Silly Question - Where Would I Pick Up My Truck - At A Terminal?

Yay go Werner I just joined here and love it, my trainer tested me out at in Laredo texas and they sent me to chaninahan Illinois to pick up my truck by rental car, they reimbursed any hotels and fuel I needed, so far I love here, couldn't be happier look forward to seeing you on the road Elizabeth m.

Rainy D & G-Town - I'm still looking for an office job (called NYC agencies yesterday), but am in the process of moving out of my apartment in order to move in with a friend. The thought crossed my mind that I might have to move again if I go into trucking.

The State of NJ will subsidize cdl and forklift training by Winsor and I applied while at the seminar. I still haven't been contacted and not everyone will. Legally, I still must look for a job in order to qualify for unemployment benefits. If I am not chosen, I could apply for a training subsidy via WIOA (Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act). I would prefer to train via a private school because they will stick with me until I pass my cdl tests and there is lifetime job placement.

I attended a seminar with Smith & Solomon last winter, so I am looking around. I also talked to a friend of a friend who drives a school bus and whose parents own a bus company about earning a cdl. I will speak to her again for more tips. Our mutual friend stressed that the money is in gaining experience and then becoming a trainer.

I would need a big parking area to park a tractor.

I may end up working in an office, after all. Perhaps a trucking company. They need office personnel, too.

Thanks so much for your assistance.

John M - Wow. I just assumed that Werner would train me at the nearest terminal. Thank you.

Who knows what's going to happen. Maybe an asteroid will hit the Earth and finding a job will be a moot point because the world will come to an end.

Again, thanks.

Elizabeth you might want to read the link Rainy initially sent you...here it is again

Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving

and also this one...

Truck Driver's Career Guide

These two informational pieces help establish foundational knowledge and set realistic expectations. Although you are just kicking the tires so to speak, I believe this will help you if and when you move forward. Good luck.

I think you misunderstand "training". It is not done in one place in a school. For example, at Prime you go a week for orientation, then go out on the road one on one with a trainer and are in the lifestyle of 24/7 trucking almost immediately. So even of a terminal was across the street, you would be driving to CA and FL.after two weeks or so and driving 5000+ miles, you take the CDL exam. Most people pass. The day you pass is the day you start getting paid from.

As far as parking a truck for home time, you can park it at a local truck stop or even get permission from a store or shopping mall.

G-Town & Rainy D -

Thanks so much for clarifying the issue.

I figured that if I was hired by Werner, as an example, I would go to Allentown for classroom work first and then go for over-the-road training from there.

I also wondered about parking a truck at a local mall. No truck stops around here in Essex County. I did notice a tractor-trailer often parked at the far end of a mall parking lot in beautiful West Orange, NJ. Maybe the trucker lives nearby and has permission to park it there. The mall isn't so popular that the parking lot fills out completely and a bus drops off many shoppers.

Thanks again.

When i first started with Werner, I was in Allentown for about a week. The first two days were orientation and the rest was just waiting for a trainer. Im pretty sure i was the last one from my class to get a trainer. I was with my trainer for six weeks. I was issued my truck from the Omaha terminal.

Shawn - I can see that you are in Massachusetts and the Allentown terminal is the closest to you, as well. Hmm. A truck from Omaha. Thanks for relating your experience.

Hello, welcome, and I may be able to give some clarification... I work for Werner, and if you get hired with Werner, and most companies from what I've gathered, you will more than likely attend orientation at the terminal closest to your "home" address, so in your case Allentown. Once orientation is done, you would go out with a trainer for about 275 hours, and when you upgrade to solo, you would be routed to the closest terminal to be tested out (if needed) or assigned a truck and FM/DM.... then once you get your truck, its off to the races, and when you get your home time, you can bring the truck home (nearest truck stop, unless you have enough space to park the truck and trailer).... and depending on your next load/amount of time your taking at home, you may need to drop the trailer at a drop yard, terminal, or a customer that may need it... your FM/DM will let you know....

And ChefsJK is correct, we do have a dropyard in Fairless Hills, PA.... I haven't been there yet, but I haven't been to Allentown since they stopped using the dropyard in Bath, PA....

And one more thing, I am from CT, and my orientaton was at the Indy terminal for various reasons, and it was my "Home Terminal" for a while. I finished up with my trainer on a dedicated account in Lake Park, GA, and was upgraded at the Lakeland, FL terminal.... Then about 6 months later, that truck was sold, and my FM had to route me to Springfield, OH terminal for a brand new truck... Basically, you will be assigned your truck from whatever terminal is either closest or where they have a truck available....

And welcome to Werner....