Profile For Don R.

Whats the school, maybe someone knows but I agree with H C , most of the schools either name the companys or have there logo's displayed on there site.

Well, I asked them if a list exists that shows the companies that hire their graduates, and they said no such list exists. However, when I visit them later this week, I will come out and ask for company names and see how it goes. I'm hoping that maybe I just didn't word it correctly when asking for a "list". I'll see what happens this week.

I start a school this week and on the first day of application etc. I asked her what companies they work with and who visits. She wrote down all 10 companies and the day I was there, US Xpress was there and I got to sit in and participate with questions etc. So something does sound weird about your situation.

Who would have thunk it. Here I am, getting ready to start school on the 26th, the uber nerd....getting ready for a career.

Turning 40 in just a couple of days has caused me to reflect on my life...where it has taken me. I have been in the Navy and saw the world and I have been a business owner for the last 20 years. The thing is, I have never had a career. Yes, I had a small IT company...but that was never where my heart was.

I remember, at 4 years of age, watching Smokey and Bandit for the first time and falling in love with that truck. I didn't want to be the Bandit, screw that car....I wanted to be the Snowman! My parent would tell stories about me....in my little car....with my fake CB radio. The pastor of the local church came knocking on the door one day to tell my parents that I was in the front yard, talking into my CB radio, yelling..."Sum b**ch!"

I remember all those looong car rides, in the station wagon with the panels (got to love the early 80's), that my parents made my and siblings go on...ugh. I would spend my time looking out for truckers, trying to get them to honk their horn....you remember.

My love affair with trucks never stopped. All through high school, I remember driving to Peoria to go to the truck shows and truck rodeos....all the while. I joined the Navy at 17, got to drive forklifts all over the flightline and box trucks all over Spain....but never a "big rig". Got out the Navy, went to college, started an IT company, and started a family. I grew up. Now, here I am....business is no longer, kids grown or grown enough (youngest is 16), and I'm starting school to be a truck driver. I'm lucky to have a woman that is supportive of me following my dream. Who would have thunk it?

Sum b**ch....here's to you Snowman.

Great story! I too enjoyed Smokey and the Bandit. Own the DVD so I watch it time to time. Loved that era. And you're right as a kid I always wanted the truckers to blow their air horn. Funny how things like that was a big deal. Now I too will be going to school to embark on this career #2

You're doing awesome! I enjoy reading your progress and look forward to your last week. What a high that'll be when you're all done eh?

I agree. My DMV office only has proctors available for like 2.5 hrs. When I showed up she asked what tests I wanted, and I told her everything except School and Passenger. Well she shook her head and said I don't think you'll have time to finish all that and whatever isn't completed is a failure. I said well I'll do what I can hopefully I get the GK and AirBrakes and Combination completed at least. After the paperwork and amenities out of the way, she gave me this stack of tests, the Gen Knowledge , air brakes, combination, tanker, doubles/triples, HazMat. It was about 2:25 pm. I was standing in front of her at 3:17 for her to correct everything. She had that look like I had three eyes. And She couldn't believe , 1. that I finished all of them, and 2. I passed with flying colors on them all. She stated I was the first to do all in that short of time and do soo well. I will say this however, the General Knowledge was written differently than I had seen on the High Road. The questions were similar however the way they were written were what was baffling, I was kind of worried that I wouldn't do well. But I did. Brett you have a great tool here onthis site and boy what a big big help!! I thank you and all that contribute here to help me get going on my second career.

Thank guys, I appreciate it.

Hi guys, I just took my permit test today with all endorsements. I have to get fingerprinted of course yet for the HazMat. If I passed the Tanker endorsement and the HazMat, will I just get the X or H and T ? Im not sure I understand the X? I've rescanned the CDL booklet and I can't find the answer. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

DonR

I had a nice day off yesterday. I went for a short hike along the Fox River. It was really icy so that was a lot of fun! Today was the beginning of week two of training. Another round of students came in so the yard is a lot busier. I started off the pre-trip. While I was looking at one of the brake chambers in the back I got too close to the fifth wheel and got some grease on my shoulder. We tried to clean it off with starter fluid, but then it was very fumy and I couldn't wear it in the cab so I ended up going without a jacket for the whole day. Brrr! We did some highway driving. Everything seemed to really come together for me today. I still made a few mistakes, but all the shifting came a lot easier and it's becoming more natural to have my head on a continuous swivel at the mirrors. We worked on offset backing again as well, which also seemed to click today. My instructor handed out Week 1 progress reports. The major things I need to work on, as of right now, are my 90 degree backing and making sure I look in the mirrors better while backing.

Glad to hear you're doing well and things are clicking. You are inspiring others out here to pursue this career. I just had my DoT phys today, and will be taking my permit test tomorrow or next day. Im having to wait on the VA before heading to school. Hoping it doesn't take forever as is the gov't way. Don

I had a nice day off yesterday. I went for a short hike along the Fox River. It was really icy so that was a lot of fun! Today was the beginning of week two of training. Another round of students came in so the yard is a lot busier. I started off the pre-trip. While I was looking at one of the brake chambers in the back I got too close to the fifth wheel and got some grease on my shoulder. We tried to clean it off with starter fluid, but then it was very fumy and I couldn't wear it in the cab so I ended up going without a jacket for the whole day. Brrr! We did some highway driving. Everything seemed to really come together for me today. I still made a few mistakes, but all the shifting came a lot easier and it's becoming more natural to have my head on a continuous swivel at the mirrors. We worked on offset backing again as well, which also seemed to click today. My instructor handed out Week 1 progress reports. The major things I need to work on, as of right now, are my 90 degree backing and making sure I look in the mirrors better while backing.

Glad to hear you're doing well and things are clicking. You are inspiring others out here to pursue this career. I just had my DoT phys today, and will be taking my permit test tomorrow or next day. Im having to wait on the VA before heading to school. Hoping it doesn't take forever as is the gov't way. Don

Interesting. Any particular reason for that?

Companies hire out of states that give them frieght. One month they'll higher out of Alabama, another month they won't. Or they'll hire from NY or they won't. It comes down to supply and demand. There are other companies that probably hire from NY.

Actually Swift has a lot of dedicated in this state.

Don

It probably has to do with state licensing regulations. There's probably some catch that won't allow them to train you at their facility with a New York permit or New York won't let you transfer your license back into the state or something to that affect.

A lot of states have passed regulations in the past couple of years trying to prevent their citizens from leaving the state for CDL training, specifically for the Company-Sponsored Training Programs. The states figure that not only are their own private schools losing the tuition but the state is losing all kinds of fees if you get your license out of state for things like the written exams, the CDL testing itself, and the licensing fees. And since the state's private schools are losing revenues the state is losing tax revenues also.

I think you nailed it Brett. My thoughts exactly. In fact I spoke with NTTS in Liverpool NY and had mentioned to them and the gentleman said that the laws , regs recently changed. How recent Im unaware. But in typical NY fashion, "we aren't getting ours" mentality.

Don