Planning To Join Wilson Fleet

Howdy, everyone. This will be my first post on the TT forum, so let me introduce myself:

My name is Brandon. I'm 30 years old, married to my wonderful wife, and live smack in the middle of good old Texas. I've been eager to earn my CDL and join a fleet for many years now. Retail management just doesn't cut it for me any more. Only now has life seemed to open up enough to allow me the opportunity to follow that dream. I was always that kid in the back seat of the family car, begging to hear that air horn. I enjoy driving. I enjoy logistics. I'm earnestly excited to get goin'!

After doing a bit of research, I decided to go with Wilson Logistics; they seem like a great fit for me, from everything I have seen. I've also decided to go with their CDL School program. They have a great facility in Springfield, MO, from everything I can tell. I've spoken with my recruiter, and getting my ducks in a row for the CLP test.

If the TT High Road training program is any indication of how well I'll do on the CLP itself, I'm golden. Still dilligently working through that material, however. I tend to throw myself into whatever it is that I'm doing, and I've been consuming nothing but trucking content for the last month. I don't just want to be prepared for class and my CDL test, I want to be overprepared. That way, I can better focus on recalling knowledge and practicing my actual driving skills. I know I can't possibly prepare for everything, but hopefully my scattershot approach will work out in the end. To be honest with you, the pre-trip (specifically, the engine compartment, suspension, and brakes) has been the steepest learning curve for me. I think I intuit the physics of the truck (tracking, backing, etc.) pretty well; but I guess we'll see when the time comes.

I plan on using this thread as a bit of a rookie's diary. My target, which I discussed with my recruiter, was to fly out around April 11. You can expect to see an update around then.

Thanks for reading! Really! I've been lurking for a few weeks, and you lot seem very friendly. I hope to get to know some of you here!

Brandon

Hello Brandon and welcome!!!

The single most important piece of advice anyone can give you which literally encompasses everything you will do is to be PATIENT. You will have a LOT of info tossed at you and the best advice I can give you as a fellow overthinker and prepper is to ALWAYS slow your brain down to the task at hand and take your time. It goes against your intuition, but major mistakes happen in this field come from being in a hurry or thinking "I need to get faster at this". Tell that voice to shut up. I'm just finishing my rookie year and I purposely slowed down my yard work and let speed develop on its own. Now I can run like the madman I envisioned when I started in CDL school. I encourage you to do the same.

Also, please be sensitive to your wife's emotions during the first year. It is EXTREMELY hard on the spouse that stays home. She will need your support just as much as you need hers.

Quick List of Things to always keep in mind starting out:

1) TAKE YOUR TIME..DON'T HURRY!! 2) Don't let the performance, attitude, or actions of other students or drivers con you into thinking you won't get it or you don't belong. 3) Always Get Out And Look (GOAL) when backing or maneuvering into tight areas. 4) Drill into your head that the trailer has only 2 purposes in your life. First to carry your freight, second to get you a preventable accident and adversely impact your career. WATCH THOSE MIRRORS constantly. Never move that steering wheel a millimeter without checking both mirrors. 5) Ultimately, this job is 90% mindset. Have a strong mindset and work ethic as nothing less will help you endure the struggles and hardships of life of the road. Every challenge you overcome will increase your confidence and enjoyment of the job. It's never over when you have a tough day, it's over when you quit.

Best of success to you, we look forward to following your journey!

Hello Brandon, I should have been doing the same as you. In fact, you say, "I don't just want to be prepared for class and my CDL test; I want to be overprepared." I say it slightly differently but with the same intent: "I should be qualified to teach the class!"

Zen, your response here is honestly, in my opinion, full of wisdom! Thank you for your insight. I hope to hear more from both of you!!!

Just checked back in and I was thrilled to see I had responses! And thoughtful, helpful ones at that!

Thanks Zen, and thanks Raymond! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to respond with the encouraging advice and feedback. I'm soaking it up like a sponge. This is the type of advice I needed most.

So it's the 1st of the month; my wife and I went on a hike today, since our days off coincided. I'm trying to squeeze in a lot of time with her before I zip off to CDL training. She's such a strong woman, and I'm excited but nervous nevertheless to leave her. Sometimes it seems like she's more excited than I am for the change. That girl keeps me going.

I aced my physical last week, and some time this week will need to be my CPL test. I feel confident about that dang test. I've been studying and restudying, as I write this post.

Really not too worried, I'm guessing I can get 90-100% if practice tests are good indicators. So I'm supplementing study with other useful stuff, e.g. signage (who knew there were so many different signs? lol)

Again, thank you for taking the time to respond. I'll keep this journal updated. Hopefully it'll be something I can look back at and feel proud about the journey.

Brandon Z.

One part of the Texas CDL Manual that is not covered in the High Road program is on Section 14. Be sure to familiarize yourself with that and you shouldn't have a problem getting your CLP. It will be the first section on the test, and if you flunk that you cannot go on to the other sections.

One part of the Texas CDL Manual that is not covered in the High Road program is on Section 14. Be sure to familiarize yourself with that and you shouldn't have a problem getting your CLP. It will be the first section on the test, and if you flunk that you cannot go on to the other sections.

Much appreciated! I went ahead and read the section.

Welp, it's time to fly.

Last Monday I aced my CLP. I missed the solar eclipse, but I'm not too beat up about it (it was obstructed by clouds in my area, anyway).

Bush Country, I can't thank you enough for that tip. That part was, by far, the toughest part of the test. Oh the minutiae!

To make a long story short, I'm all set to fly out to Missouri on Sunday morning for 3 weeks of CDL training. I'm really looking forward to the accelerated, hands-on style they tout. I am pretty much all ready and packed. I'm ecstatic.

My recruiter deserves a huge amount of thanks from me. He has been nothing but helpful since the beginning. Everyone I've spoken to from Wilson seemed to be absolute professionals and told me they're excited to meet me. Talk about a warm welcome before I've even set foot in their door. 😄

Seriously, I'm so grateful for this career opportunity, and for things to finally be moving. I'll keep updating periodically, as my thoughts rise to the surface.

If anyone knows any can't-miss food in Springfield, let me know.

Flights got delayed by about 6 hours. I'm gonna have to squeeze in a nap on the plane, and sleep as soon as I unpack. Big day tomorrow.

Any updates?

Any updates?

Sorry! Hasn't been much of a diary, has it? My mind has been on the prize, and frankly, I forgot to keep y'all updated. My apologies!

Drum roll please...

I succeeded! I passed my CDL exam! Looks like there's gonna be another trucker on the road, guys. And he can't wait to start shuffling loads all over the country.

I'll make a long story short, mostly because I've got a day of paperwork ahead of me here...

Almost a full month ago, I posted my last entry while en route to Springfield, MO. It feels like forever-ago. I have now drunk enough coffee to fill a pool, and delivered enough loads of cheese to feed a city. I'm truly spoiled by my hotel's 24/7 on-demand Folger's. I was always a Maxwell House kinda guy, but I have developed a taste for this stuff now. I'll miss the coffee almost as much as I miss my classmates, once I'm OTR.

As for my class: I'm not even a super sentimental guy, but I really hate and love to see them go. We truly were a really tight bunch, keeping each other sharp through study sessions, and encouraging one another to succeed. We would organize dinners to commemorate each milestone. We took a trip to see Downtown Springfield together, just because we wanted to. They were all such good people, from young to old, and we got along so well and shared a lot of laughs. I knew I was lucky, because some of the other classes to either side of us had people who were butting heads, I noticed. But not us. The roads are really getting a whole load of quality drivers this week.

The training is pretty much exactly what I expected. The people down at Wilson were phenomenal to me. My recruiter stuck with me and gave me the encouragement I needed. (Bradley, my man, you are an amazing recruiter!) For once, I'm actually excited to start working.

And the CDL test itself went very well, despite my worry. I scored almost perfectly, I'm told.

Well, my roommate unfortunately did not make the cut 😕, and since the training pad is getting re-sealed and -striped this weekend, leaving the terminal closed, I really and truly have the room and weekend to myself. I almost don't know what to do with myself (besides the aforementioned paperwork). Since me and my roommate (who I really liked a lot, thank goodness) were scheduled last to test, and he flew out this AM, that means I'm the only one left hanging around the hotel from my class. Everyone else is already OTR with their trainers, or getting their home time to collect their gear and see loved ones. But I don't mind it. In fact, I am kinda enjoying the peace and quiet, while it lasts. I might even do a little sightseeing, who knows?

Tomorrow I'll focus on learning my Qualcomm , trip planning, state laws, stuff like that. I've been reading up a lot on HOS this entire time, so I feel like I've really got that down for the most part.

Come Monday, the terminal will reopen, and I'll be able to meet my fleet manager and hopefully get some details about my trainer and a timeline of events to come.

Thanks again for the encouragement and advice, guys. It's paid in spades so far.

I'll keep you updated as time and energy permit.

Brandon Z.