Profile For Debbie M.

Still trying to figure out the school situation. I thought I had it all figured out, I decided to go to Sage Driving School here in Florida until I heard it may be difficult for me to get a job with a Florida CDL.

There is a guy in my class here in Indiana that lives in Florida. I believe it was the Werner recruiter that explained their new program for Florida truckers. They have a bus, painted up and looking cool, that they use for the program. Basically when it's time to go out they load the drivers on their bus and take them to Georgia. The drivers do their time OTR then return to the yard. The bus then takes them back to Florida for home time.

I'm 99% sure it was Werner but I have had so much info thrown at me in the last week I could be wrong

Woody

That is Werner. I am due to start orientation with them in Lakeland this coming Wed. With my 9 months experience at CRST, they offered me an otr position with a 5000 dollar sign on paid out over 2 years. Knight will hire out of any city in Florida, as will SRT. I have talked with both of them. CRST is offering sign on bonuses for drivers too out of Florida and if you already have your CDL, they will stick you on a Cat dedicated run with home time every 2 weeks. yesterday, when hanging out at the airport in Cedar Rapids, waiting for my flight home, I et a guy who is an exe with a small trucking company out of IA. We started talking and I told him my experience, and that I was wanting to get into flatbedding, but none of the big companies hire out of my area. He gave me the info for a friend of his, with a small flat bed company that does runs from Florida to California. and promised me he would call the guy to let him know I would inquire. I am calling Monday. There are trucking jobs out of here in Florida. You just have to hunt for them. With CRST, we delivered in Tampa, Lakeland and Miami, and occasionally Jacksonville. A lot of people do not realize it, but Florida is one of the top 4 cattle ranching states in the US, and there are lots of trucks carrying cattle out of here. A old and good friend I did surveying with drives cattle trucks out of Florida. All the major ports here in Florida, have been widening their channels to accommodate the bigger ships that will be coming through the new canal in Panama, so that should also increase freight out of here. There are plans for some huge shipping warehouses in places in south Florida as a clearing house to handle the expected on coming freight. Seriously, you can find a job out of here. You may have to make some allowances. The job with Werner I am pre hired into will work out of Atlanta, and they have that bus to bring me home. It will be slip seating, but I dont care since my biggest desire is to go solo. If they give me the miles, I will do alright. If they dont, I have other choices. Knight wanted me pretty badly as did SRT.

Wow , that is good to know! I will contact Werner and get some information. I have a 2nd home 60 miles NW of Atlanta so that shouldn't be a problem, I could leave my car there and drive back to FL if I so incline. There has got to be a way!!

I want to thank you guys for this valuable information, I had no idea. Just when you think you have it all figured out......guess my next step is looking into company based schools. I understand about not getting to come back to Florida often, I have a roommate who will take care of the place, will just use my GA home as my home address. I just want to get the best training I can......

I never considered living in Florida being an issue.....why does it matter what state you get CDL in? So companies will only hire you if you have a CDL in the state they hire from? Confusing....

After almost a year of researching and networking, I have decided to go to Sage Driving School here in South Florida. I have been told by a independent recruiter that companies won't even consider me for a job if I get my CDL in Florida. I do have a 2nd home in Georgia and was going to use that as my "home base" but was told most companies want you licensed in the state you home from. It is not feasable at this time to move to Georgia just to get my CDL. I chose Sage because it is a good school and I don't want to be indebted to a company for my training. I want to be a "free agent" and have all driving opportunities open to me. Any advice or comments?

Hello! This is my first post and I will start out with a little background on me. I am currently working in an insurance office and have been there for 8 years. I have always wanted to learn to drive trucks but life got in the way, kids to raise, homes to take care of etc. My children are now all grown and out on their own so now I am free to pursue my dream. The scary part is I will have to give up my income, health benefits, and security and take a leap of faith at 56 years old! I am trying to find the best fit for me as far as trucking schools go. I am looking at Sage in Ft. Pierce Fl. I just got a lead on another school called Great Southern in Ga. Anyone ever attend either of these schools or know someone who did? Thanks for any input!

Congrats! Must be scary and exciting at the same time! Can't wait to follow you on your journey1