Start CDL School Monday!

But, isnt researching companies for a wannabe also important? Isnt trying not to make a mistake the first time out important too, so you dont have to constantly switch comapnies?

Well I guess I wouldn't have about 100 pages of information on various trucking companies and company-sponsored programs, a list of articles tagged "how to choose a truck driving school", and an 8-part series I wrote myself on "How to choose a trucking company" if researching schools and companies wasn't important now would I?

But you have to understand what's important when choosing a company, and what isn't. And you also have to understand that 95% of your success and happiness out there has absolutely nothing to do with the company you work for. It has to do with your knowledge, your work ethic, your attitude, and your decision making. There isn't nearly the difference between companies that newbies think there is. They think their career rests on picking the right company and that couldn't be further from the truth.

I'm giving Jason a hard time because I've been telling to him to stop obsessing over every tiny detail about every company in the nation and start learning the materials he's going to need to know. Instead he spent all his time obsessing over choosing a company, didn't learn the materials, didn't wind up settling on a company anyhow, and now he's in school and he doesn't know where he wants to work and doesn't know crap when it comes to the CDL manual either. Now that's going to serve him really well when they put him behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound rig surrounded by minivans full of children, isn't it?

There are many ways to accomplish the goal, as you know, and your way, however extremely helpful it is, and has been, is just one way

So what are you saying? I should just shut up and let people do what they want whether I think it's going to help them or not? By all means if you know a better way of preparing people for the start of their careers I'm all ears. I'd love to hear it.

G Man, everybody here wants you to succeed at this, and nobody's dead set on you doing it their way, but if you want to succeed you're going to have to humble yourself just a little and realize you know absolutely nothing about breaking into this industry. We understand that is why you're doing all the research your doing, and really we're proud of you for working so hard at it. But, did you ever hear that old song that had the chorus that said "Looking for love in all the wrong places"? That is how your conducting your research. We know the way to get you there so that you can stay there for the long haul. And frankly, I think you took the wrong exit already. You are certainly free to disagree with us and follow your own path, many have done it before you, but most of them are not enjoying their careers, and are constantly crossing the fence for what appears to be greener grass only to realize that grass is just grass no matter which pasture you're in.

Please take my advice and just stop and think; there's a group of people here that don't even know you, and most likely will never even meet you, yet they are trying to help you. They're doing it simply so that you won't have to struggle your way through the same difficult surprises that they did. They've been there, and done that, as they say. Most folks that go into this are brutally awakened at some point that they were focusing on all the wrong things, and once they are dead broke and heading home after paying for their own bus fare, they're wishing to God that they had never even started this miserable journey. The whole purpose for this web site, and Brett's willingness to keep it up, is to spare new beginners just like you from a heart breaking experience in an industry that is so vastly misunderstood.

We wish you the best, but wish you'd listen to some really helpful veteran advice.

Old, I am humble, I KNOW that I dont know ANYTHING about this industry!!! That is why I am on this excellent site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, tell me: What is the really helpful veteran advice I need, should, want to listen to? I thought I was listening to it. Did I miss something, everything? What am I doing wrong? Be specific. I am OPEN to learning from others that have gone before me. I understand the definition of stupidity, and I dont consider myself stupid. Thanks. G MAN

So what are you saying? I should just shut up and let people do what they want whether I think it's going to help them or not? By all means if you know a better way of preparing people for the start of their careers I'm all ears. I'd love to hear it.

Brett, by no means am I saying that. I am and have never implied that. YOU are the EXPERT, I am just a humble student learning at the foot of the MASTER. I have READ EVERYTHING on your site. I HAVE studied once through completely your HIGHROAD, reset my scores, and am working through it AGAIN. I study from other sources as well. I HAVE personally visited schools, I have personally talked with drivers at truck stops. I HAVE done what I learned (or thought I learned) from your site. I am not stupid. WHAT AM I MISSING???????????????????????????????????????????

G Man, I realized after I posted those comments that I was thinking of Jason, but I scrolled up and saw your name and put it in my post. Sorry, but I was surprised by your comment about Brett's method.

WHAT AM I MISSING?

I'm not aware of anything you're missing. I'm only responding to you because after I gave Jason a hard time about not studying the training materials you told me "your way, however extremely helpful it is, and has been, is just one way". So it seems you're telling me to leave people alone and let them do things the way they want to do them and stop forcing my way of doing things on people I guess. I don't know how else that could be interpreted.

WHAT AM I MISSING?

I'm not aware of anything you're missing. I'm only responding to you because after I gave Jason a hard time about not studying the training materials you told me "your way, however extremely helpful it is, and has been, is just one way". So it seems you're telling me to leave people alone and let them do things the way they want to do them and stop forcing my way of doing things on people I guess. I don't know how else that could be interpreted.

Brett, I am not telling you anything, I just want to learn, learn from more experienced people, and have a great start and a great career. I appreciate you, your site, and all the helpful info here. What should I be doing NOW?

I'd say just keep doing what you're doing. You've worked through The High Road Training Program once already and you're working through it again so that's awesome.

You've researched companies and researched schools so that's awesome.

I'm not sure where you stand on pre-hires but if you have less than 3 or 4 I'd maybe land a few more just so you have as many options open as possible. And it's good to talk to different recruiters from different companies, even companies you may not think you're interested in, because every recruiter is trained to sell you on their company's best features. So you might think you've found the perfect company and then suddenly a recruiter from another company mentions a benefit or perk that they offer that you hadn't even thought of and suddenly you have a whole new agenda.

For instance, Crete Carrier is the only company I've ever heard of that offers their drivers (or used to offer - I'm not sure if they still do) a choice of loads if there are several available when they're ready for the next load. I would have killed to have that at the companies I worked for. I had been driving for years already before I spoke with a Crete driver and found that out. I had never heard of any other company that did that. So you never know what's really out there until you talk around a bit.

Well, day 4 down. 100 on all three final tests. Just gotta wait till Monday to take my permit test because the dmv dont test on Friday here.. I feel like I've stirred up some dust on this post lol. Ill update more tommorrow on my computer, hate writing a long one on my phone, touchy on here.

Personally, I think a lot of the mistakes we noobs are making, and , yes, I included myself in that description, is that we are thinking that the first job we land is going to be the one we retire from and nothing could be further from the truth. We can't see the forest from the trees. I am having a lot of trouble getting companies to even talk to me. Not because I have DUI's or felonies, or accidents he'll I'm a retired cop. It's because I have lived abroad for a number of years and companies aren't willing to do the work to verify my work history. So you know what? I'm doing the legwork. I'm getting the paperwork and the affidavits and all the BS that they need. So far the only company that has given me the time of day has been Swift. So guess what? I'm going with Swift. I'm gonna go to their company school in Texas. I'm gonna bust my ass and I WILL finish at the top of my class. After that I'm gonna bust my ass even harder to put my training in with my mentor and pester him so much he tells me to stop asking questions. Once I've done that I'm gonna go OTR and work even harder to put in a year with no accidents, and make it my goal to get every load delivered ON TIME. Then and ONLY THEN will I start to give a rats about thinking about whether or not I should look for a better company. If one even IS BETTER. I'm a firm believer in loyalty. That being said, I think the best advice we can take from the veterans here is stop sweating the small stuff. You don't like the company you start out with?? Too bad, suck it up for a year and the worlds your oyster. Right now, however, the most important thing is getting in School, getting through your training and getting your CDL and getting on with your job. Like these guys here keep saying. This job is 95% attitude and 5% physical.

Also got a pre-hire letter from TMC today after filling out my application yesterday. Things are moving along smoothley, but hell, i just started. But hey, forward is better than backwards.