Finally Going To Training!!!!

So, after months of delays. I'm finally going to be going to my CDL training in a matter of 7 days....as long as there isn't anymore setbacks! I'm going the private school way. Why you might ask? Simply because I wanted to have tons of options available to me. And if you're curious on how I will be paying for it. My local WIA program....even though I had to pay for my D.O.T physical!!! As I've been waiting i've just been dying to get behind the wheel and set out on the open road.Just day dreaming about the whole thing...kinda sad now that I think about it, lol. Either way. I've always dreamed of getting behind the wheel since I was a small child. I grew up around big rigs so I have some knowledge on how things go in this industry. I have already got one pre-hire letter so far from Werner who is actually my number 1 choice. And I know..only one? I plan on applying to some more pretty soon just incase that one falls through. I figured once I get done with my training I would go after the flatbed dream. I don't mind the manuel labor, i'm use to it, anyway. Oh, and I was wondering once I go through all my training and i'm out on my own, even though i'd be a rookie. Would it still be possible to get more home time? The reason why I ask is because my mother is in bad health and i'm pretty much the only one who helps her out with things. Well, that's pretty much all I have to say. If anyone gets curious about what i'm up to. I'll try to keep things updated from time to time. So until next time. I'll catch ya later, lol.

Hey, great to hear you're getting ready to start your training!

As I've been waiting i've just been dying to get behind the wheel and set out on the open road.Just day dreaming about the whole thing...kinda sad now that I think about it, lol

Sad? I think it's awesome! Back in '93 I was 21 when I went to truck driving school. I didn't grow up dreaming about being a trucker, but once I knew that's what I was going to do I couldn't sleep at night I was so excited!

Our school was 7 weeks long and I stayed in a hotel nearby. It was alongside the interstate. Every night after classes I would eat dinner and then go stand on the bridge for a while watching the trucks pass underneath me, wondering what my life was going to be like once I was in that driver's seat. I wondered where they were Oh, and I was wondering once I go through all my training and i'm out on my own, even though i'd be a rookie. Would it still be possible to get more home time?from and where they were going. I wondered what they were saying on the CB. And most of all I wondered if it was going to be as exciting as I had hoped it would be.

My God was it ever!!!! I loved my 15 years on the road. It's almost never easy, but it's always challenging, always a new adventure every day. Trucking is a really tough way to make a living, but if you're the type that's cut out for it, there's nothing in the world like it. It's a roller coaster ride in the beginning. You'll have your ups and downs, and it's a steep learning curve that first year. But if you keep pushing on and see it through, it's an amazing life out there. Very cool.

Oh, and I was wondering once I go through all my training and i'm out on my own, even though i'd be a rookie. Would it still be possible to get more home time?

Absolutely. TMC and Maverick both have flatbed opportunities to get home on weekends straight out of school. And if you can't find an opportunity in flatbed, focus on the dry van companies like Schneider, Swift, Werner, US Xpress, etc. Dry van companies have a ton of regional and dedicated fleets that can get you home more often. Refrigerated companies are the ones that tend to keep you out 2-3 weeks at a time minimum.

I'm looking forward to following along with you! It may not seem like there's a ton of people reading your posts, but trust me, there is. This website gets 100,000 unique visitors per month and most of them are simply reading along. They don't participate. But documenting your experiences through training is incredibly helpful to people coming into the industry behind you. I can assure you they really, really appreciate it!

Best of luck!!!

When I said it's kinda sad when I think about it. It's not me saying i'm sad that i'm going to become a trucker or anything. I just said that cause I tend to waste my free time just thinking about it, lol. Besides, I do believe that I was born to do this. When I was a baby the only way they could get me to sleep on some nights is to take me for a drive in a big rig, lol. So it's been in my blood for a long, long time.

I was looking at TMC, but i'm pretty sure that I saw something to the fact of their required driver age is like 23 and up. And i'm only 21. Or would it really matter? And about me getting home. I don't really need to get home every weekend, just more of maybe every 2-3 weeks.

And I just wanna say that I love this site. You've done a hell of job. I spend most of my time just reading in the forums and blogs, and doing the High Road program. Way more positive people on this site then all the others i've been to.

Michael, you might check into getting a pre-hire from Prime. I say that because they have dry-van, reefer , and flat-bed divisions. If you decide you're not real happy with one you should be able to move to another fairly easily. Also I think you are right about the age limit at TMC.

Best of luck to ya!

Old School, I planned on it. I figured i'd apply to everyone and anyone that had a flat-bed divison. At least the ones that I can apply for. That's really the only thing I really want to do. And if something was to happen to where I couldn't get to drive a flat-bed. I'd go to the dry van divison.

And thanks for the support.