Choosing That First Employer

Wow you only have to haul one load for them and they pay everything up front for you after that? Almost sounds to good to be true. It's hard to believe that a company will not require something more than just one load that has to be hualed. What's to stop people from hauling that one load and leaving with a free CDL? Not sure if you heard everything completely right or maybe the recruiter forgot to mention something.

Wow you only have to haul one load for them and they pay everything up front for you after that? Almost sounds to good to be true. It's hard to believe that a company will not require something more than just one load that has to be hualed. What's to stop people from hauling that one load and leaving with a free CDL? Not sure if you heard everything completely right or maybe the recruiter forgot to mention something.

I have it in writing. I almost didn't believe it when I read it. So I asked the recruiter. That's the deal. As long as I graduate, get through the orientation program, and haul one load for them, Con-Way pays the second half of the $4400. After going over their offer, I simply couldn't pass it up. I feel blessed to have even been able to get into the program so quickly. Of course, I still need to pass the background check, but I literally explained every arrest and the disposition of every case I've ever had against me. I had three of them, all between the ages of 19 and 24. Other than the first one, which was a misdemeanor possession charge that I got a ticket for in California, they all ended in deferrals. She said none of it would hurt me and she could see no reason why they'd reject me. I also didn't have three years employment to give them because I was in school full time from '09-'12 and she said they count time in school the same way they would as if you were working. Below is what I copied and pasted from what she sent me.

4) How long is my contract with Con-way Truckload? There is no contract to sign with Con-way Truckload. You have to pull a load to fulfill our agreement. We feel our student program is one of the best and you will be happy to stay with the company longer than one load.

Wow you only have to haul one load for them and they pay everything up front for you after that? Almost sounds to good to be true. It's hard to believe that a company will not require something more than just one load that has to be hualed. What's to stop people from hauling that one load and leaving with a free CDL? Not sure if you heard everything completely right or maybe the recruiter forgot to mention something.

I have it in writing. I almost didn't believe it when I read it. So I asked the recruiter. That's the deal. As long as I graduate, get through the orientation program, and haul one load for them, Con-Way pays the second half of the $4400. After going over their offer, I simply couldn't pass it up. I feel blessed to have even been able to get into the program so quickly. Of course, I still need to pass the background check, but I literally explained every arrest and the disposition of every case I've ever had against me. I had three of them, all between the ages of 19 and 24. Other than the first one, which was a misdemeanor possession charge that I got a ticket for in California, they all ended in deferrals. She said none of it would hurt me and she could see no reason why they'd reject me. I also didn't have three years employment to give them because I was in school full time from '09-'12 and she said they count time in school the same way they would as if you were working. Below is what I copied and pasted from what she sent me.

4) How long is my contract with Con-way Truckload? There is no contract to sign with Con-way Truckload. You have to pull a load to fulfill our agreement. We feel our student program is one of the best and you will be happy to stay with the company longer than one load.

Interesting. I thought about going to Conway as I feel they are a very good company and well respected but I don't want to get my Haz Mat endorsement. Funny thing is I do Conway, FedEx and UPS loads all the time that have Haz Mat on them but are less than the limit so they don't require placards.

I also pull alot of Bass Pro Shop loads and you would be surprised at the amount of black powder for guns I haul and the amazing amount of ammo I haul but they have it down to a science on how to stay under the Placard limit so no haz mat endorsement is needed.

Really see no needed for a Haz mat endorsment. Never lost a load because of it. Only problem I have ever had because I did not have haz mat was when I tried to apply at Schneider and was told the only reason they wanted it is because their customers felt that if the drivers went through the haz mat background check then they were 100% checked out to to haul their loads and can be trusted....... That was a line of BS because I have my TWIC card which is the EXACT same background check but Schneider said it was not good enough. I called BS on that and hung up. How long when dealing with people does it take to learn that you can not BS a BS'er?

More likely they did not want to pay the money that according to their website per job/account pay scale that would have been required to pay someone for 16 years of experience and they knew they could pay a newer driver less.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not bashing Schneider. I still would like to work for them one day but I can not deal with being told a lie right from the start especially when I know the differnce. Perhaps another day I might get my hazmat endorsement but not anytime soon since I don't need it to make the same money as those that have it.

She did tell me that I would have to get HM, but I have four months to get it done. I admit to not having even started looking into the background check that involves. Other than knowing it goes through the federal government, and that it costs money, I know nothing about it. I will have to start looking into it.

I actually read through the manual several times before I started taking any practice tests. I had already read it through the first couple of times before I signed up here. I learned a long time ago that taking practice tests until you can answer enough questions to pass is no way to learn anything. I've been taking practice tests through more than one source too. I do them through TR and I specifically googled IN CDL practice test and found a site that bases its practice tests on Indiana's tests. To be honest, the information in the manual hasn't changed a whole lot from the other times I've studied the manual.

Hey Rico, I just took the DMV test in Nevada. Some of the questions they asked were on different subjects than I had mastered in the High Road lessons. However, the High Road tests had me sorta understanding WHAT they wanted to know, if you know what I mean. My answers weren't guesses like a stab in the dark, they were "educated" guesses and I got most of those right. You'll do the same thing I bet because you are getting so familiar with how they "think." I am sure you'll blow their socks off with the test. And your plan looks well thought out to me so I have confidence in your success. Keep up the good work. Let's see who gets their truck first, right?

Jopa

I actually read through the manual several times before I started taking any practice tests. I had already read it through the first couple of times before I signed up here. I learned a long time ago that taking practice tests until you can answer enough questions to pass is no way to learn anything. I've been taking practice tests through more than one source too. I do them through TR and I specifically googled IN CDL practice test and found a site that bases its practice tests on Indiana's tests. To be honest, the information in the manual hasn't changed a whole lot from the other times I've studied the manual.

Hey Rico, I just took the DMV test in Nevada. Some of the questions they asked were on different subjects than I had mastered in the High Road lessons. However, the High Road tests had me sorta understanding WHAT they wanted to know, if you know what I mean. My answers weren't guesses like a stab in the dark, they were "educated" guesses and I got most of those right. You'll do the same thing I bet because you are getting so familiar with how they "think." I am sure you'll blow their socks off with the test. And your plan looks well thought out to me so I have confidence in your success. Keep up the good work. Let's see who gets their truck first, right?

Jopa

I've noticed that on the practice tests. They ask the same basic questions, but word them in different ways. One question in particular really got me good today. It was on hydroplaning. There were four answers, two dealing with low tire pressure, two dealing with high tire pressure. They had me confused and I missed it. I've done a few of the review questions here on this site, but I haven't taken the whole course because I was already well into studying and taking practice tests before I signed up here. However, from what I've seen of the study program, it's a really good one.

Thanks for the encouragement. I've always been a thinker, but very disorganized in how I went about it. Going to college at 42 really helped me to learn how to stay focused and put my thoughts together before making decisions. It's made a huge difference in how I do things. BTW, I got to sit in a KW and Peterbuilt today. Does that mean I win? :)

You only win once you get out of a KW and Pete. Getting in them should be against the law....oh wait didn't they outlaw slavery?

BTW, I got to sit in a KW and Peterbuilt today. Does that mean I win? :)

I sat in a brand new Rolls Royce once, but I never got to drive it . . . ya gotta drive to win!

Jopa

Just got off the phone with PTL. The recruiter says everything looks good and she will send the pre-hire letter to whichever school I end up attending. Things are starting to move quickly. Schneider National called and left a message, so I'm calling them next. I'm thinking that six companies on the short list would be good. Does that sound reasonable? These are the companies I'd like to see on that list:

Con-Way
PTL
Schneider
US Xpress
Maverick
TMC

Rico, the main reason p2 takes some people a long time is because of downtime. If your co- driver takes home time in Mississippi and you live in Illinois it's a logistic nightmare. Do you get on a hound and go home just to turn around and get back on one? Do you go back to Murray and hope another p2 is waiting? Do you wait out his home time in the truck sitting still? Do you go to Murray and tell operations you need a new co- driver? (Happens everyday, not suggested). None of these are real attractive options. If you can find someone in orientation that wants to run like crazy and you can stand them its your best bet. My trainer is on the phone helping his p2's a lot and one thing I gather from the conversations is PTL will run you as hard as you wanna run. If you want to and can do that 30k in 30 days you will be accommodated.