Profile For EllieMae

Sorry that's what I meant, not many companies offer to retrain you. So my choices are limited there. Your right about Swift. I confirmed that today they don't offer paid training until your over the road.

But at least it's something. My main goal is to attain my CDL license. I was just really trying to find a company that does paid training and will retrain me. I might be reaching for the stars on that one. Thanks for responding!

Swift will retrain me and I can start asap but it's not paid training and even OTR training pay is lower than what I've seen from other companies

Swift’s school does not pay their students. Once you graduate from their school, pass all the CDL A tests, they will then invite you to orientation. Others can update the exact amount, but student drivers are paid about $10/hour when they drive during Mentoring. This is about 160 hours, so $1600 total. Not sure what you’ve “seen”, but you can’t expect to earn a top wage when you are a student, especially for a short period like 160 hours (5 weeks tops).

Keep something in mind...Trucking is highly competitive, and that starts during school. Roehl is the only company I know if that pays a student before they pass their CDL. Perhaps Rainy can chime in on Prime...not sure if that would be a viable option for you.

Considering what you currently have to offer any company, your options are going to be very limited.

Good luck.

Hey everyone!!

So after a (truly) wonderful experience with Roehl Transport, unfortunately I came back home without my license. Just couldn't get it together the day of the test. The 90 degree got me twice. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ It really isn't that hard. I did it the day before my test all morning. Yet still...I lived and learned. Not giving up I came back home. This is where I belong and damnit I'm going to do it.

However now I'm finding it difficult to return back to school. I tried renting a truck, had to wait almost a month to take my test getting more rusty along the way. But I learned a whole new inspection according to another state and on a truck I saw maybe twice lol. Passed the inspection but failed the backing. This time parallel got me. Think I'm more disappointed in that then the 90 🤦‍♀️. I'm out of money, running on fumes but not giving up still.

I need to find a CDL school that does paid training again. But I'm learning not many schools are willing to retrain. 😔 Swift will retrain me and I can start asap but it's not paid training and even OTR training pay is lower than what I've seen from other companies. Don't get me wrong it's better than nothing and I'm ready to jump at it...but I also know my bills are going to be...way behind because of it. But if I don't do something soon they will get behind anyway.😥

Any advice?

Hey everyone!

I'm a few weeks in training and exactly 1 week away from when I'll be taking my CDL test. But I still can't seem to get a grasp of backing T_T It honestly just hasn't clicked for me yet and I'm wondering if it ever will. Learning what to do, how to control the trailer. I get it to a point but only because at this point in time its mostly all muscle memory. The rest is just doing what I think I should do and watching my trainer for small corrections.

I'll drive all day long, no problem. Backing is a different story. Backing in a straight line is a breeze. Even if my trailer starts drifting, I know what to do.

It's my offset and 90 degree angle I have problems will. My offset I'll get lucky on most of the time with a good set up. I'll set myself up good, get halway through but just freeze if my angle isn't enough or if it's too much.

My 90 is great if I have a perfect set up but if I have to fox a mistake, I'm at a loss. Even with my trainer there, if it happens the next go around, I'm unsure.

Anyway, my question is does anyone know of anything I can use or find to help understand backing a little bit more and how my trailer operates. We also practice backing on different sides, so for example my 90 degree might be backing up on the right and then on the left.

Either way, I'd appreciate any help. I've come to far to start losing my cool over backing! Lol

Thanks! Ellie.

Just to update, because you never know who may wonder back here.

I passed my strength test at Roehl for the flatbed division!! I gave it my all, focused and just went as hard as I could. My left arm is waaaay weaker than my right. I had to really force that last and final pull. That was the worst. But even when it came to abdominal crunch, which I thought I would be weakest in. I had no issues whatsoever and it was actually the easiest task even though I could tell I had more force working against me. 😁💪💪 All in all, it was a nice Monday morning workout. Lol. I'm now a week in training at Roehl and love it more and more each day. 😎

Hahaha no worries, it awesome meeting you! And hell yea on that 90° backup! Keep it up and you got this.

Spaceman Spiff: Dude! I was worried for nothing! Lol I whipped that torture device! :-) It was like something outta the movie Saw. It definitely made me realize though how much weaker my left arm is compared to my right. But even the part I thought I would be weakest in, ended up being my strongest and easiest task. I'm ready to rock this!

It sounds like retesting is a kind of common thing to happen. Which makes me feel a bit better cause I most likely will have to retake mine. Because that's my luck and tests have NEVER come easy for me. Lol. Anyway that's a ways a away. I start orientation in the morning! 😎😅 Reminding myself to breath, I want to scream with excitement tho.

Good luck on your upcoming test! Keep us all updated! I've heard people compare a International to a Freightliner and it honestly reminds me of listening to people argue what's better Fords or Chevys. Lol. But that's my opinion, I'm also still learning what the heck I'm talking about. Lol Either way it sounds like you got this!!

Ellie, there is one thing that keeps potential flatbedders from becoming flatbedders...their own doubt. I would encourage anyone and everyone to try out for it, it's fantastic and while there is a little more toil, the sleep schedule and delivery spots are worth it to me.

50 to 70 lbs is absolutely as much as I've lifted so far with tarps and all. There are usually little steps on the back of the tractor to walk up to the deck for safety. Your job with the champagne and lifting is probably more strenuous.

At worst what could happen? Not pass and sign up for another type of freight? Go for it!

Your completely right! Worse case I don't pass and I sign up for another type of freight. Either way I want this.

The fact I'm getting so paranoid and nervous just branches off from me wanting this so badly. I know I can do it, and whatever I don't know how to do (which is a lot lol) I KNOW I can learn. I don't feel like there isn't anything I can't do as long as someone is willing to teach me. It's just interesting as my training gets closer my family is going from "hey that's awesome, there's great money in that." to "Are you sure you can do it? There's a lot you have to know and do."

I could ramble on but thank you for your encouragement and that reminder!!

Hey guys, maybe I'm be paranoid here but I have a concern myself I wanted to voice.

I'm 30yrs old and will start training at Roehl on Monday. I'm excited, nervous, everything. Lol. Most of all super pumped. I've spent days thinking about the resistance machine that your on during your first day. They auto enrolled me into the Flatbed fleet which is fine by me but I'm hoping my strength is strong enough.

I'm also a much larger woman than most. I don't have any health issues and nothing keeps me from bending, moving etc. I've been in retail for the past 10yrs standing in one spot and I use to take yoga classes during the week before I started my old job, which had me lifting boxes of 50-70 pounds of wine/champagne bottles a few times a week. I'm not weak by any means and I can move around perfectly fine. But I'm still paranoid and I don't want my weight to be an issue. It's hard venturing into something totally new, while also keeping that I got this mentality. I like to be prepared for what's to come.

EllieMae, If you come to the Marshfield location on may 6th, look for the scrawny bald guy in the funny hat and yellow hoodie. Hoody? Hūdē. Hootie and the Blowfish? I dunno. But that's me.

I'll keep an eye out! Unless things change I should be coming out to the Marshfield location. I thought that was there only location in Wisconsin. It was the only one mentioned to me. But we'll see! I'm excited and have been taking the time to build up strength (cause those tarps man!), watch as many videos as I can on learning how to shift and going over the pre-trip inspection. :-)

EllieMae, If you come to the Marshfield location on may 6th, look for the scrawny bald guy in the funny hat and yellow hoodie. Hoody? Hūdē. Hootie and the Blowfish? I dunno. But that's me.

I'll keep an eye out! Unless things change I should be coming out to the Marshfield location. I thought that was there only location in Wisconsin. It was the only one mentioned to me. But we'll see! I'm excited and have been taking the time to build up strength (cause those tarps man!), watch as many videos as I can on learning how to shift and going over the pro-trump inspection. :-)