Profile For Jerry S.

Good school and very simple but semi complex operation. Simple one room classroom, your break room is in the garage area (which is heated) the facility is modern. I say semi complex because they begin a new class every week or every other week, so at any point and time there are four classes all working on the same things at times. They keep the classes separated as our skill levels were more or less advanced dependent upon skill level and previous experience. The one and only issue I had was the person who ran the classroom setting was boring at best, more golf stories and he is a "baseball aholic" by admission. I would have preferred more of the classroom time to be, what if...here’s how you handle an accident, here’s what you do if DOT pulls you over, a QUALCOMM would have been useful we were not shown that at all. There is a workbook called "Bumper to bumper" and I think we only touched on possibly half of it...the rest was included for a purpose....let's cover that and not talk about your golf stories. This is only for the first two days though. One day in week three and one day in week four, the day of graduation.

The training pad was enormous and growing up on a farm I would estimate its size at around 10 acres, so plenty of space. The equipment is older for the yard trucks and varied models you learn your skills here. Some steer great, some steer hard enough it would qualify as a shoulder workout by the end of parallel parking yard work. They started all three of us students on straight line backing, two of us went onto reverse lane change, and the instructor helped the one who was struggling with straight line. Then parallel then alley dock and the shout out to the student who struggled at first when he got it, he got it 'good' he actually went onto to his skills portion of the cdl a test and did not get a single point. In my opinion this is a testament to the staff and their skill and passion to teach and teach correctly. Of the sixteen days, four weeks, four days a week ten hour days the majority is spent on the road and on the 'pad.' You begin your day rain, sleet, snow, shine with a pre trip all together under instructor direction. Then as you are on the pad practicing you are called upon to do a pre trip just you and the instructor. Typically two instructors work the pad one on pre trip the other on maneuver help and advice. Before going on the road you have two days of bobtail shifting, some need three days of this but all of us accomplished the 'trailer ready' designation by day 2 of bobtailing. To be specific not two whole days half of each day was spent on the pad the other half on the road or vice versa. The road part was awesome and the instructors know the area forward and backward, they start in the country with wide roads little traffic and easy turns and progress you to actually driving downtown Toledo Ohio with some traffic and also some challenging turns. The instructor is in the passenger seat the entire time and helps coach along as necessary. What was that sign, what is the clearance of the this bridge, what’s the speed limit (he called two of us, me included, grandpas because we drove slowly) he understood we were new to this type of vehicle and the remarks were in good fun and he cautioned us because if we went too slow during testing we would fail for obstructing traffic. At all times we were able to ask questions, and they welcomed those questions and answered very specifically. We had tanker drivers food grade, box truck, tanker hazmat-hazwaste drivers, flat bed drivers as instructors so we were able to get a varied idea of the different forms of trucking. These consist of regional, day cab, and over the road drivers. I feel fortunate that every single question we asked they always had the answer or they would confer with their counterparts to find the 'best' answer. I.e. hazmat question when I saw a "No placarded vehicles beyond this point sign" the instructor that day never ran hazmat and wanted to ensure I got the correct answer so he offered his opinion but ensured me we would ask 'Dave' who ran hazmat his whole career. The entire experience was exciting and rewarding I cannot speak for my classmates but I was nervous about this new career change. I had always been curious of the industry and my brother and a few uncles had great careers driving. But a freightliner with a trailer is allot different than my Toyota tundra so that was intimidating at first. The instructor knew this and were very patient and very good at helping us along with our experience. Again, the roads got busier and the turns got sharper as our experience progressed.

The training was a success all three of the students in my class all tested Friday and the three of us were awarded a CDL A license.

Good evening, I apologize as I am certain there are numerous threads about this question but I have found allot of them comments to six months or more old and I would appreciate some current feedback as I understand the industry changes as all things do. Researching companies and I have seen allot about Knight. Fridge or dry side? I like the idea of longer runs which is what the fridge side states they are known for, but longer waits at appointments. It can't all be peaches and cream though,,,,,short runs….drop and hook allot,,,,,,longer runs….wait. The way I see it a trade off has to be somewhere. My brother who drove for years explained there is some good money to be made in tankers, but I cannot find anyone who hires without experience and rightly so, which means I need to start somewhere.

About me; I have no record, not just back five years but for 43 now. No tickets in over ten years. No at fault accidents, I was rear ended by a texting trauma nurse once in 99, but that does not show on my record. She was at fault by the way, I was stopped at a red light I saw her, I couldn't pull out so I just sat back and waited it for the impact. I have my permit, combo, tanker, double/triple, hazmat, air brake (of course), I even took the test for a bus (you never know). I have my 2 year physical and drug test….I didn't know companies paid for this I thought I had to so, I did. ((Lesson learned))) But I still have it. This week I'm getting my TWIC and Hazmat prints and background and also my passport. (Former Navy Vet with a Top Secret clearance, Cypto, SIOP-ESI, CRITIC not just the standard clearance) So I have no worries about the background check.

Going to school in a week and a half, I'm paying as I do not want the indentured servitude of them paying and me being under a contract. Corporate America has shown me if a company knows they have you, they will exploit that always to their own end and not necessarily benefitting me in the slightest). The goal is to get experience but would like a good company and honestly there are more companies than I ever imagined before I began doing research on trucking. And frankly reading about reviews is almost a joke you cannot determine between the people who may have a legitimate gripe and were treated poorly and, the numbskull who was a prima donna who probably couldn't or wouldn't do the basic requirements of the job. My experience as a supervisor for over twenty years has taught me some people you will never be able to make happy, regardless if you could walk on water, catch bullets, and **** ice cream….they will always find a gripe, not enough pay, they didn't ….. you should have….poor me etc.

A good place to start is all I'm looking for around 18 months. Then onto tankers a company here in Toledo runs tankers and pays good but you have to have the experience. I have looked through every company in the company paid training link as I know they hire new graduates. I have now around ten pre hire letters as it seems when you call and talk to someone they want you to apply before they really answer any questions.

My selfish preference, A truck that runs (I'm in love with Peterbilt because I rode to California with my brother in one but I understand it seems those are reward trucks for good drivers who run hard) so running would be a good start. I would prefer a thirteen speed but I have seen enough information to have me wanting to try an auto. Seems more simple. Canada runs seem really intriguing. Twic for ports etc….Navy guy what can I say I like ships. Hazmat because that pays more or at least that is my impression.

But who? Please any advice you can give.

Congrats to both of you, awesome job!!

Great Information thank you all.

Great Information thank you all.

I start school in a week. I thought of paying to rent a truck for the road test but finding any company to take you without school is all but impossible.

I have my permit, I paid for a physical from a DOT certified physician, drug screen etc. so all of that cost money. I haven't had a ticket in 13 year, BMV printed my history and the paper was blank (No points) No felonies no misdemeanors etc no dui's My question: Should I pay for the HAZMAT background? A T.W.I.C. card…..and a passport? It sounds logical as it might make me more desirable as an a potential driver but, is it worth it? I know allot of companies can and do haul to Canada/Mexico and the thought of that really appeals to me. So is that extra money worth it?

Glad you're alright man. Must have been scary. My brother hit a patch I haven't luckily, well I've just been lucky I guess. It rattled him and he had been driving for years when it happened