Profile For Uriah (FlyingTanker)

I was at TMC for one day, (sent home for medical, was even paid for my time so no hard feelings) but yes, they are very clear and very strict. The hotel employees check the trash, and watch everyone like a hawk. The handbook says no alcohol and the bus driver also repeats that rule. It has been three years so not sure if they said it at the office or not. Melton had the same policy, no alcohol. If they found an empty container in the trash from your room you and your room mate would get tested. They basically said, we could drink, but we could not drink on their property or in their hotel, and if they even smelled alcohol on us we would be gone. Was not an issue for me haha, I didn't drink at the time.

For the OP, listen to everything, read everything, and follow the rules. As my orientation instructor at Melton said, "orientation a two week long job interview, treat it that way."

Hello folks, I finally have time to write this, I have been a solo driver with Melton since November 29th, so far it has been pretty good. Some good days some bad, haha, but mostly good now. I will try to tell more later, I am on home time now so I can actually sit down and write stuff. I have to say, I am totally loving trucking. I could do this forever, it is awesome :D

Well I did it, I am training with Melton, I have been on my trainer's truck for a little over two and half weeks and so far I am loving it. My trainer is a very eccentric slightly crazy guy that has been in the industry for twenty years, been a trainer since 04 and is an excellent teacher. I have learned a ton from him and I feel like at the end of next week I will be ready to take on the job. Thanks for all the help here folks, I am finally becoming a truck driver

Here are a few links that might help:

Celadon Truck Driver Training: My Training Experiences

Celadon Company-Sponsered CDL Training Program Review

Thanks for the replies. I may try Prime again. I guess my main question has been answered, and that was: do I have to get a refresher? Like I said earlier I am still researching, and right now I am quite boggled by the sheer amount of options lol. I forgot to say this earlier, Wil-Trans does have flatbed. One thing that has me struggling is this: I need to start work as soon as I can, doc will clear me to drive in three to four weeks but not flatbed for six. At least that was his projection before the surgery. So if I go to dry van reefer or tanker I can start work sooner...

Thanks for the detailed reply Old School. Yes that was George. It does make sense that he is sort of a gate keeper. I do not get flustered easily and didn't there, and I am willing to abide by rules. Since I am just out of surgery I am just researching companies at this point. I will admit I am not closed to pretty much anything at this point, I originally was only interested in flatbed but now I am looking at several different companies. I know Knight will take me, Prime, really anyone. I have a clean record so it is kinda wide open and at this point a little overwhelming lol. I am just looking for a job to get started in and probably stay in, I am a loyal person and will stick it out with anyone i start with. Hence my still considering TMC even after a bad experience. I figured that i hadn't seen the whole company so I wouldn't pass a judgment on them.

Well the surgery is done, no complications and I am recovering quickly. I am back to researching companies now. I am still looking at TMC they told me when I left that I was welcome back. I just have some questions about them for the drivers that ran with them. I am trying to set my expectations.

So I was told by one of their drivers that they would go over the interior of your truck with a black light and if they spotted any dust they would doc your pay and deny you loads. Is this true? How clean do they expect you to keep the truck? Also the first day of orientation I was told to meet the bus at 6:45 sharp and if I missed it I would have to find my own way to the terminal... The bus came at 7:15. We were introduced to the company by the very professional courteous bus driver. When we got to the training place it was very different. The guy who was our instructor was as unprofessional as one can get. He insulted and abused the whole class constantly, told all of us right off the bat that we were nothing and he enjoyed sending people home. Everything he said was laced with profanity and while we tried to take tests he constantly interrupted us and did everything he could to be annoying. Is this the norm for orientation? Are they just trying to get drivers to give up and leave, kind of a weeding process?

I am not complaining, I am just trying to set my expectations, after I met the recruiter in school i expected professionalism and courtesy, maybe my expectations were wrong.

Okay, the other company i am looking at is Jim Palmer/Wil-Trans, do they allow you to take the truck home on home time?

That is all I have for now

Have a great day

Hi guys and gals,

On July 29th I graduated from truck driving school, 205 hours and 420 miles, I was already pre-hired for TMC and on August 14th headed to Iowa for orientation. I was sent home on the 15th cause during the physical they found a hernia. The school provided a physical but their doc didn't do a real physical and never checked for hernias else it would have been caught sooner. Anyway, I tried to get a dryvan/reefer job with Prime and Knight, both refused me on grounds of my having a hernia. I then turned to trying to find a doctor to fix it. I am scheduled for surgery this coming Monday. By the time I am fully recovered It will be end of October three months from school, what are my options? According to one recruiter from McElroy I will have to go back to school, and no one would take me till then. Will I need to go back to school? Are there companies that would just take me? I did graduate at the top of my class and my instructor said he and the other instructors would be references.

Thanks, I hope I can get out of this pickle, I want to start driving again.

Congratulations, I was so glad when one of the instructors told me they were giving you another chance, and I am so glad you passed

P.S. Did you happen to notice how Mr. Davis' class did on the tests? What about Amy?

Hey thanks, I tested it out today, this weekend I am going to be making some significant changes to it I will keep your suggestions mind. To find me it will be easy, I am a tall skinny blond guy with black jeans on, a brown student shirt and sometimes a floppy brimmed hat on. I am in Towner's class, ask him is you can't find me. I would love to meet you.

Problems I read don't use damaged as a description. Glass, not broken cracked or missing. Metal not bent broken or missing nuts and bolts. Rubber no abrasion bulges or cuts. Any items with air or liquid not leaking. I'll be on campus Thursday, try to find you.