Profile For Mic M.

Daniel, thank you for the link and telling me of first hand experience with T-Mobile, I'll give AT&T and Verizon another look, seems they're the best bet for what I need.

I can answer mostly everything you're asking with this simple link:

What to bring to training?

As far as T-Mobile, I strongly urge you to stay away from them. I used them for a year on the road and they were absolutely awful. Constant dropped calls, never a connection, and I had to trip plan to end my day in major cities because that would be the only time it would actually work. My recommendation is either Verizon or AT&T.

Oh thank god, I don't know how'd I'd handle not being able to at least drop by home for a few days to give everyone the good news and make sure the things I set up before hand to keep things running smoothly back home was in order. Really reassuring Susan.

Idk how other companies do it, but mine will automatically route a new solo driver home for about 4 days, since they've been in training. That allows them time to add the "necessities" like nice sheets/bedding, TV, microwave or whatever is a must for you lol.

Since I'd want to save space and swiffer duster will be my main mode of cleaning things, a personal vacuum wouldn't be that appealing I guess. The ones that I just have to roll up would be the best, thanks for reminding me that space bags were a thing, Matt.

Well I always used vacuums at a car wash or if I stayed at a hotel I put things I wouldn't be using every day in them. The ones you use by hand dont go down as far but I used them for the more day to day things. I always kept a zip up hoodie and a couple pairs of clothes on top so I wasn't having to mess with it everyday. Made it nice when since I never knew what climate I would be in.

Do you mean Polyurethane Coated Nylon Work Gloves? Also, got a name for the winter weight pair of work gloves or is anything that is thick a good pair for the cold? Nothing like putting on a pair of work gloves thinking they'll keep your hands warm in the cold, but feeling like it's burning you with ice.

Thanks for adding to my supply list G-Town.

Two sets of gloves: a pair for basic work and a special "coated" pair for fueling. I also have a winter weight pair of work gloves. All from Harbor Freight.

Good luck!

Congrats, you're at the mile stone everyone talks about, one that a lot of people never get to.

Now, time for that million mile!

Travel light for school and training. Yup, gloves, work boots, flashlight, sleeping bag, clothing, a tablet or laptop, your cell, chargers, shower bag/personal hygiene items, baby wipes. Add the tools and truck supplies after you go solo and get your own truck.. space will be tight. Take a fleece jacket or hoodie as it can get cold at night in some areas. Pack shorts as well as long pants.. be ready for any kind of weather. Rain suits are the bomb. I would imagine your company will give you a safety vest and safety glasses. Non perishable snacks. Your trainer may or may not have a fridge or cooler.

Hello there, I've seen you around, you've given some amusing and informative posts, thanks for the reply!

Also, I did not take into account how my numbering would show, oh well.

Confirming the basics is a great help, I'm planning to get a tablet soon. I've either been on my old desktop or more as of late, staring at my cellphone screen as I go over my CDL exam information. Something with a wide enough screen, portable, and easy to use will be a life saver while out and about. By the way, would you use it for trucking? As in, would you put it up somewhere in sight or would you mainly put it off to the side, using it to check digital maps/direction before a trip?

Fleece jacket or hoodie, along with some closes shorted for warmer weather. Pack light. Gotcha.

I'm just wondering when I'll have the time to go around and get the stuff I need once I can solo drive. Well I just end up picking things as I go?

I'm.not sure about the company individually but I had done extensively travel before for a living. I found space bags are nice to help squeeze more in than what you need. I used to use two types the kind with the need of a vacuum for heavy clothes and the type you use by hand for lighter clothes.just my 2¢

Yo, Matt, thanks for dropping by!

I completely forgot about those things, which one did you use to prefer? Did you find the one that needed the vacuum, the vacuum itself, to take up to much room? I could see putting clothing away in such things to save a LOT on space.

Alright, after I first joined here a few works I went from working 48 hours a week to 58 to pay off some debt and have some peace of mind before I even got in touch with a trucking company. (When did my shins start hurting instead of my feet?) Without the worry of money and the pressing need to keep on top of bills, I've been able to research a little more into CDL school and companies as a whole. Though it'll still be a few months till I have every little thing settled and I have enough savings to last me a few months.

I've gotten in touch with a Prime Inc. recruiter to get some of the questions I had about they're company out of the way. Besides the big plus of they're trucks coming with APUs (Thank you TT for the info!), something I'd want on cold/hot days/nights and an inverter if I don't want to funnel all my hard earned money into truck stops. They also have company ran training, ones that last a good while before and after one gains they're CDL. Even if I have to stay with them for a year because of it I don't mind, add onto the fact that leaving it made way looks bad on the resume and may become a habit when things get rough.

Now onto the supply list.

For the training, besides the legal documents, I'll need...

1. Work gloves: Will one pair be enough, any price range? 2. Seven days worth of clothing: Should I have mostly dark, easy to wash clothing and should I bring anything suited for the cold? If so, how cold? 3. Bedding 4. Alarm clock and flashlight: Batteries powered alarm clock right? What size of flashlight should I bring? 5. Eye wear: I wear glasses, will tinted prescribed eyeglasses work in place of sunglasses? 6. Towels and/or wash clothes 7. Work boots: Will steel toed be a good idea? How many pairs of shoes should I have? 8. Personal Hygiene products

Now some things to bring with along with life out on the road...(I'll pass, I swear to all that is holy I'll pass.)

1. Unlimited data plan with wide coverage and hot spot, was thinking T-Mobile since it's coverage has gotten better these last year. Should I bring along a tablet for better mapping reference and entertainment? 2. Steel toed boots, I heard they were good for working around when it's snowing? What is...'winter' wear? I've only really ever been in the very southern part of the country. 3. Rain coat, better then an umbrella when it's raining and windy, should I get a hat and boot combo? 4. Handy supplies such as scissors, can opener, a sharp food knife, plastic food utensils, little bungee cords, hand wipes, duck tape, and truck cleaning tools.

They're are more things I could list, like a basic set of tools and things to make/store food, but I have a good idea of what to get there and I plan to ask more about them during training. The stuff they may find more...annoying to answer goes to you lovable people.

Those that are that took the time to read this, thank ya very much!

Sorry for the delay people, I was asked to cover for a lack of able bodies and I pulled two 8 hour shifts and my normal shift early the next morning 4 hours later. My head has been muddy for the last two days.

Now onto the topic at hand.

What a thoughtful post. I'll do what I can to answer your questions. The multiple-choice tests are only part of the what you need to get your CDL. Don't forget the road test and the skills tests. Do you know someone with a truck who will let you practice alley backing with their truck? Don't think you can study for the written exams and learn all you need to know to drive a truck for 30-40 minutes while you're being evaluated. Time behind the wheel is one of the key features of going to a school. You can practice beforehand, but most schools are setup to get your permit on the morning of your 3rd day so you're not really saving anything.

You need a CDL to get your HAZMAT endorsement. You can start by going here and finding a site near your home where you can get your fingerprints taken to start the background check. For only $86.50, they will check to make sure you aren't a known terrorist and send you a letter (and a copy to your DMV) in a few weeks. With the background check done you will be eligible to test for your HAZMAT endorsement when you get your CDL. The HAZMAT is good for five years. Tanker and doubles/triples don't expire so you may as well get those too. The TWIC card is your option. If you already have a HAZMAT they will discount the price of the background check for a TWIC. Few driving jobs require a TWIC so you may want to make sure your future employer requires it first.

Double-clutching takes some practice to learn, but in my opinion it's easier than learning to drive a stick. The one guy who washed out of school when I was there didn't know how to drive a clutch and didn't figure it out even after being held back a few times. Your mileage may vary.

At orientation there is a fitness test. Open the trailer doors and climb onto the trailer, climb off the trailer onto the ground, climb up the side of the truck while maintaining three points of contact and sit in the driver's seat and open then close the truck's hood.

There's a lot you don't know. Trucking is a lifestyle, not just a job. Can you wake yourself up at 2a.m. to make a pickup? Will you mind driving a full shift looking for empty trailers that aren't there? How do you feel about chaining up 8 tires in sub-zero temperatures? As they say, "A man who steps into the ring and grabs a bull by the tail knows a thing or two more than a man who hasn't".

Oh, I'm not forgetting about the road and skill tests, those are the ones I'm most wary of. The knowledge exams are something I'm at least sure of passing and plan to keep drilling it all into my head from start to finish. I'd feel much better about the practical testing if I knew someone who owned a truck. Sadly I don't and I don't believe I'll just find someone to let me tag along with them or if I did, have the free time to let me try my hand at it; time is money after all. Also about the CLP, if the price won't change if I have one already or I won't be allowed to get into the more practical part of the schooling; I'll just get it along with everyone else.

That is a very good idea, getting it done before hand for when I get my CDL and knowing it'll give me a discount when it comes to getting a TWIC. As for hearing that it's easier to learn to double-clutch then to drive a stick...that's news to me. I'll have to try it to see for myself I guess! Annnd while I'm not unhealthy, I don't see myself as that fit, I guess I should start on some basic at home work outs if I want to be more assure of myself. A healthy dose of confidence in whatever you can get relieves a lot of pressure off of a person.

As for the rest? I'll do what I need to get the job done, to me it most deals with self control and motivation. If I know I need to get up early, I go to sleep early. If I know I need to get this thing parked and shut down, I'll drive as long as I need to find a safe place to do so. The sub-zero thing? Oh god do I hate the cold, but I'll do what I have to do, when I have to do it; not getting no miles while I'm idling. That reminds me, I need to read up more about safe travel in snow and ice covered roads.

There's a lot I can't learn till I'm out there, but at least what I can helps me figure out if I should be getting behind the wheel in the first place. Thanks for the much needed advice Cold War Surplus!

Tastebuds seems like you had a pretty good foundation to get your HAZMAT out of the way. I really envy the fact that you had a way to get most of the annoying parts out of the way due to your previous TWIC card.

I really need to get in touch with The CDL School as soon as possible to get more information, along with the DMV to ask any questions I have in mind. I really should be writing everything that pops to mind down, shouldn't I?

As for finding work and asking the needed questions from the company I have in mind themselves, I'll hold off on that once I get all my finances in order. Along with money saved away to pay for my CDL school or to tie me over while I take the schooling itself.

Hello there, been digging around on here and finally thought it was time I signed up and spoke out.

I've been thinking of starting a new life as a truck driver for a year now, since I've finally given up on jobs that cause me to be face to face with people for long periods of time. I'm no good with names and faces, which tends to dampen social interactions. I'm the type that deals better in settings where I have clear expectations and have a clear cut(or almost) way of doing things. I like the idea of being on my own, being on the road, and seeing new places; a fact that has been reinforced after I traveled around on my own for a few months in my car.

Anyhow, back to the main point. I have a school picked out already, named The CDL School, it's accredited and the two companies I'm looking to apply to have given it the thumbs up. One of the companies I'm thinking of joining, Roehl, has it's own training; but the option for that remains to be seen till I get in touch with them. Roehl and Schneider are my choices to apply to, they both sound like wonderful companies from what I've researched; and they relieve my money worries a bit during training.

I'm the type that likes to question things even if I'm sure of it, so bare with me.

Getting the CDL learners permit/CLP without schooling is something I can do, I'm not always the sharpest nail in the box, but I'm good at getting repetitive facts to stick with me as long as I brush on them from time to time. Just that I'm not sure how much of a help getting it before starting schooling will be, while everyone is getting ready for the exam and taking it; do you think I'll be allowed to start on hands on training? Don't get me wrong, I know that the schools themselves will give me a level of understanding I can't get from reading, I just want to know if I'll get a bit of a head start by getting my CLP before hand.

A Hazmat endorsement can only be taken after your get your full CDL or can it be done after gaining your permit? If so, do I need to renew my CDL or is it tagged onto it electronically?

After getting Hazmat, should I work on getting a TWIC card right afterwards?

I plan to get the standard Class A CDL with Air Brake endorsements, no plans for School Bus/Passenger or Doubles/Triples endorsement. Getting a Tanker endorsement while I'm at it is a good idea if I plan to get a Hazmat endorsement later on, right?

I've never driven a a manual transmission, but I was told by someone it was good that I hadn't. Something about a car and truck manual transmissions aren't the same, and it's more of a hassle to unlearn the habits someone used to driving a manual transmission cars get. Is this true?

How fit or in good health should I be, to consider a career in trucking?

Is there anything else I should be asking, that I may not be realizing?

Thanks for reading trucking dudes and gals, help to hear from you soon!