Profile For Mike G.

Congrats. I would say don't put your eggs all in one basket. There are a lot of different companies that offer training. That being said, I work for Knight and have from the beginning. I personally have found success with them. Others have had difficulty. Old School has worked for them in flatbed for many years and is basically the Yoda of trucking in my humble opinion.

I'd recommend looking at his threads as well as the Cdl diaries I kept a diary of my experience with Knight from day one in regards to school, training and Squire miles. There are many others there as well.

In addition here's some ideas for further exploration.

High Road CDL Training ProgramPaid CDL Training ProgramsTruck Driver's Career Guide

Davy, yes I've read your diary it was very good info, thank you. You should be a book writer your a very talented.

The problem with applying with many different companies is because only a very select few in approved for washing state, Swift and Knight and maybe a couple more that I don't know of. I don't have the funds to fork out 3-5K to go to a local school here in Washington so it seems like my options are very slim because of that. However I'm determined to do this no matter how tough it might be with the down turn and all, but I know for a fact that I'll do good out there. I don't know why I'm just now deciding to do this, I've always wanted to. Been a aerospace machinist for almost 20 years and have hated it for almost 10 now.

That's so awesome Zen! Congrats! I'm chomping at the bit to get to that point.

Hey all, I've posted on here a couple times recently asking questions and I appreciate everyone who's given me some good advise. Hopefully some day in the near future as I learn the trade, I'll be able to give back to this website. So I've been doing lots of research on which way to go here. I've talked to a few different recruiters from different carriers about their CDL and road training and sounds like Knight is probably my best bet as far as the training goes. Seems like their pay may be a tad higher as well but pay really isn't my priority for my first year or so, I just want good training and a good mentor. I was told by a recruiter who seemed very helpful with all my questions, that as a new driver starting out in today's market and the current slowdown of freight right now, that my best bet would be to get all my endorsements and go into flatbed because that'll just make me that much more valuable down the road when I get more experience. I love that idea of flatbed work because I'll still be able to do some physical work and seems it'd be a little more challenging. I love challenges. So I'm just curious if that was decent advise from that recruiter? The other thing is I'm going to be pushing to be full blown OTR (if there is such a thing) and be asking to stay out for months at a time if possible. Right now I'm just studying up for my CLP and endorsements until July when I'm ready to start all this (Lord willing). I know none of us can predict the future but is there any signs of things picking up in the near future? I just have a ton of questions, I wish I could sit down with a trucker with lots of wisdom haha. Thanks guys and Gal's..

Thanks a lot for your guys’ advice on this, I’ve decided to hold off another 3 months and do what BK suggested and pay to have an independent test done after the 6 month period. In the mean time I’ll be studying my butt off on here learning as much as I can from high road so that when it’s time I’ll go get my CDP and endorsements. I’m super excited about this career change, I just want to make sure I do everything right. Thanks again guys!

Will do, thank you Old School..

Mike, I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable will see this. We've got a few members who really understand how the hair tests work. Give this a few days to get some more exposure. Sometimes things are slow here on the weekends. I'm confident somebody here can help you with this.

Oh sorry about that.. As far as weed goes, I haven't smoked that in 20 years. I did eat a few consumables about 2 years ago but that's it. As far as what I did a few months ago it was actually cocaine. Like I said in the original post, it was just a one time episode.

Thanks for the link I'll read up on it.

Hello Mike, and welcome to our forum!

You haven't made it clear which illegal substance you used. That could be key in answering your question.

I can tell you this. You do not want to fail that test. Here's another current conversation we are having concerning The Use Of Weed.

I recommend you read it and give us some clear response about what substance you're concerned with.

Hello, I’m new here because I’m new to the trucking industry. This website is awesome, so much good info. I’m making a career change after 20 years being in aerospace. I’ve always been drawn to OTR trucking so call it a midlife thing or whatever but I’m leaving the current career and diving in head first into trucking. So I’m looking at either Knight or swift to enroll into their CDL program, driver training and then solo for one of the other. I’ve spoken to recruiters and everything sounds good and basically what I’m looking for and I qualify in every category to start this, however I do have a question and concern I’d like to ask.. Is there anybody on here that has just recently started at one of these two companies that can tell me about the hair follicle test? I’m no druggy or anything like that but I did however partake in an illegal substance about 3 months ago. That was just a one and done thing. I do occasionally during a beer or 2 every few days but will easily stop that once I start. I’m just worried about the hair test and if 90 days is enough to come back negative? How far back does Knight and/or Swift go with this test? Also can I do the tests here and be cleared before I leave to CDL school with them? I’ll be quitting a very good paying job to do this and would hate to get there and fail the hair test. Thanks for any info I can get!

NaeNaelnNC thank you for the info, I did not know about the hiring freeze. I appreciate it

Mike, it really isn't personal. I moved from Montana to North Carolina to drive for Prime.

Right now, there is a hiring freeze on newly minted CDL holders, with no experience. So you have the double whammy of location and hiring freeze.

You could search out Mountain Matt, and his story about changing residence to SD. Unsure if this is a viable option for you though.

PackRat, Yes there is a ton of other options but I was hoping to find a place where I wouldn't have to fork out the money for school. Looks like that option is no longer an option for a washingtonian like me. Thanks

You're in luck because there are lots of other companies that you can look at. Don't just get your head and heart set on one.

Hello everyone, new to the forum and the trucking industry. A little about me, I'm 43 years old I've been in the aerospace industry for the past 20 years but desperately needing a change so I've decided to pursue truck driving. Specifically OTR with my wife. However I have a little problem that I'm hoping someone can give me a few tips on. My plan was to go through Prime inc's CDL and TNT training and then go out on the road with my wife fulltime. I called a recruiter at Prime who seemed very uninterested in anything I had to say or questions I had but she did tell me that I can't go through their paid CDL program because of the fact that I'm a Washington state resident and Washington has stricter laws than any other state so because of that Washington will not except their training. Then she followed that up with telling me that they most likely would not bring me on for the TNT stage without doing their CDL class first. So basically it sounds like I'm screwed because I'm a Washington resident. I was really hoping to drive for Prime. Has anyone had to go through this as well, any advise on the best way to go about it. Not many companies will hire a student fresh out of driving school with zero experience from what I've been hearing and reading. Thanks for any and all info you can give me..

Mike