Profile For Diana M.

Really enjoyed this video and it is sad but oh so sad

Dianna,

I dont have much to say on the funding for private schools as I went through Swifts program. I can say this though, Swifts program is fast.

Break down of swift:

1St Week Mon - Wed paper work and class work Thurs Straight line backing (you have to pass this to continue on, if you fail you are out) This was at the phoenix academy, not sure of others Fri-Sun Straight line plus Pre-trip

2nd week Mon - More Pre trip Tues - Pre-trip test (after lunch those who failed the first time will be given another shot, those that passed will start skills/shifting) Wed - Skills (Straight Line, Off Set backing and Parallel parking) you will also be learning to shift mid after noon or on thurs/fri + pre trip Thur - More skills and pre trip Fri - Skills test + more pre trip Sat - Repeat skills test + pre trip + practice more skills Sun - (this may be differerent now) my group got the day off for a "34hr reset"... off at 4pm thurs tell 5am Mon

3rd week Mon-Wed Driving and shifting. (they start you out slow. hwy with little traffic and then by mid day take you into town and what not) Thurs Pre exam for driving. Tell you what you need to work on. Fri Final exam. Combines everthing, Pre-trip to start, skills and then driving. Upon completion you will get your CDL. you will also be going home that night or next morning depending on bus sched.

that is what I went through. You being in OR you may have the option to go to Lewiston, ID. I've been there a few times as a driver, they have a scalle house on top of a large hill that they let you guys practice going through. you also learn hills there too. unlike Phoenix which was flat.

as I said, I cant say anything on private schooling, but If the classes are smaller, and slow then perhaps that will be a good route to go.

Good luck, hope this info helps you,

David

Hi David,

Wow with your experience it sure does make a private school sound good. It would be good to have the experience of a weigh station though. I guess there used to be a school here in Oregon but it is gone. From talking to the recruiter,what little bit i did, ( he really put me off, guess I got him on a bad day), He said I would go to Lewiston, Idaho.

Wow that either your in or your out crap in the first week really sucks, dont make one feel to confident, does it. How many people failed? How big are your classes? Thanks Ladydi/Diana

Dianna,

I dont have much to say on the funding for private schools as I went through Swifts program. I can say this though, Swifts program is fast.

Break down of swift:

1St Week Mon - Wed paper work and class work Thurs Straight line backing (you have to pass this to continue on, if you fail you are out) This was at the phoenix academy, not sure of others Fri-Sun Straight line plus Pre-trip

2nd week Mon - More Pre trip Tues - Pre-trip test (after lunch those who failed the first time will be given another shot, those that passed will start skills/shifting) Wed - Skills (Straight Line, Off Set backing and Parallel parking) you will also be learning to shift mid after noon or on thurs/fri + pre trip Thur - More skills and pre trip Fri - Skills test + more pre trip Sat - Repeat skills test + pre trip + practice more skills Sun - (this may be differerent now) my group got the day off for a "34hr reset"... off at 4pm thurs tell 5am Mon

3rd week Mon-Wed Driving and shifting. (they start you out slow. hwy with little traffic and then by mid day take you into town and what not) Thurs Pre exam for driving. Tell you what you need to work on. Fri Final exam. Combines everthing, Pre-trip to start, skills and then driving. Upon completion you will get your CDL. you will also be going home that night or next morning depending on bus sched.

that is what I went through. You being in OR you may have the option to go to Lewiston, ID. I've been there a few times as a driver, they have a scalle house on top of a large hill that they let you guys practice going through. you also learn hills there too. unlike Phoenix which was flat.

as I said, I cant say anything on private schooling, but If the classes are smaller, and slow then perhaps that will be a good route to go.

Good luck, hope this info helps you,

David

Hi David,

Wow with your experience it sure does make a private school sound good. It would be good to have the experience of a weigh station though. I guess there used to be a school here in Oregon but it is gone. From talking to the recruiter,what little bit i did, ( he really put me off, guess I got him on a bad day), He said I would go to Lewiston, Idaho.

Wow that either your in or your out crap in the first week really sucks, dont make one feel to confident, does it. How many people failed? How big are your classes? Thanks Ladydi/Diana

Hey Diana!

Good to see another lady from Oregon interested in trucking. I am researching these same questions myself. The only other scholarship that I know of so far is the one offered by Women In Trucking. The deadline for that one has passed but it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on it in just in case something changes.

Women In Trucking Foundation Scholarship

Hi and gosh thanks for the information about the scholarship that you know. i am excited and ready to get started, as I assume you are to. Oh and I am only down the road a little from you. I live in Albany. Ladydi/Diana

Hi all.

I have been doing a ton of research and learning lots. I really appreciate everyone's input. ideas and suggestions that I have read on this board. i have some questions and concerns and maybe someone has some input to help here.

We have a new truck school in town and have done some research about and in them. They have only been in business one to two months.and just graduated there first class. They are $4500 but they do not do or teach endorsements, with the exception of the air brakes. The owner and instructor both have 20 to 30 years on the road. The school is 4 weeks long and they have a simulator. They have one main company that they send students to and that is May Trucking, just up the freeway from me. May has a policy that they only send females out with females and males with males. there training program is 6 to 8 weeks. I understand why they do this but could end up waiting a while to get a female trainer. i guess that would open up the possibility of becoming a trainer myself down the road a reality as I am sure female trainers could be in fairly high demand. Class size is 2 to 4 students.

There is also another trucking school here in town, one that is accredited but it is $5225.50, they also are 4 weeks long. the majority of training after school varies from 6 to 8 weeks. They do teach and want you to get all endorsements and do your background check, extra for your hazemats. So i guess that takes into consideration for the extra $700+. (Seems like a lot for that). They have referrals for companies such as May, Conway, Fed Ex, Food Services of America,Golden State, Gordon, Gresham, Knight, Roadway Express, Schneider, ( I know the but of many jokes), Sherman Brothers, Swift, (right why not go to there school ?) Sygma Network, Sysco, USF Reddaway, Werner, Yellow and a whole lot more. Some of these I am familiar some I have never heard of. The instructor has over 20 years in the field and ORT and since 1999 as as instructor. The class size is 4 to 6 students.

I know that I could go to Swift Trucking for company training, unforunately they are the only company training school that takes Oregon students but i am concerned about the short time training time and class size and if i have issues or problems and might need more help.

My other problems and concerns are for financing. The company schools are basically payback or pay as you go system. I have fo und one scholarship that would pay for more then half of my training but still leave a bit less then half. I have checked with work source and i do qualify but then i have heard that they are not giving out funds or at best very little. I do know that what funding they have available will be this month in July, so yes I am applying for what ever funds might be available to and for me. Does anyone know of any other funds or scholarships for schools or any pointers to help me to get some or any funds for school.

thanks for any and all help and hopefully soon I can start being on here to help others with my experience and ideas.

Thanks Ladydi/Diana

Well an extra day of screwing around on the backing range, and I got the 100, 45 AND 90 to where I am fairly confident in them ... Now all that's left, is to make sure every curb in washington doesn't come painted with a bullseye on it ... I got a week left cross your fingers guys and if you get up this way DONT STAND ON THE FRIGGEN CURBS! Cause I'll have the trailer up there!

Everyone has humor today, this one made me laugh out loud. I am sure that you will do just fine. Ladydi

To answer your main question the 2 main reasons people quit and go home after going through school and having a job is 1) they quickly realize that this is a real job and the have to work. A lot of times we do work and are not paid for it in the interest of saving our hours. 2) they miss home. They can't stand the solitude that is a very big part of trucking. You real have no social life to speak of. It's you and whoever you can talk to on the phone. Pretty much it until it's time for you to go joke for 3 to 4 days and then your gone again.

I thought the joke part was pretty funny, i kept reading it over and over. Then the light bulb went on, he must have meant to go home for 3 or 4 days. Must say it did give me something to ponder, what is a new slang that I dont what it means? lol, my amusement at myself for the day. Thanks and have a good day. Ladydi

I have done a lot of research and am wondering ,when would be the best to start cdl school? Would it be better to start in mid fall like mid to late October or to wait and start in mid Feb. to early March. For all appearances it looks like I would most likely go to Swift. I live in Oregon.

I would be waiting till mid to late October because i want to spend the summer with my family then start. I am also considering waiting till waiting to mid Feb or early March. I will be 58 in Feb. on the 15th and I would like the extra time to get into better shape and lose additional weight. I know that I need some winter driving time and need to learn things like putting on chains. The only time I ever put on chains, i threw one off some where on the highway and this was just a car, so know a big truck would be much worse and harder. Also I spent an entire winter in Denver and so did the winter driving thing, but this was also just in a car.

thanks for the help everyone

Diana

I contacted several places on that list but will make another attempt later today. With the exception of Swift and Central Refrigeration the others England and Knight sound like a nightmare experience, things like 18% interest extra. thanks for getting back to me. Diana

Hi all. my second question here since I am a newbie here. I am considering getting my CDL's. Have wanted to do this as long as I can remember. Always had things slow me down and change my mind, however; being married, having children mainly. My children are all grown, and i am single now. i have looked at the majority of the company schools and called several but it appears that the only ones really available to me are Swift and Central because i live in Oregon. Most are in the mid west or east coast area.

I have had my chauffers license till they changed the law, my father was a trucker and he always thought you needed a license, never knew when you might need it. I got my permit several years back, when the economcy fell apart and I just picked up the drivers guide from DMV. I had also gotten my Hazmat, triples and doubles, and the air brake endorsements before. I hear horror stories about backing and clutching. (my experience driving is very limited, driving an over sized fully loaded u-haul,(one of the big ones) from Portland, Or to Ohamah NB by route of Los Angles,Ca.) I hear the chuckles now. I literally grew up in a truck.

Which of the two schools would you all recommend between Swift and Central. The people at Central were a lot nicer to me on the phone the ones at Swift. Swift just seemed to be bothered and annoyed that I had even called. Also what would be best the alternate choice, private or company school? Here in Albany where I live is a IITR school which is quite expenxive but I would not have the travel expenses,extra and i would have choice of day, night, or weekend classes? However what are the chances of getting pre-hired before school for assistance to repay the loans. I am 57 and a female, no tickets, no moving violations, duii or anything in the last 5+ years. No duii, no mr.der menders, felonies ever. Steady employment at least part time for a solid 15 years. My big down fall, I am a diabetic med.diet managed I do try and exercise daily. Thanks for any and all help. Diana

P.S. This forumn has been awesome and I thank you all over again.