Welcome aboard Tim!
If you haven't gone through it already, have a good run through our Trucker's Career Guide. It covers about every topic imaginable that pertains to getting your trucking career underway, including how to choose a school and how to pick a trucking company to work for. It will also take you throughout our site so you'll see all of the various things we have to help you get your career underway.
That being said, in our career guide you'll find a link to a group of articles on How To Choose A Truck Driving School. Have a look through those - that will help a lot.
If you're planning on going to a Private Truck Driving School we have a list of truck driving schools in Tennessee. That will give you an idea of what's in the area.
Have you decided whether you're going to go to a private school or a Company-Sponsored Training Program?
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Welcome aboard Tim!
If you haven't gone through it already, have a good run through our Trucker's Career Guide. It covers about every topic imaginable that pertains to getting your trucking career underway, including how to choose a school and how to pick a trucking company to work for. It will also take you throughout our site so you'll see all of the various things we have to help you get your career underway.
That being said, in our career guide you'll find a link to a group of articles on How To Choose A Truck Driving School. Have a look through those - that will help a lot.
If you're planning on going to a Private Truck Driving School we have a list of truck driving schools in Tennessee. That will give you an idea of what's in the area.
Have you decided whether you're going to go to a private school or a Company-Sponsored Training Program?
i know my school sucks big time! the instructors yell at you from in front of the truck! i am nervous i might run them over! then they call you names what are we in grammar school?! i think if you go to a school to check it out, go to the backing pad, or on a ride alone and see how the instructors treat the other drivers then ask yourself do you want to be treated like that? stupid i think what are your opinions i learned str8 back with a guy actually yelling at me my nerves are shot! my stomach hurts from all the stress i have diarrhea now due to it later on today i will walk into the office of the director and talk it out i want to be excused from have one instructor and if not i will find another school! this instructor actually says out loud , you just killed a kid if you hit a cone! really guy, it's a cone ok, it's a line drawn on the street not a truck, not a wall, not an old lady crossing the street! we are not going down a ice road with dynamite downhill on some mountain in the middle of nowhere usa! there has got to be a better way to teach a person!?
let me know what you guys think!
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Wow...I know there are different teaching styles...but that kind of crap is both unprofessional, and un called for. pm me the school you are in...curiosity has got the best of me on this one... I hope that the director can fix the issue...I guess you never know unless you go talk to him. Is this a school that excepts funds from places like the VA, or WIA to pay for CDL training ???
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Wow...I know there are different teaching styles...but that kind of crap is both unprofessional, and un called for. pm me the school you are in...curiosity has got the best of me on this one... I hope that the director can fix the issue...I guess you never know unless you go talk to him. Is this a school that excepts funds from places like the VA, or WIA to pay for CDL training ???
yes va and all the rest! i talked to the director, the director talked to the manager of the instructors, and assigned a new instructor, but the damage is done! it's like i spent two weeks in hell!
i am not a quitter anymore!
i am gonna fight for this!
tooth and nail!
if i gotta bite ...then so be it! i am not giving up here, ok i may have been through two weeks in hell, but i'll tell you what, winston churchill said
when you are going through hell
keep going!
the dude was awesome!
new instructor does tell me things like, you just killed a baby if you even get near a clone! but i can deal with him , because i know he cares for my education
hmmm i don't understand it? why would anybody say things like that!
it's not a baby! it's a cone!
it's not a person
it's a white line painted on a backing pad what the freak!
two weeks wasted but at least i stood up for myself!
today God willing i take my pti,backing test and coupling and uncoupling!
3 tests!
God is good!
maybe after i graduate i will teach my new instructor what i really feel about his teaching style! the old grumpy one was a trip, but i didn't see him today! hmmm i wonder why! maybe another student also complained! because the director told me, someone was sending emails to corporate about the same instructor and about smokers being near him! the director thought it was me! i told the director i am the type of guy, that i will try to be civil and talk with you and try to reason with you , and if that doesn't work......what did teddy roosevelt say, speak softly and carry a big stick! lol
well it's 5am time to make the donuts! big day for me! at 56
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
At 56 i have taken many sales courses and have worked mostly in sales and driving a cab, so i know how to talk to people and how to get people to do what i want them to do! everything from drunks throwing up in the backseat to stick up boys! to talking to people about life insurance products. but where do they get these guys! the tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife! hopefully the rest of my time there will be smooth! well it can't get any worse eh? i was having dreams that i was crashing trucks into babies in strollers! had the runs for two days! i even manifested with a sock puppet that made us all laugh and even the other teachers got a kick out of! at 56 i want this to be my last job! this school pushes you to get pre-hire!? for me, a pre-hire is like being pre pregnant, it means nothing to me! perhaps when i graduate then it might mean something, but really, i drive a lot more hours than truckers do, this will be like a part time job for me! ;)
the school may want me to waste my time filling out garbage, but a pre hire means nothing to me! if the job is available fine, if not, i can wait! and i want to team, otr , and i have a great driving record, no way a company is going to let me go! i'm looking for my last job! not just 1 or 2 years!
stevens guy came to school
first thing i asked him was, i wanna team, but i need sunday morning off to attend church. he says he can't guarantee that, that man i can respect! even though stevens is in dallas they will be considered for sure!
Bill of Lading
An accurate record of everything being shipped on a truck, often times used as a checklist during unloading.
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 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.
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-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.
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.
Operating While Intoxicated
OK...I gotta ask...do you REALLY need Sunday off for church ?? Don't get me wrong...I go to church, but I think you have a misconception goin' on.... I think the teaching style at that school sucks the big one...but..just ignore it...its sick, and disgusting...but it doesn't have to affect you. And the next time you get close to a cone...hollar out " I just ran over the diaper bag !!!!"
PRE HIRES are very important !!! They let you know ahead of time who IS interested in you....and you don't have to call them if you don't like them...but it widens your possibilities...just like filling out the multi record application on this site, that sends your application to a ton of companies...it lets you throw a bigger net, to scoop up that one job you want.....
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.
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-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.
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.
OK...I gotta ask...do you REALLY need Sunday off for church ?? Don't get me wrong...I go to church, but I think you have a misconception goin' on.... I think the teaching style at that school sucks the big one...but..just ignore it...its sick, and disgusting...but it doesn't have to affect you. And the next time you get close to a cone...hollar out " I just ran over the diaper bag !!!!"
PRE HIRES are very important !!! They let you know ahead of time who IS interested in you....and you don't have to call them if you don't like them...but it widens your possibilities...just like filling out the multi record application on this site, that sends your application to a ton of companies...it lets you throw a bigger net, to scoop up that one job you want.....
OK...I gotta ask...do you REALLY need Sunday off for church ??
+++hmm i think it's ok to have a routine in this area, i am available for them 6 days a week, i am willing to work for them 70 hours a week, i know myself at 56 sir, i need to go to a church and leave some dna on the carpet and let it all hang out! i need to reset, i need to get my pentecostal , rolling in pews praise on every sunday, i have driven a cab in new york city night and day, crack heads and pimps and the whole mess, yes i need sunday morning! if i get a christian team member who understnad the concept we will be just fine! we will make money like we deserve to be paid, and since we both are ready to see Jesus at any moment , we will go anywhere at anytime under any comditions! and tampa florida cab driving is even crazier! most cabbies here need guns in the cab! this is like the freaking wild west here at night! i don't think 2 hours on sunday is a lot to ask for! but i do respect the guy from stevens being so honest, i might still go with them because of the honesty! just like a computer needs to be rebooted every now and then i need 2 hours every sunday, that i can reboot my soul! and this job is going to be even more of a trip because here i am with up 40 tons and people just love to cut trucks off, heck i used to love to cut off trucks! till i now see what this job is all about! now i go way ahead and get their lanes! but i respect truck drivers now! big time! i have gotten robbed at gun point here in tampa florida! a cable box needs to be disconnected and then reconnected and this way it resets, i need that 120 minutes! that isn't too much to ask i think! seeing they are getting a great driver with a clean driving record! no trouble with the law since 1983!
Don't get me wrong...I go to church, but I think you have a misconception goin' on.
+++what is my misconception?
... I think the teaching style at that school sucks the big one...but..just ignore it...its sick, and disgusting...but it doesn't have to affect you. And the next time you get close to a cone...hollar out " I just ran over the diaper bag !!!!"
+++lol good one!
PRE HIRES are very important !!! They let you know ahead of time who IS interested in you....and you don't have to call them if you don't like them...but it widens your possibilities...just like filling out the multi record application on this site, that sends your application to a ton of companies...it lets you throw a bigger net, to scoop up that one job you want.....
ok i think you are right, i will fill out the multi record applications, maybe you are right here!
but it's going to be hard for the other companies to beat werner and stevens i think, but lets see! i did like the stevens guy talking about unloading trucks and making even more money! or negotiating a low price from the unloaders, getting someone to unload the truck and stay with the difference! like my kids say "that is sick!" and they also pay you $50 to visit a school?! pay advance, big full size bed! hmmm honesty too?! wow
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.
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-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.
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.
Victor, I'm going to be honest with you - as I always am with everyone whether it's good or bad. You have extremely strong opinions about pretty much everything and it seems to be fitting a very common pattern. Everything that everyone else thinks, says, or does is stupid or wrong unless they agree with you or it makes sense to you.
Trucking schools, instructors, orange cones, pre-hires , trucking companies, company policies, Federal Laws - pretty much everything and everyone has been blasted by your opinions. And hey - you totally have that right. But unfortunately it's going to get your *ss booted out of the trucking industry in about 10 minutes.
You keep talking about your age and experience. Well then you should know very well that you can't go into something brand new with both guns blazing and think you're going to tell everyone how things are going to be done. Quite honestly, like rookies in any other field, nobody really cares what a rookie truck driver thinks about much of anything. Until you've put in your time and you've proven your value as a driver, nobody in charge of trucking schools, trucking companies, or law enforcement really wants to hear much of anything about anything from you. Prove what you can do and then consider sharing your opinions on how companies that have been around for 50 years are doing things.
And I'm not saying don't share your opinions with us. By all means do! That way we can discuss things. But when it comes to dealing with schools and companies, you have to understand that trucking attracts a lot of very loud, opinionated people, stubborn people. It's the nature of the job. And as a rookie nobody is going to stand for it very long. Company-sponsored programs send home nearly 3/4 of all the people they bring in and a lot of the time it's because of attitude & personality, not their driving skills.
My suggestion is to keep things on the down-low for a while. Just relax, go with the flow, listen & learn. Once you've been out there for a while a lot of laws and policies will make a lot more sense. In the beginning a lot of it won't. That's par for the course.
But I can assure you - the experienced drivers here like myself are already worried about your approach. We've seen this kind of thing a million times and we'd love to see you be successful out there. That's why we're here. And that's why I'm telling you to relax and roll with things for a while. Otherwise, like countless people that tried that approach before you, it's going to end badly.
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.
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-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.
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.
Victor, I'm going to be honest with you - as I always am with everyone whether it's good or bad. You have extremely strong opinions about pretty much everything and it seems to be fitting a very common pattern. Everything that everyone else thinks, says, or does is stupid or wrong unless they agree with you or it makes sense to you.
Trucking schools, instructors, orange cones, pre-hires , trucking companies, company policies, Federal Laws - pretty much everything and everyone has been blasted by your opinions. And hey - you totally have that right. But unfortunately it's going to get your *ss booted out of the trucking industry in about 10 minutes.
You keep talking about your age and experience. Well then you should know very well that you can't go into something brand new with both guns blazing and think you're going to tell everyone how things are going to be done. Quite honestly, like rookies in any other field, nobody really cares what a rookie truck driver thinks about much of anything. Until you've put in your time and you've proven your value as a driver, nobody in charge of trucking schools, trucking companies, or law enforcement really wants to hear much of anything about anything from you. Prove what you can do and then consider sharing your opinions on how companies that have been around for 50 years are doing things.
And I'm not saying don't share your opinions with us. By all means do! That way we can discuss things. But when it comes to dealing with schools and companies, you have to understand that trucking attracts a lot of very loud, opinionated people, stubborn people. It's the nature of the job. And as a rookie nobody is going to stand for it very long. Company-sponsored programs send home nearly 3/4 of all the people they bring in and a lot of the time it's because of attitude & personality, not their driving skills.
My suggestion is to keep things on the down-low for a while. Just relax, go with the flow, listen & learn. Once you've been out there for a while a lot of laws and policies will make a lot more sense. In the beginning a lot of it won't. That's par for the course.
But I can assure you - the experienced drivers here like myself are already worried about your approach. We've seen this kind of thing a million times and we'd love to see you be successful out there. That's why we're here. And that's why I'm telling you to relax and roll with things for a while. Otherwise, like countless people that tried that approach before you, it's going to end badly.
hmm let me think about this!
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.
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-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.
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.
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