Location:
Fort Wayne, IN
Driving Status:
In CDL School
Social Link:
No Bio Information Was Filled Out. Must be a secret.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Going to a C1 Company Sponsored Trucking School tomorrow
I'm Jordan and I decided to become a trucker. I have been a finance student and only 1 year to go, but I can't afford college anymore and it was making me miserable. I'm just burnt out from finance. I just got tired of being broke all the time. I have been to 6 job interviews in the finance industry and all of them are sales types, which doesn't fit my personality. I feel knowledgeable in finance, but many of my competition do not know a thing about annuities or finance. However, they end up getting that job I want because of the "soft skills" and they interview well. Don't get me wrong; I'm great with people, but I don't want a straight commission job and deal with constantly angry people. I hate sales. Plus it's going to cost me $23,000 out of pocket to finish. I almost rather save up that kind of money for a truck. Also 82% of graduates don't get a job in their field and about 49% end up moving in with their parents afterwards. I'm thinking what's the point of college again? My personal experience is not better than those statistics.
What convince me to work as a truck driver is because in the Army. My commander designated me as the unit's 5-ton truck and Humvee driver. I absolutely loved driving the 5-ton truck, I had a blast. Also I worked at a rental car company part-time as a driver for almost a year with no accidents or tickets and I actually enjoyed the driving, which surprised my parents. It's nice to get paid to drive and I love the independence. As a child I always complained about long road trips, but as an adult I'm liking it. Can a man change? From a finance student who used to hate driving, but now wants to drive trucks for a living? I think a man like me can change. So today I'm driving about 150 miles to trucking school. I'm packing my bags right now, but figure I should introduce myself.
I find this site useful because I passed two of the three written exams with the high road training program. I failed the combinations exam by one question, so I hope I can quickly retake it as soon as I can so I can learn about driving trucks than sitting in a classroom for a week. I'm going with Swift because of the company sponsored financing and I don't want to start off working for mom's and pop's fleets.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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I was really happy about when I passed because I'm on anti-depressants for my depression. My prescribing doctor switched the pills on me a week before I took my DOT Physical. The examiner made me wait 2 months from the day my meds were prescribed to see if it wasn't causing day time drowsiness or depression. I feel much better that I pass and the new meds make me feel like I can take on the world again.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Yay this is great news! I have been studying very hard since Wednesday to Today (Friday). The Barron CDL test book didn't work for me. I'm using the High Road Training program ever since then. I start trucking school this upcoming Monday.
I'm so glad it's working for you! I'm grateful that it work out for you because it gives me confidence that this program really does work. I spent 7 to 8 hours studying yesterday and I think it helps. I was going to take my written exam today but I got too caught up in studying and requesting to get a new social security card from the social security administration, so I didn't have time to do both. However I still can take my written exam tomorrow, but it will be my last day I can do it before I start school. I have prepared myself for the Class A CDL with Air Brakes Endorsements.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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My dream truck is the Cascadia, but I all I did was the research and never drove one. The Cascadia is design for fuel economy and better maintenance costs. The amenities such as multiple outlets for electronics, less vibration noise by 50%, sound insulation for noise reduction while sleeping, and the spacious room. An optional battery power HVAC without idling to comply with no idling laws. I can't wait to test it out on the road when I can get my hands on one.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Good luck combattrucker, I wish you the best. I'm on anti-depressants, and I didn't realize how lucky to be DOT approved. My meds don't make me tired. My prescribing doctor knows that I'm a driver for a non-trucking company, so it's important that it's non-drowsy. So when I transition to a trucking company, my meds won't impact my driving
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Thinking about driving for Knight trucking
[quote]Knight still does some training for the CDL, but you need to live in or near Phoenix for them to accept you into their Squire program right now.[/quote] That makes sense why the Knight Recruiter told me they won't consider me until get my CDL. I was really considering working for them until that point. I really wanted to be a Squire that later becomes a Knight. I preferred to do the Knight: port and rail terminal services to help facilitate railroad and seaport transports because I like trains and their fuel per ton mile efficiency. I was trying to be careful on what I say because my limited experience with them. I did a bit of research on their services like Reefer division, Port & Rail division and Dry Van.
If Old School likes them, they must be good. He knows more than me about Knight.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Past Medication and Medical Card
What we have to go though another DOT Physical? I had a hard enough time to get my first DOT Physical 3 weeks ago. I'm diagnosis with Major Depression Disorder and I had to be monitor for 2 months seeing how I react to my medication before getting approved. I had to delay trucking school by 2 months because of that. I'm still taking meds and I feel okay and safe to drive a semi. Oh geesh. Well, I guess I will cross that bridge when I cross that bridge.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Thinking about driving for Knight trucking
I was first going to go with Knight, however I was told by the recruiter that the want you to go to trucking school before training you. In other words from my understanding, they say they no longer train new truckers on getting a CDL. You must go to a trucking school out of pocket first before joining. I'm not sure if they reimburse or not. I'm going with Swift because of the no upfront trucking training.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Week 3 of 4 driving with a less than good trainer
Wow reading Trucker Mike's articles were very helpful. I'm so glad he took the time to post those. Now I can be more prepared when I graduate CDL school. I'm not sure when I'm able to start.
Posted: 8 years, 8 months ago
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Swift
Charlie I go to that school that you re talking about right now. Perhaps I will see you there? I'm going with Swift. The thing is you can't be one hour late for class or get into a ticket. They are more strict than the other companies where they do allow some slack. But I think it's worth working with swift because of the nicer hotel. Also I heard we get better compensation from what I heard.