Looking For Company-sponsored Training

My only suggestion is going to be is Swift. They gave me a chance I took it and the benefits of taking it have paid off. 3 week solo driver and was offered a dedicated run for one of the highest paying accounts they have to offer with 2 days off a week home every weekend. You will not make very much money OTR starting off and that is the cold hard truth with any company. You will be sucked on by the training pay with any company. But it all starts when you are a solo driver. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavour and may God bless you on your journey to a safe career and long safe trips

Well...

I checked into WIA. You have to have never defaulted on a student loan. Well, guess what. I defaulted. The loan has even been sold off to another company for collection, yay. So, WIA is out.

Now, back to this company sponsored training. I feel like my hands are quite tied now and I don't have much room to move, so I am going to have to suck it up and hope that one of my preferred companies picks me up so I don't have to go with a company that isn't what I want.

Roehl never contacted me about my application. I sent one off to Central Refrigerated today. CR England keeps sending me canned emails about my application wanting me to call them. It sucks that I'm not trying to start til mid September though, because some of these companies don't even want to talk to you if you're more than a couple weeks out.

I'll work on getting this letter soon from my doctor. I don't think it would be an issue but you never know.

Hey Jerry - don't wait on them to contact you - give them a call. That goes for all companies. Often times they'll just let applications sit on a pile collecting dust. Keep calling until you get someone on the phone.

And you're right. Many companies won't spend much time on you until you're within a few weeks of making a move. But they'll still give you a pre-hire right now. So stay on em.

And don't worry too much about getting on with a certain company. That first year is just on the job training anyhow. Once you get a year of safe driving under your belt you'll be able to write your own ticket anywhere you like. There won't be anything keeping you from moving around at that point.

Alright. I'll make a phone call to Roehl tomorrow, and I'll call Central later this week to see what they say to me. My biggest (honest to god) fear is being 'stuck' team driving for a long length of time. I've stated my reasons before, but feel free to ask me to state them again. Short story is I want to be solo as quick as possible but also trained properly so I don't eff up on my first day on the road solo.

Alright. I'll make a phone call to Roehl tomorrow, and I'll call Central later this week to see what they say to me. My biggest (honest to god) fear is being 'stuck' team driving for a long length of time. I've stated my reasons before, but feel free to ask me to state them again. Short story is I want to be solo as quick as possible but also trained properly so I don't eff up on my first day on the road solo.

Not trying to be a recruiter but Central gives you the option of team or solo. Actually they just assume you're going solo they only team you if you mention it. Whatever company you choose talk to the recruiter and make sure that they don't do that. As far as I know most of the major carriers don't force you to team up. Your time with a trainer will almost always be team driving but after that it shouldn't be forced unless you signed up for a company that does that.

Not trying to be a recruiter but Central gives you the option of team or solo.

yeah, but what they will do is put enormous pressure on you to lease. And if you dont like the idea of leasing well they will put you into team driving. If you complain too much they cut you loose altogether and find someone else.

with margins so small and competition being what it is in trucking, there is no company out there that is going to do anyone any favors- take it or leave it thats basically how it is. Recruiters, dispatchers everyone in every company has been told the same thing and that is put your emotions aside and do it this way or maybe one day nobody here will have a job.

Not trying to be a recruiter but Central gives you the option of team or solo.

yeah, but what they will do is put enormous pressure on you to lease. And if you dont like the idea of leasing well they will put you into team driving. If you complain too much they cut you loose altogether and find someone else.

with margins so small and competition being what it is in trucking, there is no company out there that is going to do anyone any favors- take it or leave it thats basically how it is. Recruiters, dispatchers everyone in every company has been told the same thing and that is put your emotions aside and do it this way or maybe one day nobody here will have a job.

You know Jhon I would really love for you to tell us all what your experience as a driver really is because it seems like you have driven for every company on the road and have had a bad experience at every one and know the pitfalls of one and all. Seems a shame to waste all that knowledge. I think maybe you should start your own website instead of wasting time in here with us hayseeds.

Not trying to be a recruiter but Central gives you the option of team or solo.

yeah, but what they will do is put enormous pressure on you to lease. And if you dont like the idea of leasing well they will put you into team driving. If you complain too much they cut you loose altogether and find someone else.

with margins so small and competition being what it is in trucking, there is no company out there that is going to do anyone any favors- take it or leave it thats basically how it is. Recruiters, dispatchers everyone in every company has been told the same thing and that is put your emotions aside and do it this way or maybe one day nobody here will have a job.

Just because they tell you you'll make more money if you lease doesn't mean you have to. They're a business they will do all they can to make money, they're a business. It's up to the individual to know better, and if he doesn't then it's on him.

I told my dispatcher straight up today that there's no way I'm going to leave because I don't have enough experience in my eyes and that I need to learn more about the industry before I ever consider leasing. You know what he said? He said "agreed, I like the way you think". He's been with CRS for 11 years and counting and he basically told me that I shouldn't lease.

I don't know where you got your information about them forcing you to team drive. I never once felt any pressure to team drive. It was never mentioned to me by an employee that ill make more money team driving. You'll team drive if you want to, no one is going to force you to team drive except when you're in training.

You're wrong about the favors too. I was on the road for 5 weeks with my wife and I wanted to go home. My dispatcher approved me for 7 days home time even though I only "earned" 5 days. He broke a company policy - 1 week = 1 day off. For an entire week my truck was parked meanwhile Central was still making payments on it. An extra 3 days of no profit! I call they a favor.

So, today I told my dispatcher that I'm not leasing. And you know what my next load is? 2400 miles!! Clearly he isn't angry at me.

You seem to think that every company is the devil in disguise. Central pressures you to lease, way too much and way too often if you ask me, but overall I am happy with them. I'm making great money and having a blast! And like I said before, not trying to be a recruiter. But what you're saying is completely false... As usual.

I can think of a few rookies who came thru here, and went with Central. And NOT ONE OF THEM is a lease driver. And they really like Central. Special K is with central, driving solo, and has no complaints. She went out with her trainer (who was a lease driver, a nice guy, and I know cuz I met him), then went solo for a bit, then tried teaming, and is now back to solo, doing a regional gig, I do believe. So I don't think you have the experience to offer solid evidence about Central. In Fact, Central just took over a huge local farm hauling operation here....and I've heard that they are paying $300 per load (and I KNOW they are short haul, should be able to run about 3-4 a day), driving their truck !! SWEET !!! I may haveta talk to them

I was going to say to Jhon C. that I honestly didn't want to hear anything he had to say based on the rep he's creating for himself in the other forums as a basher of every company, but yall have done that for me, so there's no need to say it again.

:)