Starting Truck School After Getting Out Of The Military
Topic 18007 | Page 1
Kurtis wrote:
Hey Guys. So I'll be starting CDL training on 30 Jan. The school I chose was Phoenix Truck School. They are based out of Phoenix, AZ, but have a school opening at Ft. Bliss, TX. I just exited the Army and want trucking to be my new career. I chose this school specifically because you get all your endorsements with your CDL. They just don't focus on your Class A. The school is about 8 weeks long. I do have pre hires with Werner and Schneider already. The ultimate goal is to be a driver for Walmart. I wanted to see if anyone has been to this school before in Phoenix, and is there anybody in the El Paso area that will be starting school there. We could link up and knock this out together if possible. Also wanted to get your opinions of OTR or regional with either of these companies. As far as miles, estimate pay, loading and unloading options. I prefer OTR because I know that's what I will need for being a driver for Wal-Mart. Thank you guys for all your help and opinions. I like to read people's reviews and thoughts. If you guys have any other recommendations as far as my schooling, training, companies feel free to type away. Can't wait to start learning from you guys and joining you on the roads of this country.
Welcome to the forum Kurtis. I like your "ultimate GOAL" (no pun intended). For starters these links might be of interest to you:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
Considering your long term goal, this might be interesting too: A Day in The Life of a Walmart Dedicated Driver
IMO the absolute best way to prepare yourself for becoming a driver for Walmart's Private Fleet (WMPF) is to join a company offering a Dedicated Walmart Assignment; delivering to their stores and SAMs Club. Focus on three plus years of top performance and safe driving on the account and I all but guarantee you will be noticed by Walmart and at some point asked to apply to WMPF. As a Dedicated driver to Walmart, other than SS# and home address, they are privy to performance and safety records of any driver on their account. That said, it's a ready-made resume with positive references. Once hired into WMPF, minimal learning curve.
A short list of companies servicing and supplementing the Walmart fleet as Dedicated Partners are Swift, Schneider, Shaffer-Crete, US Express, Werner...others but those are the big players in this space. Keep that in mind as you progress forward. Happy to help...good luck!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Pre Hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre Hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Welcome to the Forums. I am prior military as well. I also have the ultimate goal of getting on at WMPF. Best of luck to you in your endeavors.
G-Town. Thank you for the information. Really helped me out figuring out a plan. Patrick C. Thanks for the welcome good to know I have some brothers in arms out here driving for this country.
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Sun King yes it is the ultimate goal. I was going to look for a wal mart route and see if I can jump on that route. Yea you have to have at least 3 years OTR before you can apply to them. I think my biggest fear is being stuck on a dollar general account. I don't mind doing a little work but unloading a truck is not for me. I did that in the military and before the military and I want to get in this business to just drive the open road not be a lumper. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing because that's what some people want to do and that is great but for me I been there done that and I hated unloading trucks. I did it for fedex ground and it suck and I didn't stay with the company because of that. I want to do what I love the most which is drive.
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Sun King suggests:
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
Sun King I don't understand the 6 months point you made here. If Kurtis is working for a Dedicated Carrier partnering with Walmart, he is not considered a subcontractor. At my DC Walmart has hired many of our drivers right from the SWIFT ranks with no gap, went from SWIFT Dedicated at the DC to WMPF at the same DC in one day. Hazmat is desirable,...if you don't have it, they suggest and will help you get it. I have run Walmart store deliveries for over 4 years, 1400+ deliveries and never once needed my Hazmat endorsement.
Again, if he is serious about this, hiring on with a carrier that has a Dedicated Walmart contract is the absolute best way to go. Although overflow is a good introduction, a full-time track record of 3 or more consecutive years of 100% on-time, no accidents delivering to Walmart Stores and SAMs is what will get their attention and place him ahead of most applicants.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Sun King suggests:
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
Sun King I don't understand the 6 months point you made here. If Kurtis is working for a Dedicated Carrier partnering with Walmart, he is not considered a subcontractor. At my DC Walmart has hired many of our drivers right from the SWIFT ranks with no gap, went from SWIFT Dedicated at the DC to WMPF at the same DC in one day. Hazmat is desirable,...if you don't have it, they suggest and will help you get it. I have run Walmart store deliveries for over 4 years, 1400+ deliveries and never once needed my Hazmat endorsement.
Again, if he is serious about this, hiring on with a carrier that has a Dedicated Walmart contract is the absolute best way to go. Although overflow is a good introduction, a full-time track record of 3 or more consecutive years of 100% on-time, no accidents delivering to Walmart Stores and SAMs is what will get their attention and place him ahead of most applicants.
Correction, sorry meant 1400+ dispatched loads, and that is a conservative estimate.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
G Town thanks for clearing that up for me. I didn't understand the 6 months point either. I want a dedicated wal Mary account. That way I already have a connection with the D.C. And the stores. I don't want anything temporary. Got to be in it for the long run.
Sun King suggests:
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
Sun King I don't understand the 6 months point you made here. If Kurtis is working for a Dedicated Carrier partnering with Walmart, he is not considered a subcontractor. At my DC Walmart has hired many of our drivers right from the SWIFT ranks with no gap, went from SWIFT Dedicated at the DC to WMPF at the same DC in one day. Hazmat is desirable,...if you don't have it, they suggest and will help you get it. I have run Walmart store deliveries for over 4 years, 1400+ deliveries and never once needed my Hazmat endorsement.
Again, if he is serious about this, hiring on with a carrier that has a Dedicated Walmart contract is the absolute best way to go. Although overflow is a good introduction, a full-time track record of 3 or more consecutive years of 100% on-time, no accidents delivering to Walmart Stores and SAMs is what will get their attention and place him ahead of most applicants.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
G Town thanks for clearing that up for me. I didn't understand the 6 months point either. I want a dedicated wal Mary account. That way I already have a connection with the D.C. And the stores. I don't want anything temporary. Got to be in it for the long run.
Sun King suggests:
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
Sun King I don't understand the 6 months point you made here. If Kurtis is working for a Dedicated Carrier partnering with Walmart, he is not considered a subcontractor. At my DC Walmart has hired many of our drivers right from the SWIFT ranks with no gap, went from SWIFT Dedicated at the DC to WMPF at the same DC in one day. Hazmat is desirable,...if you don't have it, they suggest and will help you get it. I have run Walmart store deliveries for over 4 years, 1400+ deliveries and never once needed my Hazmat endorsement.
Again, if he is serious about this, hiring on with a carrier that has a Dedicated Walmart contract is the absolute best way to go. Although overflow is a good introduction, a full-time track record of 3 or more consecutive years of 100% on-time, no accidents delivering to Walmart Stores and SAMs is what will get their attention and place him ahead of most applicants.
Here is what I would do:...start putting in applications with Schneider, Swift, Shaffer-Crete, Werner and make it know you desire Walmart Dedicated. Schneider and Swift are the two biggest players in this partnership (at least on the east coast). We cross paths constantly at territory-border stores...
Check this link out for an explanation:
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
Just realize they might want you to have 3 months of accident free and 100% OT delivery before allowing you to transfer to a Walmart Dedicated assignment. It all depends on the company, DC policy and current demand. Follow-up on these pre-hires and let them know hat you want.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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Hey Guys. So I'll be starting CDL training on 30 Jan. The school I chose was Phoenix Truck School. They are based out of Phoenix, AZ, but have a school opening at Ft. Bliss, TX. I just exited the Army and want trucking to be my new career. I chose this school specifically because you get all your endorsements with your CDL. They just don't focus on your Class A. The school is about 8 weeks long. I do have pre hires with Werner and Schneider already. The ultimate goal is to be a driver for Walmart. I wanted to see if anyone has been to this school before in Phoenix, and is there anybody in the El Paso area that will be starting school there. We could link up and knock this out together if possible. Also wanted to get your opinions of OTR or regional with either of these companies. As far as miles, estimate pay, loading and unloading options. I prefer OTR because I know that's what I will need for being a driver for Wal-Mart. Thank you guys for all your help and opinions. I like to read people's reviews and thoughts. If you guys have any other recommendations as far as my schooling, training, companies feel free to type away. Can't wait to start learning from you guys and joining you on the roads of this country.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Pre Hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre Hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.