Profile For Rustybone Rambler

Knight/ swift has an amazing network of terminals, you can roll into a lot of major cities any time of day and have parking, a blessing in denver puyallup, indiana etc., also no forced dispatch will keep you outta new england :)

Awesome information!

I'm just about finished with the training process at Wilson. As Pianoman says, what you want to run might influence your decision. Wilson at this point is pretty much all OTR reefer. Another difference is that I believe Wilson's training program is a bit longer (30,000 training miles, among other phases). I *believe* Knight's process is shorter. So you might want to think about that: maybe you want the longer training process, maybe you don't.

But as others have said, what you bring *to* the training and the job is crucial... and it will indeed test you.

Best of luck to you!

Knight, at least for dry van, ports and refer, both regional and OTR is two weeks with a trainer and one week Top Gun program, then 30,000 solo miles under a training DM. Or 4 weeks with a trainer then 30,000 solo miles under a training DM. So I think in that aspect it was shorter as the 30k miles for me was just basically solo with a bit of help from my DM now and then.

Also, most knight trainees I've talked to had a road test and backing test at the end of their training before the squire miles. I didn't but it was explained to me that my trainer basically tested me as I went along.

Davy,

I think that you are a good, strong spirit. I have read your journey, and have even referred back to it to gain insight on some of the experiences you have gone through specifically with Knight. I think that you and your journey have been an inspiration to some of us out here considering this as a career. If I might ask you a few questions?

Overall, would you recommend the Top Gun training? The program was mentioned in my discussions with the recruiter. Did it help you when you went out there solo? Do you like the vibes of the company ? Do you like your rig? Would you recommend a flatbed career for a lady truck driver? I understand there is some lifting and tying loads down?

Thank you so much and I really appreciate your input.

I'm just about finished with the training process at Wilson. As Pianoman says, what you want to run might influence your decision. Wilson at this point is pretty much all OTR reefer. Another difference is that I believe Wilson's training program is a bit longer (30,000 training miles, among other phases). I *believe* Knight's process is shorter. So you might want to think about that: maybe you want the longer training process, maybe you don't.

But as others have said, what you bring *to* the training and the job is crucial... and it will indeed test you.

Best of luck to you!

Good Morning,

Thank you so much for the response too!

I think I would like as much training as possible, but I think you and several other posters n here are right. I will be the author of my own success story. I really appreciate the reminders that I got to bring my best me!

I agree with the other responses, attitude and work ethic will make the difference whether you like your job or not regardless of company. The only thing I’ll add to the previous responses is that I do think it matters what type of runs you’re looking for. Are you looking for OTR), regional, Dedicated), local, or maybe some combination of those? I think that’s one of the more important questions you can ask when determining which company to go with. The name on the door doesn’t really matter much, but if you are looking for something where you’ll be home every week you might not be very happy with a company that does mostly OTR or vice versa. I know for myself I tend to get bored doing the same thing all the time so I personally like to choose a company that has a variety of fleets to choose from so if I don’t like the fleet I’m on I can try a different one without having to change companies. I don’t know much about Wilson or knight so I can’t answer any specific questions about either but I think either one will work great for you as long as you work hard and learn everything you can.

Good Morning and thank you for this insight. I think that I would like to keep the option open to do local, regional and OTR. At this juncture of my life, I am looking for OTR or regional. I would like to be out on the road, driving, hooking up trailers and learning as much as I can about this new endeavor. Also, I want to be as flexible and versatile as possible to ensure I am prepared to deal with any changes the economy may bring.

Good morning, Rusty. I will be starting my training with Wilson on Monday (3/14). So far, I have nothing but praises to say about Wilson. Both my recruiter and processor are both awesome ladies. Before I chose Wilson, my choices were Knight and Wilson. Wilson stayed in contact through the entire process, checking in once or twice a week. With Knight, there was about a week and a half or so with no check in from my recruiter to see how things were going. I cannot make your decision for you, but I think I will be happy with Wilson. I wish you good luck with whatever company you choose.

Good Morning!

I can relate to what you are saying with regards to communication for sure. I find myself 'interviewing' them as much as they are interviewing me so to speak. Thank you for this insight. It is much appreciated.

I’m bumping this...

Rustybone, Davy’s reply to your inquiry is spot-on. I urge you read (or reread) the links he included in his reply and come back with your insight and hopefully targeted/directed questions.

We maintain this premise at TT; it typically matters not about the name on the cab door, but the integrity, motivation, grit and commitment of the person occupying the first seat.

Good luck!

If you can get in, either company will be a good choice. There are slight differences in their operations and pay structure but pretty slight. I don't know the specifics of Wilson as I work for knight. But there are a lot of accounts of both in our CDL diaries here on the site.

Much more than the company name on the door, what determines your success is you though. This is a performance based industry. That being said, I'd check out some of the links

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Paid CDL Training ProgramsTruck Driver's Career Guide

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
• Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"

Good Morning G-Town,

I thank you so much for your advice! I will definitely be reading up on the materials that I have not read yet. There is some very good information in these links.

While I have researched both companies I actually do not have any targeted or specific questions. I guess I was just wanting the genuine opinion of current or past drivers of these two companies. This may not be an appropriate question for this platform, and I respect that.

I will have to go with my gut on this one.

Thank you so much again for your insight.

If you can get in, either company will be a good choice. There are slight differences in their operations and pay structure but pretty slight. I don't know the specifics of Wilson as I work for knight. But there are a lot of accounts of both in our CDL diaries here on the site.

Much more than the company name on the door, what determines your success is you though. This is a performance based industry. That being said, I'd check out some of the links

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Paid CDL Training ProgramsTruck Driver's Career Guide

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
• Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"

Good Morning and thank you for your response!

The reference materials here are just invaluable! I will be reading up on the ones I have not read. Thanks for those.

I think that maybe I have it in my mind that the company itself is important because I was with my last employer for 20 years. Though times seem to be changing with the new generations in the work force, I was kind of brought up that way, this was the model I had coming up from mentors and role models in my life.

Success is the only option for me at this point-- I think will have go with my gut on this one.

Thank you again for your great advice.

Rustybone Rambler is concerned:

It is a bit disheartening to hear/see that so many people 'wash out'. This concerns me as a person who is looking at driving as a second professional career.

This is not about other people’s failures...

Focus on yourself. I mean laser focus. People washout for many reasons; lack of understanding, unrealistic expectations, underestimating the difficulty, lack of commitment, and of course the unique lifestyle.

I promise you this; if you continue to educate yourself, stay positive and purposefully prepare for what you are about to experience your likelihood for success will dramatically increase.

Read all that TT has to offer... including the valuable blog database. Use this time wisely.

Good luck.

Good Morning G-Town,

I thank you so much for your advice.

I will continue to stay positive and focus on myself--that is for sure. I am reading up on here as much as I can. I have a limited amount of time before my new career begins.

Again, I thank you for this-- soaking it up like a natural sponge!

Davy, I recently read a comment that there are only 30 to 40 regular contributors here on TT. That negatively amazes me. I’ve recommended this site to dozens of drivers and I don’t know of even one who has become a contributor. It’s very frustrating to me because I’ve learned so much here. It is so valuable to have a place to ask questions and get solid advice and information. I guess much of the general driver population is stubborn and anti/progressive. I want to help other drivers but it seems rare to find anybody who wants continuing education. Human nature is a confusing thing.

Lots more people read things here than those that join, while some do join and never post anything.

Agreed. I have been on here for the past month or so reading all the important information, wisdom, and humor the community here has to offer. This TT is a valuable resource for sure.

It is a bit disheartening to hear/see that so many people 'wash out'. This concerns me as a person who is looking at driving as a second professional career.

I suppose that in the end, we make our own choices and we all tolerate stress and adversity differently.

Anywhoo, just Rambling on there, but I wanted you to know that your diary has been very helpful and the insight you have provided in there has me REALLY LEANING TOWARDS Knight Transportation for my own reasons of course. no telling just how many other folks' careers you have positively impacted.

Howdy!

You might not get selected by either company. Use our one and done application and send to many companies and see who responds.

Driving Jobs App

Good Afternoon IDMtnGal!

Thank you for the response, I feel I was not clear in my first post--I did not want to break any rules since I am new here. Still learning the etiquette. Anyhow-- I did that very thing.

-preliminary research -applied to using the suggested app among other platforms -got a number of offers -research round 2 -narrowed down to these companies -reaching out on this forum would be round 3 research before making my final decision of which Offer to accept.

I even researched that. Noticed that Gl*****door, Ind**D and similar do not seem to give you good solid information regarding the companies or the job. Qu**a and R*ddit-- seem to have a lot of ranters and folks who do not read anything before they ask questions, and not a very welcoming community at times can be harsh.

Well then so here I am. Asking you fine folks what your thoughts are on the subject.