"Refresher" Course / "buying Seat Time" - Good Idea Or Silly?
Topic 26183 | Page 1
I wouldn't. So you are essentially asking other companies to give you seat time to prepare with a job for Schneider? Or did I completely misunderstand?
Forgive me. Not fully awake yet. Just call some schools and ask about refresher training.. I'd certainly think Schneider will put you through a refresher though.
I wouldn't. So you are essentially asking other companies to give you seat time to prepare with a job for Schneider? Or did I completely misunderstand?
Asking a private driving school...
Has Schneider even accepted you yet? Why waste your time on a refresher course before you even know where you'll be working? I'd wait until I had a definite pre-hire , and then I would ask that specific company what they will require.
I don't know Schneider's program, but perhaps they'll give you their own refresher course, or seat 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.
Forgive me. Not fully awake yet. Just call some schools and ask about refresher training.. I'd certainly think Schneider will put you through a refresher though.
Yes, they will. Just thought, maybe, it might be worth a few hundred dollars to not be both rusty and the noob that I am. (I figure the only thing worse than a noob is a rusty noob!)...
Has Schneider even accepted you yet? Why waste your time on a refresher course before you even know where you'll be working? I'd wait until I had a definite pre-hire , and then I would ask that specific company what they will require.
I don't know Schneider's program, but perhaps they'll give you their own refresher course, or seat time.
Thanks Turtle.
Schneider Recruiter said they will take me "whenever I am ready to start". (Training starts every Tuesday and they only schedule 3 weeks out, or less).
Plan is a couple days in class and on their yard, then local / regional deliveries (staying in the truck with my trainer) and me doing 80% or more of the driving.
After 3 weeks and successful upgrade testing I will return home for assignment to my own truck.
"Gig" is 37-States OTR , 2 weeks out at a time. "Drop lot" is about 30 min. from current residence, which I may give up soon...
Works for me!
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.
Sounds like a nice gig. Personally, I wouldn't sweat the refresher course then. It's kinda like riding a bike. Once you get it, you got it. But if it's something you want to do, there's nothing stopping you.
Just get going at Schneider. They are aware you don't know what you're doing. They've seen plenty of folks worse than you!
Seriously Marc - you don't need to waste your money right now. Schneider will get you up to speed.
Wait until you are at Schneider, go out with the trainer, and you should be okay.
Save that money.
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Sent this email to a local driving school. Wondering if this is a good idea or just plain silly...
Hi. I got my Class-A CDL in December 2018. I trained with JB Hunt for 3 weeks in January and February 2019 and have been out due to a minor injury and unrelated surgery.
I have a new Federal Medical Certificate and am planning on starting with Schneider in a few weeks.
Just looking to "get some seat time" if possible. Could be the refresher course or literally "buying some time" in a rig.
Please advise options and costs.
Thanks!
(I think their "40-hour Refresher Course" is $600. Hoping to get some seat time for less).
Thoughts???
Thanks!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: