Profile For Cory W.

Cory sips the Kool-Aid:

read [Swift] as one of the biggest companies they'll hire any first year and their managers aren't personal.

Yes, they hired me, so I can't complain there. Swift will not hire just "any" first year student. All companies have standards, and some are tighter than others. I had a "over 15" speeding ticket last July, 2014, first violation in "forever". Knight said come back in a year, Swift said, "How about December 2?"

As for office people and shops, at least at the terminals I visited in New Boston, MI, Lancaster, TX, Edwardsville, KS, and my base, Memphis, TN, are all friendly and have a moment to talk. I wanted to chat (on a particular topic) with my Memphis Fleet Manager. We sat in a closed-door office for about 45 minutes. We're still friends.

wow, definitely a different experience from what I'm used to from Swift but from ive read Celadron is probably my best fit considering my ability to relocate.

literally living off my social security survivors benefits.

I'm not sure how old you are, Cory. You can get a CDL at 18 if you've had a drivers license for 2 yrs, but would be restricted to intrastate driving until you are 21.

That intrastate restriction would probably make you ineligible for a company sponsored school at this time. I'm not exactly sure though.

Sorry I wasn't specific I am 22.

Its easier to go to a company sponsored training program,in your home state. If you have a relative,in another state,where youd like to attend school...this would also work. Celadon pays for absolutely everything,not one penny is needed for food,lodging, classroom supplies,permits,etc. Banking some cash,and saving it for supplies,once on the road,would be a smart idea.Good Luck.

does Celadon also cover CDL permit students?

Welcome to the forum Cory. I apologize to everyone on here that about the only time I post is when someone takes a dig around Swift but it gets in my craw and makes things hard to leave alone. Cory I have worked for Swift going on 2 yrs now and have had nothing but a great employment experience. I did not take their training but got my schooling thru WIA. I chose Swift after sitting at our local truck stop and seeing who had the most freight coming thru my small town in western Colorado. Hands down it was Swift. That told me they could probably get me home when I needed to be there. They do. I wasn't aware of the reputation they had on the road, didn't care then don't care now. Swift gives me a great truck and all the miles I can handle. In my FIRST year I made +- 40,000. I am on track for $50,000 this year if not better. You will hear the Veterans on here say don't listen to the negative crap you get on some of the other forums out there and they are correct. These mega-companies are MEGA for a reason. They know how to get and move freight. Which is good for us drivers. My first year was OTR then I was fortunate enough to get offered a spot on a dedicated route. It had a lesser CPM but I get to go home for my 34 hr reset and occasionally I will stop by home just to do my 10 hr break. Also I get extra stop pay (5 or 6 stops a day sometimes) plus short haul pay on the local runs and a quarterly bonus on miles I run. I run out of a small terminal at Walmart DC in northern Utah that has really nice facilities for us and terrific people to work with. We cover the Seattle area Boise Id. Up I to northern Montana over to New Mexico all over Utah, Las Vegas and occasionally down to So. Cal. For produce backhauls. These are some of the most beautiful areas of our country. So, if "you would even be willing to work for Swift" I reply you would be lucky if they were willing to let you work for them.

Not trying to offend your outfit, my mom O/O was hit by a swift truck new/trainer driver team even her insurance said "we've got this" just raised that way I'll still say their nicer then C.R England in driver support (just averaging the review). I'm glad you've had a nice experience with Swift if I have to I pray I will too I'm just concerned&read as one of the biggest companies they'll hire any first year and their managers aren't personal.

So I'm about to my last resort trucking is something I actually would love to do I know it aint easy but anything worth it isn't easy. I've read some horror stories and honestly I'm uneducated in this area with a confusion of terms as to say... Training vs School I see some say they offer paid training but it seems they are using the term interchangeably.

I am willing to relocate to anywhere and apply for my CDL permit there but I need a "school" a place that trains me for the state CDL exam and will let me use one of their trucks for my state exam, my problem is I'm low income I literally living off my social security survivors benefits I have bad credit I've tried my bank for personal loans they said no so I'm thinking about Job Corp but have read some horror stories about people not getting jobs I'm to willing to even work for swift for a year or so to get some "reputation" a way to show I'm a competent driver and all I'm just feeling unsure and trapped about the whole schooling thing.

3. Three things factor into how quickly you can come to a full stop; those are: a) Perception distance, response distance, reaction distance. b) Perception distance, reaction distance, braking distance. c) Observation distance, reaction distance, slowing distance. d) Road conditions, speed, perception distance. Incorrect.

I choose D as if the roads are slick and you're going faster or slower that can dramatically change your ability to stop... they said it was B? Whats your knowledge/opinion on the subject?

While i agree weather conditions and speed have a role to play, you should be adjusting speed accordingly for the weather. Thus the question of what relates to stopping distance becomes:how fast you recognize a problem, how fast can you react to the problem, and how fast the truck can stop....perception, reaction, braking distance.

That's how I see this question anyways.

That makes sense like it could have been a trick question that is to say situational awareness supersedes an idiot in a situation

3. Three things factor into how quickly you can come to a full stop; those are: a) Perception distance, response distance, reaction distance. b) Perception distance, reaction distance, braking distance. c) Observation distance, reaction distance, slowing distance. d) Road conditions, speed, perception distance. Incorrect.

I choose D as if the roads are slick and you're going faster or slower that can dramatically change your ability to stop... they said it was B? Whats your knowledge/opinion on the subject?

Please keep us updated, I want to become a trucker.

Most companies will not be able to hire you unless you have a certificate from an approved CDL training program. Their insurance won't allow them to hire you.

That said.. go to school, get your training certificate and your CDL, then Knight can hire you with a training pay of $400/week. Training and Schooling ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

Knight does have their own school, i believe, but I can't imagine them paying that much while you are in their school.

as I was saying Knights school is their training (from what I understand) Id Est you show up with your local CDL permit do 40 hours in class over 3 weeks and then obtain your "legal CDL from Arizona" then do so many hours 1 on 1 (not team drive) then you're hired on OTR thats what I kinda understand although my more then willingness to relocate to Arizona may have something to do with it.

Cory, glad you decided to follow in your parent's footsteps. It sounds like you've been around big trucks one way or another for most of your life, so you know what the trucking lifestyle is like. This is what a trucking company would be interested in, from your description:

53 foot long Semi trailers act way different the 20' trailer with a pickup like you mentioned. Your best bet is to get in with a Truck Driving School or get on with Company-Sponsored Training. You still need to prepare for a CDL permit, so start studying for the test with the High Road Training Program. You will have about a two month training time before you can get that trucker pay, so plan accordingly. There are some Trucking Companies that pay you while you are in school, but that's usually less than the $833/month you would still be getting, I assume.

I hope to work for Knight they do paid training and all from what I've read its 400$ paid weekly during training so long as I come in with CDL A with hazmat endorsements. After I hope to do 365 on for two to three years so I can buy a couple houses (fixer upper 4br 2 bths 15k a pop) but I am willing to do my 11 daily everyday 365 granted I'll cook before I sleep with a 116 decibel alarm clock but is it possible for me to clear 35-40k a year with that. Assuming you know what cooking lb is no offence...