Profile For Starlighter

Y'all are inspiring me so much. I worried that 50 was late to totally start a brand new adventure of this magnitude. But it's never too late and I love reading your stories!

Thanks, Anne for all of the great resources. I have already started looking at the High Road Training Program. It is really well done, by the way. Speaking as someone who had to develop online curriculum in a pinch during virtual learning the last couple of years. Looks like yall did a fantastic job. I'm sure it will really help me with the test.

@Klutch - thanks for the tip on Schnieder. I'm looking at their website now. I'm not sure I can train here, though. Looks like I would have to travel to go to one of their training schools.

I keep looking at this posting for ODFL. Its a linehaul, home multiple nights a week. They say they will accept new graduates of an approved private CDL school. I emailed the recruiter and she said their approved schools here are Roadmaster and Delta Tech (which is actually in MS but close). Roadmaster is 7K whattt? Why is it so much more expensive. Delta Tech is cheap but its a community college so it would take a while to get a start date and the program is 8 weeks instead of 4-5.

Thank you, George! I am definitely looking into Swift, and also Knight because I think they use the Swift School here in Memphis. Haven't heard of USA Truck but will look it up now!

Hello Everyone! I have been lurking here for several weeks and thought I would introduce myself and open myself up to guidance from you folks. Love this forum and I am learning so much just by lurking here. It is such a fantastic resource!

I am about to make a career transition. I have been in education for 20 years. Started our teaching, was a principal for a decade and then have been in educational leadership since then. Thigs have been nuts in my world since Covid. My contract ends July 1 and, after much soul searching, I have decided I am done with education. I've given 20 years of my life and I just don't have any more to give to the field.

I have dreamed of being a truck driver since I was a toddler. Used to make my grandaddy take me to truck stops so I could see the big trucks and talk to the drivers. I grew up middle class in the south in the 80's and that was just not something they encouraged girls to do. So I went to college as expected. Got a few degrees. But here I am 20 plus years later, still wanting to do the same thing.

I've been doing research and trying to decide on private vs. company training. I'm in Memphis so there are a few schools here I could attend in July if I wanted to go the private route. I can pull that off financially. I am a single mom in education so I don't have a ton of savings. But I can manage trucking school. Just not sure what my best path will be.

Part of me is nervous to sign a contract for company CDL school as I would be committed, Staying with an organization doesn't scare me. I was 17 years with one school system and have been at the same org here in Memphis since I returned in 2019. BUT, i do have a teenage daughter and my work schedule is a priority for me until she goes off to college in 2 years. I do have family support to get us through the training months and I know I will be gone a lot during that time. However, I would need to secure something after training that had me home frequently, if not most days. How likely is that? After two years, when she goes to college, I can go out for weeks at a time and would love to. But she needs me around often now.

I have filled out the TT interest form here and have already heard from Prime! So exciting, Their training sounds really extensive and I love that but not sure about what they have out of Memphis are.

All advice is welcome at this point. I'm really shooting for CDL school in July one way or another.