Profile For Alfred G.

Do any/many others do this? I've seen ads for CRST, Celadon, and Roehl seeking CDL trainees lately. I'll double check the ads, as I don't like TDI presently fishing for students deceptively.

BTW, I've checked with Prime, Knight, and CREngland for sponsored training already. Closed doors there, and not all due to location.

I know that if Roehl is hiring in FL then they will train and pay you to get your CDL. Fill out an app with Roehl and then give them a call, you will talk to someone directly with Roehl and they will fill you in on the Get your cdl program.

A month back I did contact Roehl, specifically since they are up near Illinois (up north). I asked if they were hiring out of FL, she said yes, and said they'd fly me down (every 3-4 weeks) for hometime. I discounted it initially, but realized they took care of drivers. I replied to her email, but she didn't respond.

Hawk, do you work for Roehl? If so I'd like to ask you questions about them. I clicked on your name, but didn't see a link to PM you. I'd like to hear more, specifically about flatbeds, their specialty. I'd not been aware of it, yet I'm game.

I was a store manager for DG..trust me the jib is hard. The money sounds good but you are going to work for every cent of it. When they build the stores they couldn't care less about how the truck is going to get in position to unload....my store was VERY difficult. My opinion is pass on this no matter how good they make it sound.

Those warning words are gold MindFreak. Thank you!

And I just got a FL number calling me, but I let it go to voicemail.

I listened to the voicemail, and it was the same guy who I'd spoke to weeks back, the TDI recruiter saying he was calling for Werner. No thanks.

I'm grateful I'm not out there alone.

Yes, Brett, Werner does hire out of Florida. I spoke to a Werner recruiter right before walking into an (honest) school's presentation weeks back. Though I leaned towards OTR to get my initial experience, he kept pointing to the Dollar General account they'd recently landed in FL. I thought that'd be a good gig.

Then........someone asked here about the same offer. Seems it's all hands on, loading and unloading 2ce a week. Good money, but the physical demands can be daunting. I've unloaded trailers this last year, and it's no cakewalk. One of the mods forewarned us.

I'm grateful I read this!

I spoke to a Werner recruiter 2 weeks ago, and I too was told DG regional routes were open once I got my CDL in Florida, my home state, which to me sounded good.

I had no clue as to the labor involved, which is rare. I really appreciate the imput here.

I've been planning and preparing to go to a CDL school, but I've been baited by many email advertisements looking for "CDL Trainees" in job email alerts. Considering the financial tradeoff of school, I've kept my eyes open. I looked up one today, it sounded legit, so I called one for Stevens Transport, a good company.

NOTE: I'm in Florida. Many companies don't hire out of FL.

Well, I called the 800 number in the ad. A woman answered, "recruiting". I asked if this was Stevens Transport. She hesitated, saying no, it was a CDL school. Trying to sound interested, I asked "which one?" She replied "TDI in Sanford (FL)". I said I was passing on this, then hung up.

I then called Stevens Trucking recruiting, sharing right off I was in Florida and was wondering if they were hiring out of my area. She neatly said they weren't hiring out of Florida at all. A 10 second conversation.

I'd been deceived 2 weeks back when a supposed "Werner rep" called, telling me to come for an interview in Sanford. The same address and phone number for TDI in Sanford. I asked here if it was legit before discovering that, and someone quickly replied Werner has no CDL schools themselves. My clue was when I asked some specific question to the rep, and he replied "everything would be answered in the interview". That smelled funny.

Do any/many others do this? I've seen ads for CRST, Celadon, and Roehl seeking CDL trainees lately. I'll double check the ads, as I don't like TDI presently fishing for students deceptively.

BTW, I've checked with Prime, Knight, and CREngland for sponsored training already. Closed doors there, and not all due to location.

This is encouraging. I was a substitute teacher straight out of college, and did it for 10 years. I never got certified since, IMO, I would be selling out to gain family's approval (on/off/on/off). I loved subbing due to the freedom it allowed.

I even signed up for a masters in elementary education (my best age group) last fall. I "jumped in". But........I began.......and froze. Completely froze 2 weeks in. An absolutely honest heart check said "this is NOT what I want to do". I almost sold out. I was true to me, and I backed out. I can only change myself, noone else.

I began looking into trucking 6 years back. And since I'm working around trucks now (Waste Management), I asked driver after driver about their experiences. I decided this was what I wanted to do myself considering all the factors.

I'm in Florida, and CDL schools abound. I looked, found out prices and offerings, and gratefully, I went to a good local school for a presentation. He told the truth, as many people had gone to $1000 schools, but they couldn't find jobs. We even had a guy listening to the presentation who'd gone to a $7000 school; he was still having trouble with maneuvers (lots of watching vs. driving). The one challenge for me: I needed a cosigner since the school is $5000. I began doing my CDL studying, as I wanted my permit before asking people to cosign.

Something happened during my time of waiting and studying. I prayed for guidance. I don't always, but this is a major decision, and I'd affect those closest to me; specifically, my 11 year old daughter. Well, one morning I was on the john, with my bible in front of me to Proverbs. I was NOT looking for anything specifically. My eyes caught 2 verses on 2 different pages. Both spoke of the danger of cosigning someone's debts. I thought "if it's bad for them, it might not be kosher for me either". I said "God, I think you're talking to me. If you don't want me to go into this, close the door. Otherwise, open it and give me eyes to see it".

That afternoon, I called 2 companies for sponsored training. One went to a recruiter's voicemail, and I spoke to the other. I'm in southern Florida, this company only hires out of northern Florida, but he recommended a website to keep looking (I honestly don't know it, plus I've cleared my cache numerous times since).

I checked the site for Florida jobs. And I saw a CDL school within the job listings: Iowa Central Community College's Transportation Technology Center. They train people from all over the nation constantly. But what caught my attention for this school is something I have NOT seen anywhere else yet: they take federal financial aid = no cosigner. Wow.

I stayed on the site for an hour or 2, considering all things affected. I realize I'd been given my answer. I'm almost in (still have to fax my paperwork), but I've done my financial aid paperwork and have been studying for my FL permit. I have no legal or medical barriers. Here is my list of pros:

3rd best school in the country 10 weeks of training vs. 3-4 = less fear and hustle; more thorough training Lots of OTR trips with trainers (2000 miles or more) Will be offered very good jobs upon completion due to reputation only $500 for housing (covered by financial aid) school is $5500 plus $800 for fees plus housing at $500 = $6800 6 month deferment is standard for all federal student loans Less uncertainties I'll have while out there (FL has no ice, mountains, or snow AT ALL) Plus the 3 weeks following training, you're hired on with a company for OJT, given credit for it, meaning you have some experience already for many employers.

This took so much stress off me. I've been asking questions to Jamie, the first contact, and she's been very helpful. This is my plan, and I'm heading towards it. Has anyone else been there?

I'm grateful I read this. I called Werner about new grad offerings, and he mentioned the Dollar General account in FL, my home state. Thanks guys for the comments.

I just wanted to ask this since I'm prepping for my CDL schooling in late June, and I'm needing my permit.

I've spent nearly 8 hours so far studying and testing. I'm wondering how much more I'll need to study since I'm only 20% done, and I just finished the Driving Safely section. It's been 2 weeks since I began, working a lot too.

I actually didn't think there was so much information. I like school, I enjoy studying, but I don't wish to put myself in a corner by not being ready. How long might it take to go through the High Road training program?