Profile For SlugLife

I'm seriously considering making a move into flatbed from driving a dry van for the last 3 years. Looking for the "perfect job".

Anyone know which flatbed companies run 48 states? I live in central North Carolina.

Thanks.

Hey, congrats man! Definitely keep us updated on how things go for ya!

I definitely will. Thanks for keeping this forum up and running. I've had so many questions answered and concerns worked out because of the things I've read here. I'll keep a little running account of my training and orientation and maybe it'll help someone else out down the road.

Thanks again!

Wow! Congratulations, it seems like you just jumped in here just the other day and now you are already heading for a job. Keep up the good work!

Thanks. Honestly, it feels like I started this whole process just the other day.

Finally finished school so with my fresh CDL in hand I'm boarding a Greyhound bus headed for Memphis, TN Saturday night to start my orientation and training at Ozark Motor Lines. I'm excited like a kid on christmas eve!!!!!!

See you folks out there...

Well, I'm going what I've read isn't true either way. I understand some loads may be high priority but don't want to think I'm going to be pushed into this situation. I've heard quite a few horror stories about these FedEx loads. The night driving part doesn't bother me, nor does the sitting around all day to pick up a load just to drive it overnight. I'm just worried about this driving straight through regardless of your hours thing.

Oh well, we'll see. Thanks for the input either way... .

Hi folks,

So, I'm through my 1st week of CDL school (with my permit and medical card outta the way). I had sent an application into the folks at Ozark Motor Lines out of Memphis and spoke with the recruiter there. She's seeing me up with an orientation date after graduation. Everything from her sounds good or acceptable (obviously as a new graduate I can't expect everything to be perfect just yet).

But my question is, anyone have any recent experience there? Just looking for a current or recent drivers take on them. I've been on a couple other sites and read some opinions but... seems this site is more optimistic and doesn't just label every carrier as a bad one.

Also, I'm told they run alot of FedEx runs meaning mostly overnight driving and time sensitive. Other drivers say Ozark tries to make them run illegally re: HOS. How is that even possible if the company uses elogs?

Anyway, I'm excited that my 1st choice company is already settiing up orientation for me and I totally understand that this doesn't mean I'm hired just that I'm accepted to "interview" with them.

Thanks for any insight anyone can give me about them.

Does anyone have any experience with this school? They're located in Raleigh and I've seen their website and a couple reviews out there but nothing too useful.

Watched a YouTube video review someone had posted that was complaining about things that really weren't an issue (owner of the school is a mean old white guy, old trucks, school is in a double wide trailer in a lot)...

I'm set to start on the 23rd and just looking for some insight if anyone has any.

The only things I do know is classes are M-Th, 4 weeks, they are a 3rd party tester (assume this means they can conduct the actual CDL test onsite?), it's 100% free through WIA, and you stay in a local hotel M-Th during those 4 weeks. Oh, and per my "WIA Caseworker" I only need to show up my first day with clothes for the week...

Thanks.

SlugLife, I'm not an attorney, but I did some research into the FMCSR (Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations) book. I don't see anything to confirm your fears.

I am curious though as to who told you that with that weapons charge you would be disqualified from getting a CDL? I don't see it in the rules book. Now I may be missing something, but I felt like I looked fairly thoroughly - it is a thick book with small print, but I think I knew the right sections to go to and I don't see anything there that says you would be disqualified for your CDL.

You may possibly hit a snag on the Hazmat, only because it has it's own separate FBI background check, but I'm not even sure that it will hurt you there either.

Here's a suggestion: If you're concerned about forking out the money for school and losing it, why don't you just go with a Company-Sponsored Training program? Personally, I went to a private school because I thought that was the best way to go. Since then I've kind of changed my thinking on this and think that the company sponsored training programs are a pretty sweet deal. There is very little expense involved, you get excellent training, plus you are guaranteed a job after you successfully complete the training. You're gonna need to commit to that job for a year, but hey you're just going to start beginning to have a solid grip on what you're doing by then anyway. If after a year you just think you want to move on then your free to do so and you will have obtained your CDL with little or no expense, you will have gotten one years experience while getting a decent paycheck each week, and in most cases you will have gotten paid about $400 or more bucks a week during the initial training period.

Now, here's the really great part of this where you're concerned. If there was an issue with that weapons charge (and I seriously don't find any evidence that there will be) then you will know it right up front and they won't even accept you into their program. If you go to a private school they will take your money and you won't find out till it's too late for you to do anything about it. The company sponsored training programs do all the qualifying background checks at the beginning because they are going to employ you, not just help you get that CDL.

I hope I've helped a little, and I'm also hoping someone with a little more firsthand knowledge concerning this type of charge will still jump in here eventually and either confirm what I've found or let us know if I'm all wet behind the ears.

If all that doesn't sound too reasonable to you then you could also go ahead and get started on trying to get some pre-hires before you even start pursuing the license. Check out the link on Understanding Pre-Hires and see if you can get some pre-hire letters from companies that you've told about that charge in your application process and that would probably ease your anxieties about it. Remember that a pre-hire is not a promise to hire you, but rather a letter of intent based on the information they have already received from you and whatever background work they do for the pre-hire.

I was initially told by a driver working for Maverick (which is my 1st pick for trucking companies) that you can't drive a commercial vehicle with any weapon charge. Never one to take 1 persons opinion I asked around some more. I was also told by a gentleman who does a weekly radio show specific to legal issues. Now the Maverick driver may be telling me I can't work for Maverick with that charge, but that's not exactly what he said. And to be honest I wasn't specific about it being a misdemeanor as I assumed all Unlawful Possession of a Weapon charges were misdemeanors. He may have been thinking I was telling him I had a felony from 4 years ago. The radio host I was very specific with and he even cited the FMCSR. But when I researched I found only the reference to HazMat and it was specific to felonies.

I'm already enrolled in a school through the WIA Dislocated Worker program so unless something falls apart there I'll be going to a private school. I have been looking at companies that hire new graduates so I'll start getting in touch with them regarding applying.

Hopefully my worries will turn out to be unnecessary but we'll see. I start school at Carolina Trucking Academy on the 23rd of September. I think my worse case scenario is just funding it difficult to get a job with one of the major carriers but I'm pretty sure smaller local companies will hire me on to at least get my foot in the door in this industry.

Thanks for the reply and looking into it for me.

What gave them the right to search your vehicle in the first place? Did they have probably cause? 4th amendment protects you against cops like this who think they are above the law. Even if your stopped for a traffic violation, you only have to roll your window down enough to hand the officer your driver license. You don' t have to answer questions and they can't detain or search you without probable cause. I learned a lot from my brother who is a cops, a prick one at that.

Below is an example of boarder patrol trying to illegally search people 50 miles from the boarder who haven't even crossed the boarder to begin with.

http://youtu.be/pmcaSN4AsQQ

Don't even get me started on this subject..

Six

I've often heard people say the same things here but in reality if I had said no, you can't search my car I don't see the situation being any different aside from taking longer. I wanted it to be done with and I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.

Damn Bro didn't you say you were Military earlier?? Those guys wouldn't give you a break? Talk about lack of professional courtesy...

Some Police GO OUT OF THEIR WAY, to mess with the military. They know that if a soldier doesn't pay a fine when due, HE WILL pay the fine eventually.

Dave

Re: Professional courtesy... The officer that pulled me over actually confiscated my CAC Card (card issued by the DoD, basically my ID Card that allows me to get on post/base). He was absolutely convinced I was a drug smuggling terrorist. I got the card back after my DoD sponsor contacted him directly letting him know it was government property and needed to be returned immediately.

And the reason I let them search my car was because I was under the impression I wasn't breaking any laws. And when I say they searched my car, I mean they SEARCHED it... Under the his, removed panels, went through all my luggage including dumping a bottle of body wash/soap out. He just wouldn't let go of the idea that I wasn't up to something.

I had to spend the night in jail, car was impounded, poor dog spent the night in dog jail.

It was an unusual situation and I did my best to hurry it along a I was scheduled to work in Fort Bragg 2 days later.

I'm sure I could have argued everything but as I said, I didn't have time to drag it out and the reality is I was in the wrong for how I was transporting the pistol.