Profile For Jesse G.

Hello Mr. Christopher H., I'm Jesse, and I'm quite new myself, but on that note...about advice on '''which one to choose''...here's what ""I"" myself- did....I (my little '''quirk'' if you will, is my wife (:-) ) I ADORE my wife...and want her with me ALL the time...on THAT note...here we go...) I found--- 1--- a school that would take me ''from anywhere''---there are some schools that you have to live in '''their hiring area/town/city...etc""well...if i don't live...in say...WICHITA....or GEORGIA...or NY...(just for examply...) I'm not gonna get up and move out there if i'm looking for a job....cuz i'm obviously not making money....SOOOO>>.....i picked one that will take you '''from wherever'' you are.... 2----i also picked one that ---after your training, will allow you to take your''spouse'' or ''guest'' with you (in my case...as aforementioned-SPOUS :-) ) 3---and....a school that has little or no ''up front'' expenses....

SO there you go :-) Hope this helps...(I'm just trying to be ''politically correct'' and ''diplomatic'', I know very well that for the veteran drivers here (which are MOST --- at least to me...lol) they'll know ''who'' I'm talking about...but anyways...i am SO VERY HAPPY and there really are not enough words to express just HOW HAPPY I am....i mean...this place is HEAVEN SENT!!! I LOVE IT! okay..take care, be safe and God Bless you and yours... Respectfully, Jesse

Hello All, I'm Jesse G., totally new at this and quite new at this site...my questions show registry about 3 months and 2 weeks ago....wow...time DOES fly....okay...where to start...and how...okay... FIRST OFF....to: Errol V. Moderator

Big Scott

Bill F.

G-Town Moderator

I wanna say a VERY GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!!! For taking the time to even ''look at me and my way'' and giving me advice...I am SO grateful...y'all gave me advice and 'didn't judge a book by it's cover' and helped guide me and I am very thankful to y'all and wish God's blessings to you and yours and be safe on the road and KEEP ON TRUCKING! :-) :-D :-D :-)

THAT said....i'd like to share a little bit for ''OTHER '''newbies''' out there... I am now Driving a GREAT BIG TRUCK -THANK GOD ALMIGHTY...and my ENTHUSIASM HAS NOT -- BY ANY CHANCES DIMINISHED!!! IT HAS INCREASED A THOUSANDFOLD!!! I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE these trucks and the road and everything about it. I joined through one of these schools that gives you all the training as long as you drive for them for a while. I say...what more could you possibly want and/or ask for? I mean, what are you looking for and why did you even look for/go there in the first place? I hear people talk bad about Roehl...about PAM...about Knight...about Swift...etc., etc., etc.... and I---VERY PERSONALLY...can offer this....there is always things to deal with anywhere and everywhere you go...and with anyone and everyone you meet....BUT....in the end...it is and always will be---ultimately WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT....i firmly believe....''you reap what you sow....''' I went there...'''ON A MISSION'''and with ONE purpose and ONE goal in mind....TO LEARN ALL I COULD ----FROM the INSTRUCTORS there...and do the absolute best I could and give it my ABSOLUTE ALL....heart and soul...i went for ONE thing and ONE thing only...TO LEARN to drive a truck.... and....THAT said... PRAISE THE LORD! I DID!!! :-) ;-) :-) I met up with a lot of people from all over Texas and some even from as far as New York...and some would '''try to help me....'' trying to tell me to '''do this...'' and '''do that'''...and '''don't do this...'' and '''don't do that..''' and -- I tried to make it clear that I was not there to get advice (no offense---from someone who was doing WAY WORSE than me...and whom-further---I had not requested their help)...sometimes I had to be a little more blunt but I got the point across. I wanted to learn from the people that I was sent to learn from and I did NOT want to listen to all these people giving ''good'' and ''bad'' advice because they were - perhaps not doing good and/or their heart was not in it. SO, again---THAT said....DO WHAT YOU WENT TO DO...and remember and keep in mind WHAT and WHY you went there for...and give it your best...and do EXACTLY what you are told to do and do NOT do what you are NOT told to do...(it's really easy...it's not ''rocket science''....really)...follow directions...they (the instructors ARE there to help you...they WANT you in their company and doing what they are supposed to train yo to do...but on THAT note....you must ALSO put forth your best and show you are ABLE and CAPABLE...of doing so.). Don't follow the ''bad'' reviews of people who have had a '''bad experience'' (sometimes---perhaps from their own doing..) make YOUR OWN judgement...never be a '''follower'''...LITERALLY...MAKE YOUR OWN ROAD.... I LOVED the school I was at and all the instructors....and I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned soooo very much...it's unbelievable. Now...on THAT note as well...I can say (AND VERY PROUDLY)...it is NOT EASY. NOT BY A LONG SHOT! It is not '''hard'' either...per se....but, it is definitely not easy by an y means....which brings me to another thing.....NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A TRUCKER.....I've heard people say things like, '''...oh, anyone can drive one of those...''' yeah, well hey...NO THEY CAN"T! .....believe me.....(which makes me all the MORE proud :-) ) Now...for me personally....this falls right along my '''old lines'' of my hardcore biker days....not everyone can ride a bike....and much less the definition of a '''hard core'' biker...which is basically....you're gonna ride...come hell or high water....in scorching heat....in pouring rain/sleet and hail....in snow.....every day of the week...every week of the year....yeah....THAT"S a ''hardcore'' biker. NOW....multiply that '''a thousand fold''....cuz now you got TONS and LOADS of responsibility with these beautiful, powerful behemoths....on the road...simply said....AWESOME!!! :-) :-D :-) So....without going into 20 pages of details and so on and so forth....I meekly offer my '''newbie-rookie'' advice.... >>>when you get advice...whether sought out or not....always CONSIDER THE SOURCE..... >>>again....do what you're supposed to do...listen to whom you're supposed to listen....and give it your best.....and for crying out baloney....BE DISCIPLINED....(again...we go back to -----if it was easy....'''everyone/anyone would do it'''....AND...'''you reap what you sow''')....if you know you're not supposed to '''ditch'' school/class/practice....then DON"T....simple. If you're not supposed to go out and party or whatever...then don't....if you'rs supposed to study and practice...then DO..... that's it. Really...y'all ...it's not '''rocket science'' to do what you're supposed to do....and the way you're supposed to....and if you make a mistake...ask for help and try again.... I hope this helps God Bless

OH MAN!!!! THANK YOU MR. ERROL V.!! MAY THE LORD HERE YOUR WORDS!!! WOW! You just made my day and gave me a world of encouragement! Yes, I'm not no ''saint'' or anything, per se, but I have always tried to take care of myself and things and do the best I can and do what's RIGHT. And I really / honestly feel that THIS is EXACTLY for me....and I see myself doing it until I finally have to retire or whatever like that, you know? I'll be willing to go wherever they send me AS LONG as they want me...AND...I've got a passport. (I've read that sometimes they encourage you to have one---well I've had one for....OMG!! I don't know, what? almost 20 years? I've got the ''local'' and the International one, so that should be a plus in my favor :-) ) Anyways, THANKS AGAIN A BUNCH for your time, patience and guidance, VERY HIGHLY APPRECIATED from a (hopefully) soon to be rookie. Respectfully, Jesse

Jesse uses BIG LETTERS:

i had an accident coming home from work in broad daylight...NOT MY FAULT...
it took some rehab...(physical kind) no missing limbs or anything, thank God...
As for my criminal background...CLEAN AS A WHISTLE...my driving record SAME.....
my physical...(other than having gotten a little banged up here and there)---also...GREAT.

Most companies do have a real human being looking at applications and making the final call. The "not my fault" helps, but, like insurance, it was an accident. Your health is in the hands of your DOT physical, so if you can get that signed off, you're good to go in that department. Finally, clean living has its rewards. I've been active on Trucking Truth for about 2 1/2 years. I am not surprised at how many people come on here and want to rationalize away their past behavior. But a record is a record, and it's hard to erase.

I bet you'll be driving a semi in a few months. Good luck.

Mr. Errol V., thank you very much for your info and advice. and yes, just for the record, i have been truthful, i don't drink or smoke or do any type of drugs, never have...i used to work for the government, the ''big deal'' is, i had an accident coming home from work in broad daylight...NOT MY FAULT...but got hurt a little...it took some rehab...(physical kind) no missing limbs or anything, thank God...but THAT is /was my concern. As for my criminal background...CLEAN AS A WHISTLE...my driving record SAME.....my physical...(other than having gotten a little banged up here and there)---also...GREAT....no diseases....no illnesses...not diabetes or anything..again..thank God... and the thing is this...(i'm not 20 years old..(and no offense to those who are)---) but i'm looking into this as a new career...and i've researched it quite extensively...and everything thus far....MAN>..THIS IS WHAT I WANT!!!! I hear about '''not enough home time''---and for ME>...if they tell me...'''hey....you're gonna be gone for around 6 to 8 weeks this time out..."" I'm like """OH HELL ***&&^%%^^&&* YEAH!!!!!""" Sooo...in a nutshell, that's where I'm at. Again thank you and y'all very much for your advice and help and guidance God bless you and yours and be safe. Respectfully, Jesse

Dot physicals are provided by doctors on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners or any Dr office or clinic that advertises "DOT Physicals".

All the details are in the Trucking Truth DOT Physical Exam article.

The thing about disclosing medical information really means don't volunteer anything. If asked "Have you ever ...", answer truthfully. One way to lose a job before you get hired is to fudge answers and the company finds out.

Question...are DOT physicals verified? Reason I'm asking, i read (doing a lot of reading) that DOT physicals are hard to get....others say it's easy....others say...don't disclose "unnecessary medical info "---others say...spill yout guts....sooo...I'm curious. ....what would be "the right thing to or not to say"?

Mr. G-Town, THANK YOU also VERY MUCH for those links and I DEFINITELY WILL follow them, I want to learn all I can and all I know for sure right now, is I wanna get into this SO BAD ---SO FAST...(but I can't...a couple of things I have to take care of first...I should be ready to ''leave'' here - hopefully in about mid-May....That's how I've always done things....when I get into something...I jump in ALL THE WAY....none of this ''getting your feet wet stuff''...I go as they say...'''body and soul" lol :-) Also, like I said, I've always been goal-oriented and driven...so, to ""ME""-personally, the things I read about ''being out 21 to 28 days or more...OH MAN!!! THAT JUST SOUNDS FRE***IN AWESOME!! :-) Anyways, again, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH...take care and be safe... Respectfully, Jesse :-)

Welcome to the forum Jesse...

Sounds like your head is definitely in the game. Not sure if you have seen or reviewed these threads, but here goes:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

The first two are a primer on establishing a knowledge foundation and realistic expectations. The HighRoad as indicated Bill, is an essential part of your learning process and will take most of the guesswork out of leaning and retaining the knowledge required to pass the permit tests.

In addition I'd make this suggestion as well...your list, I am sure it's well thought out and not trying to talk you out of or into something else.Roehl sounds like a very good choice, a winner.

These links may prove helpful in the event you are not sure or are just looing to see what else is out there:

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
• Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"

And this:

Paid CDL Training Programs

Good luck!

Thank you VERY MUCH Mr. Bill I really appreciate it and ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS! No I have not done them but I will...again, thank you and take care and be safe Respectfully, Jesse :-)

Welcome Jesse. There ain't nothing bad about Roehl. Nothing wrong with running reefer. Nothing wrong about getting paid for training and owing them a little time. I hope you use the High Road Training program to prepare yourself for school. It is an all encompassing training suite that will prepare you for anything the DMV or your prospective CDL school will throw at you. It will put you head and shoulders ahead of your classmates (unless they used it also). I cannot emphasize this enough, high road training rules. High Road Training ProgramBecoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck DrivingTrucking Company Reviews

Hello all, My name is Jesse. Okay, to make a (very long)story short, I have been looking into this more and more lately, and I believe I have pretty much decided that this is DEFINITELY what I want to do. Now, with all due respect to all of you, I know y'all don't know anything about me, but okay, in a 'brief summary.' I am 51years old, I drove trucks for a couple of years about 20 years ago, with a CDL from another country. Anyways, I got into school and did other jobs and such and anyways, okay. Here I am, now I don't want to do my previous job anymore and I have (actually-I had dreamed of this as a child, and it's really funny-weird that now, I've got this incredible YEARNING to do this, like ASAP) been looking into this more and more lately. By lately I mean like, the last month or so. Okay, that said, I came across THIS site due to my googling and searching anything and everything about trucking and anything and everything that pops into my mind about it. I cannot believe how much information I have gotten off of this site and from so many of you pro's out there just be searching and reading, searching and reading. This site is INCREDIBLY informative. I thank you all so very much for all the help and guidance you' afforded me. Okay, I believe I've narrowed it down to: FFE; PAM; KNIGHT, PRIME and ROEHL. Okay that said, I was (about a week and a half or so ago) all "Gungho" about going with PRIME (and I really like them A LOT), but I've kinda veered to ROEHL. Okay, WHY? Because, I don't have the money to pay for school and don't want to get into any ''financing'' or otherwise, AND, these companies not only give you free training (as long as you work for them) they also pay you while you're training!!! (SERIOUSLY??? WOW!!!) I ask y'all pros and experts to please bare with me, I know I'm ''the rookie'' (or gonna be-God willing) and the 'lowest guy on the totem pole' and 'grasshopper', but, here's the thing with me. Before this, I have ALWAYS been a "Work-a-holic'' and goal-oriented. I used to work an average of 12 to 18 hours a day-7 days a week and I was perfectly fine with that. On my free time I'd get on my motorcycle with a bunch of others and we'd drive from El Paso, Texas to Houston, to Oklahoma, or to Denver or to Sturgis and such. So that said too, I don't mind driving for very long times and/or very far, in any kind of weather. I know there's two big differences because on a rig you're not going ''directly'' against weather cuz you're in a huge cab, but also, in a rig you're driving many more days and many more miles. Fine. Not a problem for me, I would actually LOVE and am SO FREAKING EAGERLY looking forward to jumping into this and - Thanks to Y'ALL - have ALSO narrowed down my choice to "Reefers," because (according to what I've researched and read thus far...) THEY travel "OTR" and possible even Canada? As I said, y'all don't know me, I've always been a 'loner' and literally-make my own road, my 'drive' and priorities and such, are, perhaps, somewhat ''different'' than most or than what the 'average norms' are, but that's me, and it seems to me that you truckers are in a lot of ways kinda like that too. Y'all have 'your own' drive, and 'lingo' and maybe some kind of ''sub-culture'' like they call us bikers lol. Please note, everything I'm saying here is said with all due and utmost respect, if I say anything that does not 'come out quite right,' my apologies, I don't mean to offend anyone. I'm just trying to 'open up' here and get any info and/or advice I can get, and mostly, to thank y'all for all the help y'all have ALREADY given me, whether y'all know it or not. Anyways...okay..(see what I mean when I said "Breif"?? I wrote a freaking book, lol, sorry) Y'all take care and be safe, Respectfully, Jesse.