Trying To Start CDL School But Running Into A Temporarily Unavoidable Roadblock...

I'm fully aware of what can happen. My family has been in truck driving for many many years. I'm doing plenty of fact checking and research before I fully commit to anything. As far as the situation I'm in now? It honestly couldn't have been avoided if I wanted to keep my conscience clear. Taking care of ill family will devastate and demolish anyone's life and finances in the blink of an eye. As well as take its toll on the body (previously referred to back injury? It's from lifting my bed ridden grandmother before she passed) I'm sure you've witnessed this situation happen many times in nursing. Things simply aren't as black and white as people would like them to be unfortunately. As far as "getting off" of the medication, I'm aware of therapeutic levels being reached in my body. But I'm also aware that the medication I'm on can be stopped without many side effects and be completely out of my system in a short amount of time considering my prescribed dose. The reasoning behind me believing what I've been told about the 72hr thing: I currently drive in a county position that required a DOT drug test (they pay mileage and there's just not enough miles to financially survive currently). I took the test without quitting my medication and passed it just fine. They were able to verify all of my prescriptions and it wasn't an issue at all. The only thing I'm concerned about is each companies individual policy. They differ greatly. That being the case, it's possible your brother went with one of the companies that has a strict policy without doing any research to safeguard against bad things happening. As far as money being tight initially, I don't need much. I'm accustomed to surviving on very little. As long as I'm able to help keep my grandpa afloat, things will be fine.

Look at some of the turnover rates of these companies, and if you think you'll be one of the 1% that don't get hosed, then go for it, but I wouldn't be that confident that they won't do to you what they've done to hundreds of other people.

Dale, you can say that kind of stuff at thetruckersreport, but here you're going to have to give facts to back up your statements if you want to say things like that. If you can prove that 99% of the people "get hosed" then it's great information. Otherwise it's harmful on many levels. So please either stick to the facts or make sure your opinions about schools and companies are verifiable.

And yes, when you get on the CB or on the docks people are rude, disgusting, and obnoxious. And as much as we try to prepare people for a great start to their career we're not going to expose them to that sort of thing here at TruckingTruth. We're going to keep it respectful.

I can understand them wanting to make sure I'm off of the medication. I completely get that part. I just financially really can't wait that long. I'm applying at other companies in hopes that maybe their requirements aren't quite so strict. I've put this on the back burner long enough and now it's this or nothing lol. It's unfortunate but it's just the way it is. The other issue I'm leary about us being a female driver. I've heard some pretty iffy things, but, I'm gonna make this happen one way or another. I wanted to do it for too long.

I kind of understand what you are going through. I already have my CDL. Had major surgery towards the end of June, but had to look for work to try and catch up with my bills. Just when I am deciding on a start date, I get a rotator cuff tear (small) on my right shoulder while at work. Now I don't see myself starting anytime soon. Whether I have surgery or not, I still have to rest the shoulder for a long a lengthy period of time while it heals. Probably means I have to go back to school........ Was so looking forward to starting in January. Good Luck to you!!

Brett, the 1% quote that I gave was being generous, I was referring to retention percentages of truck driving classes of Swift, CRST and a few others who have almost 100% turnover after the first year. That's not a good percentage. In nursing it's 50% after about 3 years and that's pretty high when you factor how much time and effort one puts in to schooling, time off from a paying job and stress. Those numbers are what I've gleaned in my research. I'm not an OTR driver, but I've had a few years of experience in the business quite a few years ago, and things weren't that great "back in the good old days". Recruiters in trucking and nursing, know what their prospective recruits go through, but they don't tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help them god. There are a lot of similarities in both these fields, there's the way we want it, there's the way THEY tell it, and then there's the way it is. I called my brother the other day, and he's kept in touch with a few guys he trained with at CRST..none are driving. Same with my other brother and Swift..none of the people he knows from a year ago when he started are driving. Did they get hosed by their company? Who knows, maybe they "had to have money now" and the job didn't provide it.

Some of this data is almost 10 years old, but I'll bet it's about the same today

127% turnover 112% turnover 100% turnover...yeah did these companies "hose" their employees..well apparently there's something in the water, but maybe I wasn't exactly clear on what I meant by 1%..but this is to what I was referring

http://www.trucking.org/article.aspx?uid=6053b3cb-5963-4599-9b44-834112067fc7

Ya know those people that just have to be right and have the last word? Yeah...that lol. It gets exhausting. Seriously. Anyways, I start school on Monday. I'm nervous as hell but excited to see what's going to happen. If things don't work out, well then that's just how the cookie crumbles. Anything is survivable unless it kills you. I've been through a hell of allot in my life, this is just another stepping stone. With some luck and a little bit of grace my life will finally start to come back together. However, having negative people that have nothing but negative things to say about a career path they themselves aren't on? I can't let that effect me. There's always going to be someone that has something to say to try and break others down. It's unfortunately just the way of the world. @Serah, I'm so sorry to hear that. It sucks when things seem to happen that repeatedly work against you. Trust me I know the feeling all too well. I'm doing this as a pure leap of faith at this point. All I can hope and pray for is to land on my feet. I hope you heal up quickly and well. Good luck!!!