Profile For Josh L.

For all the TMC drivers out there. I want to start my career with TMC. Do any of you have any advice for a beginning trucker? I have been working in Corrections for the past 3 years and I have always wanted to be a Truck Driver. I work as a Sergeant right now and I am for from happy.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I went to the Swift Academy in Phoenix. 160 hrs in 19 days. Yes, it is an accelerated program. 1 out of my class of 7 didn't make it on 3 tries. Only 2 of us passed on the 1st shot. 3 on the second and 1 on his 3rd try. I was there with ONE purpose. Pass the State CDL Exam. I did not engage in some of the childish behavior of some of the"Grown Men" in my class. I took it VERY SERIOUSLY! After all, I had $3900 on the line. I was one of the 2 that passed the 1st time around. It can be done in a 3 week course, but it isn't a cakewalk. Study like your life depends on it, don't get sucked into the immaturity of supposed adults in your class, and you will do just fine. The purpose of Truck Driving School is to teach you the skills to pass the State Exam. Nothing more. It does not teach you to be a Truck Driver. You begin to learn that when you ate assigned a Mentor/Trainer. Good Luck!

thanks for the good advice Tractor man

Look into community colleges and or tech schools. I went to a local community college taking day classes from 8 am to 3 pm. This allowed me to work nights full time and easily transition into training pay from my company. Be sure any school you consider is approved by companies you are interested in.

Thanks man. I just looked Ivy Tech. They offer a 16 day course at 10 hrs a day. I think that is very doable with the savings I have now. What are ur thoughts the Ivy Tech classes? I will call TMC and see if they except that. I wonder if I could vet the FAFSA to help pay for that?

I looked at Ivy Tech and they over a CDL course. Its 10 hrs a day for 16 days. Is their course a course accepted by most? If so then I might be able to do that.

Like you, I've been putting pencil to paper to work out my finances for this transition. Some other things to consider are what the prospective company is going to pay for orientation and what the trainer pay is going to be. Also, you need to consider the training period.

The company I am leaning toward says "3-5 weeks training". I have to budget for 5 weeks. In addition, through research, I know that at the end of training period I may have to wait a few days to get my truck.

The point I'm making is to make sure you have captured everything in your planning. You don't need any additional stress while you are learning a new career.

I have all my recurring bills set up to auto draft out of my account because I'm single and there's nobody at home to get the mail, lol.

Are there schools that offer weekend classes? I haven't seen one yet.

This really is an important discussion, and something that everyone getting started in this career should consider. I have been to four trucking orientations in my career, and at all of them there have been people who did not plan on having enough set aside to make it through the training time. It is something that always surprised me. I understand the fact that money is tight, but I don't understand just taking off and jumping into a new career path that is fraught with difficulties and hoping to make it through while leaving folks at home to somehow fend for themselves with no money coming in. Good planning is a very important characteristic that you will find most successful drivers have.

There are always the leaches at orientation who are constantly bugging everyone else to bum a few cigarettes, or a few dollars for their next meal. Their plan, if it can be called that, seemed to be to depend on the benevolence of the other hopeful candidates at the orientation - that is not a good plan. I've seldom seen success when it was approached like that. I still remember one young man at Western Express who I went through orientation with, and he wanted to exchange phone numbers with me so we could keep up with each other after we got our trainers. Two days after he left with his trainer he quit and boarded a bus for home because his wife and baby were at home with no electricity - it had been cut off for non payment! A coupe of days later I thought I might offer to help him out, and when I tried to call him I found out his phone was disconnected! That is so common, and it is not a good way to make a start at this.

Thank for understanding

I have 1.5 months income saved. Is that enough?

My school has a 100% graduation rate. Everyone who who had gone through has come out with their CDL and at least one job offer, wether they took it or not.

They will work with you until you pass, no matter how long it takes!

What school?

I am just wanting to find the best option. I have been looking bit haven't found yet. I need good advice from people who know from and have learned thru experience. Any advice would help. I have been wanting to be a truck driver for years and don't want to make the wrong decision.

I am looking to go to school. i want to work for TMC Transport but i am concerned about paying for school. if i can't find the right financial aide i will have to go to Roehl. i like both companies but the issue i have is i can't leave my family without an income during school. but if i found a financial program to help me pay for it then i could go with TMC right after school. i was looking at Truck Driving Institute in Indianapolis. i like them because it is a short school and i can save enough money to take care of my family while i am in school. please help in whatever way you can.