Profile For SC-joe

Hi All,

I'm really stuck. What would you do?? I passed written tests so I have a learner's permit.

A. Paid training with a company: 15 month contract, if I back out or can't pass the test I owe 7K. Contact person says: Dry Van 36.5 Cents, Refrigerated 41.5 Cents, Flatbed 42.5 cents. So after the 15 months, can I expect to make more even if I go somewhere else and have a good record?? the first 15 months is almost Post Office job pay, so does it really go up after the first year?????

B. School Should I just pay out of pocket and go with a school?? maybe get my first year that way? there has to be some places willing to train?? at least I would have some options rather than being bound to a contract.

Thank You

I'm starting with Wilson Logistics next week. I looked at several companies that train CDL. NONE had a 15 month contract. All I talked to had a one year contract expect for one that was six months but they took some money out of your check each week to pay for it.

A good note to know about Stevens Transportation and their school in TN. You have to go through an additional DOT medical even if you already have one. If you have additional paperwork from your doctor, letters, etc. they have their own format and wording and require new paperwork from your doctor. Add a little additional time to get those.

That's my preference. I will wait to hear from Wilson. My finances, though, are making me make a decision this week. I can't wait forever, I have to set a deadline for myself. But, thanks for the advice.

Personally, I would wait to hear back from the other two prior to jumping into training on Monday with the company that you did hear from.

I base this on lots of conversations speaking with drivers from all three companies.

Well, I've been talking with three different companies, Wilson Logistics, Stevens Transport & Prime Inc. That's the order in which I like them but they all seem very good companies. I'd be happy to go to training with each of them and work for them. But Wilson is really taking its time and I'm not making in money right now. They have all my paperwork and need management buy off. I'm supposed to hear from them by tomorrow morning.

But, I can't just wait and potentially not get paid for another week or two so I've talked with Stevens and it looks like I can get in to there training this coming Monday. We'll see what Wilson says. I know they need to be careful as we will be moving an expensive tractor with expensive cargo but I have to set things up so my family can get money. I really hope Wilson works out soon. But, Stevens has a lot of good advantages too. I like them both.

This is just the lay of the land today. Tomorrow will be a whole different story I'm sure. I just need to set a definite path.

Later.

I've studied the HOS. I'll have to read it a couple of more times to get it stuck in my head. As for deductions they may make sense between my wife and myself. There are enough things it may work. I won't know until I get a couple of months of info.

I have no desire to lease or buy a truck. For me it makes sense to gather what I can. Too much info is better than too little. After I spend time with my trainer I will know what to focus on.

Going stir crazy waiting. That's all.

Why not study the hours of service then rather than the software that keeps track of it.

Learn the 70 11 14 and 8 hour clocks. The graphs.. What recaps are

Learn what is on duty and not.

Items you can deduct on your taxes.. Such as? As far as I know company drivers cannot deduct anymore, not since the increase of the standard deductions. If you are planning to lease or own.... We are going to strongly advise against it.

I have my DOT medical and CPL. I am studying the pretrip and going back through the CDL manual daily.

I have researched and asked about the minimum equipment I should have like rain jacket, gloves, etc. and have them. I am reading forums to see what recent CDL trainees are going through, what they find most important to learn.

I've researched what items I can deduct on taxes and have my phone apps setup to capture receipts, etc.

I have time on my hands so I'm trying to learn what I can before I show up for training. The ELD is just interesting.

Week after week year after year we see people come here concerned with fuel mpg, truck make, leasing buying etc. And the one thing they never seem to learn is driving the truck. Then they fail due to frustration because they focused on the wrong things.

This is a baby steps type of career. Have you gotten your permit or practiced the pretrip? These are more important. If you cant pass the Pretrip you wont need the ELD.

I have time to kill. Hopefully a week. I've been learning what I can. If I learn about one system, the general gist of the other will be the same.

I'm not worrying about anything, I'm trying to understand what I can. A bit here, a bit there. It's what I want to do. Why would you have a problem with that?

Please drop the sarcasm. Would you believe that one company can use both systems? prime does. The newer trucks have the IVG and the older ones.. 2018 2019 have the MCP200. It is probably the same at Wiltrans. They pull our freight and we repower each other. Our dispatchers see each others systems

It may Jist depend on your truck but the systems arent that different. Just different colors. As Daniel stated you have a ton more stuff to worry about than learning the system. You will have time rondo so.

I've asked others. I'm trying to learn what I can before I get to training. If I become a bit familiar with a system now it's easier to learn then. It's called planning and learning. Works well.

Why does it matter? Among all the questions there is to ask about a company, why this one?

I'm getting some information together that I can study before I start training. Does Wilson Logistics use the Omnitracs MCP200 or the IVG? Thanks.

Just a note, I found out that CRST is team driving. I ruled them out for that. FYI

Have you thought about what company you want to work for?

Well i used the Paid CDL Training Programs link and it applied me to Prime Inc., CRST, and Wilson Logistics. The applications is also connected to my Driver Pulse tenstreet app. So far CRST is interested in me despite a somewhat slow response through text. Not quite sure what to do next.