Big Thanks To The Team Here At TT !!!

Greetings!

I started doing research in to the trucking lifestyle late last year and thankfully I found TT. I found a few other websites and forum boards, but none as useful or (careful here...) as level-headed as TT. The conversation here seems to be more mature and more focused than at some other websites. Don't get me wrong, I'm not easily offended or annoyed by the ongoings at those other places. However, being on the hunt for information rather than just shooting the breeeze, I really appreciate the atmosphere here.

So, a few weeks ago I finally decided that there is so much about this unconventional lifestyle that appeals to me (and fits me like a glove) that I would really regret not taking a shot at it. My wife and I have talked and researched things for a few months together (because, let's face it, we're both looking at some major changes if I'm going to be out for weeks or months at a time.) Thankfully, we have a friend that was married to an OTR driver for many years, so we got some valuable insight on what this career can mean to a marriage.

I've been accepted for training at a big company, and I've got some questions I'll post in another thread about that. But it was the Apply For Paid CDL Training application here on TT that really helped with that (and helped to put me in touch with quite a few companies!) And the CDL Practice Tests have been invaluable in helping me to learn about various safety and legal requirements that I need to know. Finally, The Truck Driver's Career Guide has been just phenomenonal in answering questions and covering so many areas that I need to prepare for.

The community and tools that have been put together here are just so awesome... I suppose I just wanted to throw out a great big thanks to all of the TT team and members here that have contributed to make this site what it is. And to confirm (or validate) that the tools and information here really do exactly what they are intended to do!

From Brett establishing this site (and all those who build or moderate behind the scenes) to every member that adds useful posts and articles, THANKS SO MUCH!

You're quite welcome Jeremy!

One thing - you didn't mention using our High Road CDL Training Program. The practice tests are great for keeping yourself fresh after you've learned the materials but you don't want to try to learn the materials using practice tests. Use our High Road to learn the materials first. That's really, really important and you'll get way better scores and have a lot more knowledge that way.

Point well taken. I will switch gears and re-focus on the High Road.

Honestly, I've been jumping all over (reading posts, reading articles, testing, etc.) without any real focus. There's just so much to take in! I suppose it's time for me to narrow down to something specific and get after it. So, High Road CDL Training Program it is.

Thank you for the direction!

Yikes! Correction and apology!

I've been doing the High Road all along and mistook that for the practice test because of the review at the end of every page. My average is only at 93% so far, but I'm hoping to raise that soon. Again, sorry for the misinformation. Like I said, so much to take in!

Thanks for introducing yourself Jeremy!

Feel free to join in our conversations in the forum. I feel like there are thousands of people we help each year without us even knowing about it. So many stay in the background and soak it all in. Sometimes I think it's because they are so accustomed to seeing how newbies are treated at other trucking forums on the web, and that's unfortunate. We don't bite, and there's much you can learn just by being a part of the community of people who converse back and forth within the forum.

We actually love having newbies in here! That's what we do here - we give helpful friendly advice designed to help you be successful at something that most people greatly struggle with.

What company are you going to? Chances are someone here drives for them and would be happy to help you along the way. Good luck.

... I feel like there are thousands of people we help each year without us even knowing about it. So many stay in the background and soak it all in. Sometimes I think it's because they are so accustomed to seeing how newbies are treated at other trucking forums on the web, and that's unfortunate.

I didn't want to be just someone in the background that got by thanks to TT and its community. I have quite a bit of experience in life and designing/Admining websites, so I have a real appreciation for just how much work has went in to the backside of things here. And all the words and effort put up by the community... Well, thanks and recognition just seem due. I have no certainty, but I suspect that many more people get a great start thanks to this website than there are people who stop in and say thanks.

I hope to figure out how to do the diary thing here, or at least just start a thread and keep feeding it everyday during training. Seems like the least I can do is make an effort to help the next guy (since that's primarily what has helped me make my decisions up to this point.)

What company are you going to? Chances are someone here drives for them and would be happy to help you along the way. Good luck.

My plan is to begin training with CRST on Monday, May 7th. I just touched base with my recruiter again yesterday and told him I'd contact him on the Thursday before to confirm everything. And I plan on arriving over the weekend so I can settle in and get prepared for Monday morning.

Funny thing is, I've read quite a bit of negative things about CRST. And I'm not sure if it's because these people didn't make the cut (for any number of reasons) or due to some really weird expectations they started out with. I don't have enough info about any trucking company to rate their training or employment on any type of merit scale. But I'm pretty sure that unless you turn up with 25+ years of flawless experience, they don't really owe you a damn thing! Especially not a company that places a ton of trust, financial risk, legal risk, and pretty much their reputation (maybe even their entire business) in a prospect who "seems" worth training simply because they were able to check a few boxes.

Hmmmm... Sorry for rant. Was just reading a few other posts that reeked with expectations (and worse!) ENTITLEMENT.

I've only seen posts here from one person that seems to be with CRST currently (but I haven't exactly read every post, either.) Thought about reaching out to him, but I'm waiting for a question that TT or Google can't answer. No sense wasting his time with anything I can research by myself first. When I hit something that I can't find an answer to, I'll definitely be reaching out to him.