Profile For Warren B.

Hey Cincibeerhawk-

I really appreciate your comments right now as I am currently in CDL school. I am attending on weekends because I am currently employed (not driving), I am getting ready to retire from a 20 year career in education in May. By the 1st week in June, I am hoping to be ready to take my skills test if everything goes right and obtain my CDL. That being said, I have also been exploring Maverick for some time, and considering seeking employment from them. I live 3 hrs away from the Little Rock headquarters (NW Arkansas area), and there are no shortage of companies here, but I am impressed with what I have heard about their excellent training, and from what I am told are a standup company. Please keep posting your experiences, I am eager to see how you finish out. I, on the other hand will be coming into trucking with only a Class B CDL from driving a school bus, in addition to teaching. I wish you the best, and hope to see you in a Maverick truck in the near future.

This is not a paid/unpaid endorsement for Maverick Transportation. The experiences I’m having are my own. Any similarity to the experiences of others are merely coincidental.

Today (Friday, April 21, 2023) is an ‘off day’ for me and my classmates. We wrapped up our first week yesterday afternoon after spending the majority of the day with Leon in the Training Bay as he set our heads to spinning as we were introduced the vast world of securement. First we learned the proper manner in which to build a coil cradle, then we worked with ‘Eye to the Side’ (suicide) and ‘Eye to the Front’ (shotgun) securement sets. Mixed in were a couple of ‘emergency’ drills at which time we were compelled to report to the safe space within our ‘factory’ as the warning siren of an approaching fork truck or coil crane approached. Before bidding us good bye for the weekend we were presented with homework. We’ll report back at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday with our completed packets of drawings for securing additionally complex shipments to a trailer. Additionally we have several videos to watch and .pdfs to study.

After a careful and studied long-distance conversation with my wife on Wednesday, we decided to modify the benefit package I had chosen after viewing via Zoom (?) the presentation delivered by an HR Generalist (I hesitate to include her name as I do not have a signed release allowing me to do so, but I sure wish I could — her knowledge and organization was that good). I called the Benefits department at this morning, was advised that all changes needed to be made in writing (translated - an email would need to be sent). A short email was developed and delivered. Two hours later I had my response with the requested changes highlighted and a new weekly deduction published. Wow!

I’ll end here. I’m gonna disconnect for the next 40 hours as I reload and recharge for another week as I learn The Maverick Way.

Thanks for reading.

Hey impressive Donna! I am still looking at companies to work for once I get my CDL, this is very encouraging. May I ask are you OTR, Dedicated, van, or what?

Thanks, WBreaux

Yes I give up with picture, it posted in the gallery but not on my post .

Net.. ... 71,062 Per diem. 19,864 401k. 3,096 ------------------------------------------------------------- 94,022

Anyone have some extra children I can claim on my taxes?? 😂

Hey FR8M4N!

I have followed your journey for the last 2mths, and it seems you are getting along just dandy. I appreciate your comments about the challenges you have faced and your positive attitude. I am still planning on attending CDL school in June. I finish my teaching career, and it's back at school - this time as a student. I really can't wait to get started. I am going to get my written test done in March to be prepared for the skills test in June. But I wanted to ask where did you/are training- if that is okay for you to mention? At any rate, keep trucking, and hopefully you will be solo soon!

WarrenB

In that SpongeBob British narrator voice, "One week later..." Not a mile driven. Well, it was expected; my trainer is on vacation, so I am too. Providing nothing happens that sets us back, I should resume driving next Tuesday. It'll be a shorter 4 day week, but hope dispatch has some good runs for us. 2k miles would be ideal to finish up the required miles and get a truck assigned to me by Friday. Tall order? If so, then we'll just have to finish up the following week, no biggie; I just roll with whatever comes my way.

Until later...

Hey Marc! I am so glad you posted on this forum! We are very similar in that I, like you am a teacher, (19 years), and I also decided to make a career change. I will finish out this school year in May, and start CDL school June 12th with a private school in my location. I have also driven a bus for the last 6 years, which sort of jump started my interest in driving big trucks. I know the driving isn't exactly the same, but I really am excited to to start driving as a career. At 56 years young, I really am ready for this next move.

I hope you continue to post on this forum to share with us your successes, challenges, groans, or whatever as you continue this journey. Godspeed and stay safe out there!

WarrenB

Ok the time has come to say goodbye to my wife and kids. We all know this is for the best. Teaching has just become to much for me. New Year and a new career!

Thank you so much Fr8TM4N! I really appreciate the information. I hadn't thought about the time accumulation scenario for days off. I'm going to go the AR DMV to ask questions about adding the A combo test, but I also want to take the endorsements as well. I am considering the sponsored schools as well. It seems the most practical, economical path, in my opinion. I am hoping that's all I will need. My game plan is to finish out this school year, so begin at the end of May. I will keep you posted while on this journey, and reach out if I have any more questions. Good luck to you and your wife.

Hello FR8TM4N,

I am inspired by your story! I am at the "ripe ole age of 56", currently working as an elementary special education teacher. I have 6 grand children and 5 grown children (last daughter is a senior in high school)- we finally made it! For the last 6 years, I have also driven a school bus for the district I work for. I told my wife how much I love driving (even with noisy middle schoolers in the back), and I would love to think about driving more. Funny note: I tell people, "When I am driving the bus, it's the only time of day when my problems are all behind me" Hehe. Anyway, I have been contemplating retiring from teaching, and driving OTR, regional, or dedicated. I already have a Class B CDL so I am not really sure the route I need to pursue to get my Class A. The research I have done so far leads me to believe that I just need to pass sections pertaining to Class A and any endorsements I would like. I am in Arkansas, but I am not sure exactly what I need to do. I am looking into the prepaid CDL schools with jobs after getting certified. I just don't know if I need to do that since I already have a CDL, just not the A yet. Do you have any thoughts on the issue? Anyway, thank you for contributing your story.

JBro

Hi ya WB!

If you already have the class B, you may only need the Combo test. I had studied for the other tests, but when I got to the SOS office, she told me I only had to take the combo test. I studied for the other endorsements as well, but will take those tests after I pass the examination for class A, but before getting the license, so I don’t have to pay any extra. (If I get the class A in hand, then go back to take the endorsement tests, there will be a fee involved, so better to do them all just prior to getting that class A license in hand.)

My wife and I chose to go the way of a sponsored school. That way I come right out with a job afterwards. After looking online at many companies and having applied at a couple of them, we decided on Keller Trucking out of Defiance, OH. Their proximity to where we live and their contractual agreement after school was appealing to us. I did go to a school for a one day class when I went for my class B. It was ok, but when I looked into the class A, at the same school, it was going to be too much $$ and a three week time commitment with no real job guarantee afterwards. So we felt the sponsored class scenario was the better route. Look and compare their contractual agreements! Seems a lot of them are a year to a little over two years! Also, watch for how the weekends off works, if they offer it at all. One company I looked at was going to be if you work seven days, that was one day off; 14 days=2 days off, 21 days, yep! 3 days off. That wasn’t going to work for us so they were dropped from the consideration list. See if you can see what their coverage area will encompass. Is it the whole U.S.? How many regions? What will you be required to operate in? Are there vacation days, holidays, what benefits… I’m sure you’re on to those types of questions already.

Hope that helps a little. Good luck moving forward. Sounds like you’re on the right track with doing some research! There is a ton of info on this site with a lot of good folk willing to give a helping hand, too.

Hello FR8TM4N,

I am inspired by your story! I am at the "ripe ole age of 56", currently working as an elementary special education teacher. I have 6 grand children and 5 grown children (last daughter is a senior in high school)- we finally made it! For the last 6 years, I have also driven a school bus for the district I work for. I told my wife how much I love driving (even with noisy middle schoolers in the back), and I would love to think about driving more. Funny note: I tell people, "When I am driving the bus, it's the only time of day when my problems are all behind me" Hehe. Anyway, I have been contemplating retiring from teaching, and driving OTR, regional, or dedicated. I already have a Class B CDL so I am not really sure the route I need to pursue to get my Class A. The research I have done so far leads me to believe that I just need to pass sections pertaining to Class A and any endorsements I would like. I am in Arkansas, but I am not sure exactly what I need to do. I am looking into the prepaid CDL schools with jobs after getting certified. I just don't know if I need to do that since I already have a CDL, just not the A yet. Do you have any thoughts on the issue? Anyway, thank you for contributing your story.

JBro

Hello, thanks for stopping by. I'm known as King Daddio (KD) in certain circles, aka FR8TM4N. Ripe ole age of 54, retired from Abbott Nutrition a couple of years ago, started work with a garbage disposal company a few months later. Started learning five weekday routes driving a 3/4-ton pick-up truck, called a satellite truck, with an 8 yard box on the back. It had a Perkins toter dumper, which allows you to hook-up the tote, raise it up, and dump it into the box. However, there is a lot of hand-picking and throwing of the trash in order to get it up to the front of the box, otherwise, just using the dumper would allow the trash to just pile up at the rear of the box and you still have to throw some trash to the front in order to keep using the dumper. Fun times, let me tell ya.

A few months go by and a driver quits his job. This opened up a driving position, a big step up from driving the satellite truck. I offer to get my CDL B so I can drive and I'll pay for it. (My wife had suggested even earlier, that I ought to consider getting a CDL, but honestly, at the time, just wasn't interested. But now that this position opened up, maybe she was on to something.) We talked it over and decided it was a good idea to move forward on this CDL license. We determined that a class B would be all that is needed for driving this straight-truck, and, again, I'm not even interested in getting a class A. I'm thinking, "I'll never have a need to drive the big trucks."

After learning five more routes driving the beloved garbage truck for 6 1/2 months, here we are present day and time. Whoa, not so fast; let me back up a tad to two months prior to this last Friday the 14th. I gave my boss, a wonderful fella (who reimbursed me for my class B class by-the-way!) a two month notice of my leaving the company. Why two months, you wonder? Well, it may be hard to imagine, but there really isn't anyone clamouring for a garbage truck driving job, no matter the time of year. (I know, I know; it's just not what people think.) So we were hoping and praying for that special someone to come along so I could train them in that allotted time; but alas, only one fella gave it a try, and after three days in the cab with me, he decided he had had enough already. I know, I know; hard to believe; but trust me. (And it wasn't because of me, it's the routes, honestly. lol) So unfortunately, I didn't have anyone to train to take over my routes before leaving.

Now, with just seven days to go until I'm done with my job, I'm getting nervous about class starting. Not sure why, since I hope I'm more than ready to tackle this new career head-on, but probably not a bad thing to be a little nervous, I don't want to come in too confident, I suppose.

Geeze, I was even nervous thinking about starting this diary that Anne, and sometimes Tom, suggested I do. But to just start typing like I'm telling a story, the butterflies are going away. I know I'm in good company here at the site as I've read a lot here. I've even bragged on you guys and gals already about how smart and mature it is here!

"Wait, so when does this training start? Wasn't there a diary to be written here!? Why is KD going on about all this back story stuff?" you say. Yeah, yeah, I know. I felt it was important to bring you up to speed with this little journey. The class starts tomorrow, Monday the 17th, with Trainco, in Perrysburg, OH. (Special number right there. My garbage truck was #17.) It's a sponsored class by Keller Trucking, out of Defiance, OH. I'll try to remember what I can and pass it along here as the days go by and try to answer any questions along the way, too.

I'm so looking forward to, "Driving for the Brand"! There's a bit more to say on this, but for a later time.

Okay, impressive; if you've made it this far in the reading, you either like punishment or just want to see how bad this can really go for a laugh. lol I'm with ya, it can go either way.

Until later, King Daddio, aka FR8TM4N