Suggestions And Advice Welcome

Evening everyone, newbie here. After earning my Bachelor's, for the last 15 years I have worked as a regional salesman in various industries, both as an employee and business owner. Over the last 6-8 years, I have become more and more disenfranchised with the profession as a whole. I just don't enjoy it like I used to. I have always enjoyed being behind the wheel (typically 30k-40k miles/year for work) and have often thought about switching to driving. I just recently was let go from my job and have finally had it with the prospect of having to search for the next "sales" job that provides terrible training and not many prospects as far as a career. My wife and I talked about me getting my CDL a few years and she has now given me her blessing now that the kids are a little bit older. I am leaning towards attending school at the Trainco in Perrysburg. I live about an hour from there and can take night classes making it easier to help getting the kids to and from school. I do have a few questions though.

Will Trainco prepare me for the road test and for an entry level position?

The more I've thought about it, I would like to look at starting in food grade tankers. I live in northern Ohio near the Indiana border. I am near the following metro areas: Fort Wayne - 1 hr Toledo - 1 hr Lima - 1 hr Findlay - 1.5 hr Dayton - 2.5 hr Any suggestions on which outfits to look at?

Any other suggestions and advice are always welcome.

Thanks everyone.

Entry level food grade tankers. Only one company comes to mind. Prime, Inc. most any other Tanker requires at least a year experience. Schneider has entry level Tanker positions, but not food grade that I am of aware of.

Welcome Ben. Best place to start is with these three links:

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

Setting realistic expectations is perhaps the most important thing you can do right now. The first two links are a primer of sorts to set you up to succeed in this business. The third link is Trucking Truth's computer based training called The High Road. It's designed to take the guess work out of passing the permit exams and addresses other elements of trucking.

Your desire to drive FG Tankers, we suggest entry level drivers seriously consider and understand the additional challenges of managing the surge that occurs operating a smooth bore tanker. It can be done, but it's a tougher road and typically better suited for a more experienced hand.

Trainco like any of the schools either private or Paid CDL Training Programs teach only the basics required to pass the CDL A tests. Not much more than that. The company you choose as your first employer will road train you for several weeks, up to a couple of months. At that point you really learn how to operate and perform the duties of a truck driver.

Good luck!

I pulled a food grade tanker for a year one time and I loved it. Great job. It's quite interesting.

But please don't even consider doing that straight out of school, even if you find a company crazy enough to let you. You really need some experience first pulling a box, or even with a flatbed (which also makes me a bit nervous for rookies). But the surge in those tanks can be violent, and learning how to shift, brake, and corner with 50,000 pounds of sloshing liquid behind you is a nightmare.

I would plan on getting at least 6 - 12 months of experience in a box or with a flatbed and then look at food grade tanker. Those tanks are just extremely difficult and dangerous to handle.

My recommendation is going company sponsored with a company that has different divisions. I keep reading about students who paid for CDL school but then couldn't get hire due to past issues (driving record, background etc) that the school didn't tell them would be a problem. IMO its better to be told upfront that you are disqualified rather than putting out thousands of dollars for nothing. However, if you dongo to oriavte school, you might find a company that dies tuition reimbursement.

Prime was mentioned above. I drice reefer for lPrimw, but if I wanted to switch to tanker it would be no orobelm at all. The training period here is long, but no matter how long, new drivers are always nervous to go solo. So as suggested by Brett, if you drive reefer or flatbed for a bit, you could switch to tanker.

Plus, driving different divions makes you more marketable for future jobs.

Good luck.

I drice reefer for lPrimw, but if I wanted to switch to tanker it would be no orobelm at all.

Holy cow, Rainy. Did you wake up and put your hands on backwards this morning? Wow! I don't mind making a correction or two once in a while, but geesh!

Hahah sorry Brett n thanks. Just woke up...guess I shouldn't drive for an hour or so huh?

Hahha

Hahah sorry Brett n thanks. Just woke up...guess I shouldn't drive for an hour or so huh?

Hahha

Yeah, maybe a cup of coffee and short stroll might not be a bad idea.

Ben I am a former tanker driver. I enjoyed it and got a better deal lical or I would still be doing it. Tanks are so different and a challenge. Please do yourself a favor and get some experience with a box van first. As far as foodgrade goes Prime, Oakley, and Indian river are your biggies. I had some food grade stuff but was generally hazmat chemicals. Heniff is big in your area for general chemicals.

I drice reefer for lPrimw, but if I wanted to switch to tanker it would be no orobelm at all.

Holy cow, Rainy. Did you wake up and put your hands on backwards this morning? Wow! I don't mind making a correction or two once in a while, but geesh!

See......Now even the BOSS MAN is making fun of you!!!!