Profile For inthe740

Congrats. I am starting on the 19th in Appleton for the Reefer division.

What did you get for a truck?

Im new to this site and just starting my training and I will say this, when I decided I was going to get into trucking, I will steer clear of the videos that explain shifting, backing and all of that. I was afraid they would be negative to my training and that I want to go in raw and fresh so that the trainers get a clean slate to work with.

As for the videos in question, i have watched several of them. While they are all negative, I will say one of the companies I was looking at was listed and I took great interest in the video. I did learn that the amount they charge for training if you do not fulfill the contract is about 75% more than the amount their website states PLUS interest which lead me to question my recruiter about it who only told me this stuff after asking point blank, so while his videos are crap themselves, they may have some useful info.

Stevens, Rohel, Knight and Swift have a new class starting weekly. Veriha has one every two weeks.

I spoke to them at my local swift academy and told me they train and test you in a manual but when you get out with a trainer and get your own truck it will be an automatic, this is because they want to avoid that restriction on your license.

Although not in a commercial vehicle, I was in Vegas in April. I get into a Lyft and the driver asked me if I liked Game of Thrones. I told him I never watched it and he was like "you should watch it with me" and pointed at his phone, he was streaming it on his phone while driving down the strip and nearly killed us twice.

Stevens has turned into my last resort option.

I cringe when I read a statement like this...

As an unproven student with no skills and limited knowledge, you have little to offer any company; let alone one that is arguably a top training company. Stevens will teach you to be a safe truck driver; “priceless” in every way. Probably not your intent, but thumbing your nose at them comes off as rather arrogant.

Fact, there is going to be a significant learning curve with every company. During the first year you are basically paid to learn and can expect to earn about 45k. Your income potential has everything todo with how quickly you can become efficient and safe. CPM of a few cents here and there has little effect on first year pay.

Not sure if you’ve read any of these links but if you haven’t; I highly suggest reviewing them and then throwing-out everything else you’ve read on the inter web...

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

Good luck.

I mean no offense to anyone with the comment, I just feel like they really under pay to start. .10 mile over the course of a year can be $10,000 so a decent chunk of change. I will read the links provided.

The agility test with Roehl is just a crt machine test. They have a video of it on their site or YouTube. I saw guys in their 60s as well as guys who weighed well over 300 lbs (not muscle) pass it with no problem aside from being out of breath.

That’s encouraging. Roehl offered me Refer division and she said it’s an easier test than for flatbed. I watched the video on it.

You will get more replies if you toss this in the general questions. But with that being said, (I don't drive, just lerk) many will remind you how demanding local food delivery is. Between backing and unloading all the food on your own, it will be tough. Rob T, I believe has a long diary on this. Nothing like unloading 100k's lbs of food weekly, on a dolly.

Also not sure where you are, but certain companies hire in certain areas. You didn't mention Swift, Prime, Jim Palmer, Wil-Trans, CFI....many successful drivers here that will give you advice about there company. The Paid CDL programs seem to be the best option. Most pay a training pay, then then when you upgrade to solo, you start getting per mile. Not all companies have such a large gap with no income.

They will also say pick the company on the freight you want to haul, Flat Bed, Reefer, Dry Van....etc. My son in his first few weeks with Wil-Trans dragging Prime trailers around the country and enjoys it so far. His biggest issue right now is managing to sleep with he can and drive when he must. Don't believe all the negative reviews online.

Good Luck....There are a ton of diaries.

Chris

Thanks for teh reply. I actually decided against the food delivery, it maybe a bit more than I am ready for at the moment plus I want some OTR time. I have 3 choices at the moment, Knight, Veriha and Rohel, all with conditional job offers. Veriha pays more for training but less per mile when on the road but they guarantee home time every 14 days. Rohel will pay more per mile and will be doing Refer and Knight does not pay while in school but I would not have to travel for training since they have a training facility and terminal 10 minutes from home. Stevens has turned into my last resort option.

I did check WIl-Trans/Palmer and they denied me due to one speeding ticket in the last 3 years.

First off I am new here and have found this forum to be informative, it was suggested I post this in the general forum although I did post in the diary section.

Here is where am. I am a nearly 41 year old in not so great shape guy and looking for a new career. Bored one morning I was looking around and decided WTH, I will be a truck driver. I wanted to do this when I was younger but was a single parent, but my child is now an adult and I’m thinking it is time. I do not have a CDL but have my permit.

I have done a ton of research but still need to figure out where to go. I actually am scheduled to start school on 8/19 (my 41st birthday). The more research I do and with their pay it kinda is throwing me off, will be 21 days with no pay and then $50 day training when on the road, after going solo .26cents per mile. Then I looked at Veriha and Rohel, had my phone interview with Veriha and Rohel and have conditional offers with both of them. To top it off there is a local food delivery company that pays really well that offered me an interview but the working conditions are rough. I looked at Maverick but I really do not want to do Flatbed. I also have an application and physical test scheduled for Knight next week, the positive to them is the training is 10minutes from my home and they have a terminal there and she says I’d get home fairly often. I’m not going to lie, I am worried about showing up at somewhere like Rohel and failing their “agility” test. I have passed a DOT physical but again in older and not in the best shape.

Stevens pay is low over all which throws me off, I am keeping them as a last resort at this point. Veriha will pay me .36cents per mile plus extra if I drive on weekends and some other things which they said could make it as much as .76 cents per mile plus $600 a week while in school, said I would average 2500-3000 miles a week and be home very 11-14 days for 3 days. Rohel offered me the Refer division and said I would be paid .465 cents per mile starting out plus $500 a week while in school said I would be on the road 3-4 weeks at a time but no info on average of miles. Knight does not pay while in school but I would not have to travel to go to school since they have a training facility near my home and said it would be .34-46 cents per mile depending on distance when on the road solo, said getting home would be easy since they have a terminal 10 minutes from home but again no average miles per week.

I hate feeling like I am wasting peoples time but I am in discussions with all of the companies listed, I just need to make a decision.

I would love some feedback and encouragement and promise to try to rely to anyone that does reply. I will, if there is an interest do a training diary on here once I get started and such.

First off I am new here and have found this forum to be informative.

Here is where am. I am a nearly 41 year old in not so great shape guy and looking for a new career. Bored one morning I was looking around and decided WTH, I will be a truck driver. I have wanted to do this for awhile but was a single parent but my child is now an adult and I’m thinking it is time. I do not have a CDL but have my permit.

I have done a ton of research but still need to figure out where to go. I actually am scheduled to start school on 8/19 (my 41st birthday) with Stevens. The more research I do and with their pay it kinda is throwing me off (will be 21 days with no pay) Then I looked at Veriha and Rohel, had my phone interview with Veriha today and am scheduled to have a phone interview with Rohel tomorrow. To top it off there is a local food delivery company that pays really well that offered me an interview but the working conditions are rough. I looked at Maverick but I really do not want to do Flatbed. I also have an application and physical test scheduled for Knight next week, the positive to them is the training is 10minutes from my home and they have a terminal there and she says I’d get home fairly often. I’m not going to lie, I am worried about showing up at somewhere like Rohel and failing their “agility” test. I have passed a DOT physical but again in older and not in the best shape.

I would love some feedback and encouragement and promise to try to rely to anyone that does reply. I will, if there is an interest do a training diary on here once I get started and such.