Profile For Jimmy D

I agreed to a start date with nothing more than phone assurance from the recruiter. Hardly a contract but it seems like their job is to just shove your credentials along the assembly line up to a point and then get back to the calls and smooth talking with other potential hires. Emails now go unanswered making me wonder if you cease to be the recruiter's concern or you're not in their lane anymore? So who do you talk to in order to ensure your place in the orientation (a month and a half from now) is secure? Is this common practice among recruiters - just to jack up numbers and fill spots?

I've noticed a lot of companies use the Pulse by Tenstreet app to manage documents and communication. I find its functioning to be spotty at best, and I wonder just how secure my documents are sitting on the site.

Just sitting in limbo now passing time and hoping everything is squared away on the company's end. Will they reach out as it gets closer to the date they gave me (May 12th) and assure me that my travel and accommodations are in order, or do you really have to be proactive about lighting fires under them. (I'm not one to just sit back and hope other people have their s completely together.)

FMCSA and DOT are both very clear on it. In order to hold a CDL, the applicant must be able to read and understand English. They also must have had a valid class C license for a period of one year. They also must have and legal immigration status.

If they are unable to understand English instructions, signage and communication, they are not eligible.

There's a substantial difference between hard workers and skilled workers.

And I'm 100% in favor of those standards. I was just commenting on how I noticed that, for good reason, even if someone is skilled at the driving portion of the training, if you can't communicate in basic standard English, too bad. You don't get the license. I was in class with a guy from Syria whose English was pretty fluent, but he still had to learn expressions like "properly mounted and secure," as well as terms like "fifth wheel skid plate," etc. He put the work in and got it done!

Read that the driver was an illegal alien. The intoxicated charge was drugs.

Hopefully with the new leadership in Washington, we'll see fmcsa and dot start to enforce the immigration status and English communications policies and laws. There was a blitz on exactly those at scales and ports of entry rumored to be in the works.

There were quite a few immigrant CDL students at my school. Overall they were a decent, hardworking group whose citizenship status I'll assume was on the up-and-up. Their biggest challenge was passing the pre-trip in coherent English. The instructors weren't certified ESL teachers, but simply common sense, native English speakers who either could or could not understand what they were saying.

The full details aren't in yet, but authorities are saying the driver showed signs of intoxication during the sobriety test.

As a newly minted CDL holder, stories like this are why I am opting for a longer training period before going solo and being all the more vigilant about personal responsibility. As a military veteran, we had "ATTENTION TO DETAIL!" barked at us repeatedly beginning in basic training, and that maxim, I know, applies to driving professionally.

To the veteran drivers I ask, have you noticed that quality and length of training diminishing to dangerous levels to fill the need for drivers? Is the industry cutting corners to put less than the best behind the wheel?

Please keep us posted. Also share any concerns you have during training. Our Prime drivers should be able to give you some great advice.

I was the total opposite of you. I wanted loose from my trainer. Very few companies commit the time to training that Prime and Wilson do. There are valid reasons for both methods.

Just remember to go with the flow. Most people are put off by the way they get trained. I'll warn you, over many years of participating in this forum, I've noticed former teachers and police officers as two groups who don't appreciate truck driver training.

Training in this industry is more about exposure to the job than prepared and structured lessons. From day two with my trainer, we were team driving. That's right - he was asleep while I was driving and I slept while he drove. I got little to no instructions, but I got a lot of exposure.

There are financial considerations for the company when training new drivers. They need their assets producing revenue. You'll be surprised by the miles your truck moves during training. It's an exciting time in your trucking career, but it will be exhausting too.

Make the most of it and please keep us in the loop.

Your insights are greatly appreciated - thank you. It's funny when I was in CDL training I had a couple of the instructors tell me, "You think too much, teacher!" Haha I'm not really looking for textbooks and homework, but I just think it would be better to have someone along who can be a bit of a lifeline when a sticky "real life" situation comes up. Plus I do like hearing good stories and wisdom from those who've been in the trenches. This is all provided that I get paired with a good trainer with a likable personality who got into the training gig not for the money but because they genuinely want to pass along their knowledge. A tall order? I don't know. Share horror stories, please!

I decided to take the offer to train with Wilson over May. Wilson gave me a gut feeling that they want their rookies to take their time and carefully learn the craft with qualified and experienced mentors. May seemed reasonable, but their willingness to send rookies out solo so quickly was a bit of a red flag. I feel like there's still so much to learn, and I want to really hone my skills in the "real world" for as long as possible under the guidance of a seasoned veteran before venturing out on my own. Wilson seems like a company that values those needs and I'm satisfied with my decision. I'll keep you posted!

I just passed my CDL last week and now I'm on to the adventure of finding that first gig. The one company that hasn't had recruiters ghost me is May in Salem OR. I'm completely open to any company that is willing to give a recent CDL grad a shot and train me well to become a safe solo driver. They seem pretty legit and honest although compared to some other companies they also seem willing to put rookie drivers on the road solo rather quickly. I honestly don't know if that's a blessing or a curse. The other side of the coin regarding companies willing to take a rookie on is Wilson Logistics in Springfield MO whose mentor/training program seems excessively long, although I tend to feel like the longer someone is guiding you along the better. Is there a happy medium? Does anyone have experience with May?

One thing I've noticed is that online reviews are flooded with negativity, naysayers, nitpickers, and drivers who want to trash any company for petty details regarding their experience. I'm of the "you have to pay your dues, listen and learn" school but also not wanting to roll over and be taken advantage of. I get that you have to roll with the punches and cut your teeth to make it in the industry, like in a lot of professions. I've been a school teacher and I'm also a veteran who's been deployed to Afghanistan so I get the whole having to "take your lumps to make it" mentality. So beyond the lure and excitement of that first job opportunity, I guess I'm looking for advice as to how to advocate for yourself but also not let the early bs and setbacks cause any self doubt and really be successful for the "long haul" (pardon the cheezy pun.)

So you got around those corners successfully! That's a major hurdle on the road test. Congratulations! Do you have any jobs lined up?

Thanks, Errol! A great feeling. I'm just getting started on the application process. So far I've put my name in with May in OR and Wilson Logistics in MO. I'm looking for a good company that will treat newly minted drivers well, as in, provide good real-world training for long enough until I and the company feel truly comfortable going solo. I don't want to settle for any fly by night training and end up making a dangerous rookie mistake due to lack of guidance and mentoring. I'm willing to travel anywhere for the opportunity to eventually run far and stay out as long as possible. Thanks again!

I did it! Yesterday I passed my CDL test. All the training and advice (including from the veterans here!) have paid off. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences I've ever had. I've never been close to behind the wheel of a tractor trailer in my life and yesterday I parallel parked it and drove it on the road, I don't want to say "like a pro," haha but safely, and with great skill and precision to be awarded a Class-A commercial driver's license. I'm so proud of this achievement and can't wait to explore the next step toward this new career. Thanks for your good vibes, thoughts, prayers, and advice along the way!

Jimmy, any turn you make, forward or backing, you need to watch in the "inside" mirror. To answer your question, making a right turn, yes, "Drive straight, turn late" to the second lane out. Then watch the right mirror for your career depends on it!

Watch the tandem wheels and the curb. If you see the wheels moving toward the curb, move the steering wheel to the left a bit and the wheels will not move in. This small adjustment should not cause any problems. Watch the tandem wheels in the inside mirror until they start to move away from the curb.?

I teach CDL, and this is what works for my students.

Thank you, Errol. I knew veterans such as yourself would have some great advice to share. I just have to take a breath and relax and let my training and confidence kick in. Head in the mirror!