The folks who recognize the uniqueness of this opportunity will strive to work at their highest levels and they reap the highest reward. It is really great to be recognized for your efforts and your accomplishments. Very few jobs offer that kind of satisfaction.

You will have to make a big commitment to this career. If you let your fears and anxiety control your decision making you will not make it as an over the road truck driver. We face new challenges daily. Even after years of being on the road you will be surprised by things that happen. That's why I stress the commitment. Set yourself and resolve that you will see it through. Make that commitment and carry out your plans. Don't look back. There is a rewarding career ahead if you stay the course.

Old school, I greatly appreciate your input. I personally, after taking a lot of advice on here, have bashed much of my anxiety. It’s the worry of something bad happening since I’m never this lucky, because after taking mom cats advice on staying away from reviews, I’m not as nervous. I’m prepared to be alone and learn everything humanly possible , because I don’t have any external worries as long as my pre-hire through stevens is secure. I’m just scared to be around new people and be in a small space with a trainer, I’m definitely a handful because I love to chat, and I’m my own character, however I’m also respectful of others privacy and I’m not a rude person. I’ve just wanted this career for so long and I was scared to even attempt, and now I’m faced with who to pick instead of worrying if I’ll get responses and it’s oddly made me paranoid because one side feels like, “man this is easy” and then the other wonders ,”what’s the catch” beside the usual alone time. All I have at this point is mom so the loneliness doesn’t scare me, I’m quite confident in my abilities to learn and observe, I just always second guess myself and if I get the sense I’m doing bad I personally break down, if that makes sense. But I greatly appreciate your input. It helps put a lot into perspective