Following This Forum For A Little While...now I Have Joined The Conversation! Hoping To Start With Knight Or Wilson... Thoughts?

I'm just about finished with the training process at Wilson. As Pianoman says, what you want to run might influence your decision. Wilson at this point is pretty much all OTR reefer. Another difference is that I believe Wilson's training program is a bit longer (30,000 training miles, among other phases). I *believe* Knight's process is shorter. So you might want to think about that: maybe you want the longer training process, maybe you don't.

But as others have said, what you bring *to* the training and the job is crucial... and it will indeed test you.

Best of luck to you!

Knight, at least for dry van , ports and refer, both regional and OTR is two weeks with a trainer and one week Top Gun program, then 30,000 solo miles under a training DM. Or 4 weeks with a trainer then 30,000 solo miles under a training DM. So I think in that aspect it was shorter as the 30k miles for me was just basically solo with a bit of help from my DM now and then.

Also, most knight trainees I've talked to had a road test and backing test at the end of their training before the squire miles. I didn't but it was explained to me that my trainer basically tested me as I went along.

Davy,

I think that you are a good, strong spirit. I have read your journey, and have even referred back to it to gain insight on some of the experiences you have gone through specifically with Knight. I think that you and your journey have been an inspiration to some of us out here considering this as a career. If I might ask you a few questions?

Overall, would you recommend the Top Gun training? The program was mentioned in my discussions with the recruiter. Did it help you when you went out there solo? Do you like the vibes of the company ? Do you like your rig? Would you recommend a flatbed career for a lady truck driver? I understand there is some lifting and tying loads down?

Thank you so much and I really appreciate your input.

Knight/ swift has an amazing network of terminals, you can roll into a lot of major cities any time of day and have parking, a blessing in denver puyallup, indiana etc., also no forced dispatch will keep you outta new england :)

Awesome information!

I'm just about finished with the training process at Wilson. As Pianoman says, what you want to run might influence your decision. Wilson at this point is pretty much all OTR reefer. Another difference is that I believe Wilson's training program is a bit longer (30,000 training miles, among other phases). I *believe* Knight's process is shorter. So you might want to think about that: maybe you want the longer training process, maybe you don't.

But as others have said, what you bring *to* the training and the job is crucial... and it will indeed test you.

Best of luck to you!

Knight, at least for dry van , ports and refer, both regional and OTR is two weeks with a trainer and one week Top Gun program, then 30,000 solo miles under a training DM. Or 4 weeks with a trainer then 30,000 solo miles under a training DM. So I think in that aspect it was shorter as the 30k miles for me was just basically solo with a bit of help from my DM now and then.

Also, most knight trainees I've talked to had a road test and backing test at the end of their training before the squire miles. I didn't but it was explained to me that my trainer basically tested me as I went along.

Davy,

I think that you are a good, strong spirit. I have read your journey, and have even referred back to it to gain insight on some of the experiences you have gone through specifically with Knight. I think that you and your journey have been an inspiration to some of us out here considering this as a career. If I might ask you a few questions?

Overall, would you recommend the Top Gun training? The program was mentioned in my discussions with the recruiter. Did it help you when you went out there solo? Do you like the vibes of the company ? Do you like your rig? Would you recommend a flatbed career for a lady truck driver? I understand there is some lifting and tying loads down?

Thank you so much and I really appreciate your input.

I'd absolutely recommend top gun. I detailed the program in my diary on here. It gives us the benefits of learning real world backing and close quarters driving in a safe controlled environment, prepares us for training and gives us a good measure of the size of our rigs. I learned a tremendous amount. Candidates who graduated from Top Gun have a 63 percent lowered accident/incident rate.

As far as flatbed, I don't have any experience in it, I'm dry van. Old School does flatbed for Knight, piano man is training his gal on flatbed now, two sides does flatbed, Brody, and numerous others.

I chose to go Dry van first for tactical reasons. I wanted to gradually progress from simple to complex rather than contend with learning additional concepts in the beginning. As far as I understand, there are different mechanics with how the trailers back, and obviously tarping and securing loads. I had my hands full just learning how to operate the truck.