Comments By Gabriel

But then it's not a heater trick 😁

set a can of soup, chili or whatever single-can meal you like, right in front of the heater vent

Isn't it easier to use a microwave? :-)

Yes definitely I am in the process of weighing my options myself was just curious. I just hadn't heard of it being done that way with anyone besides Wilson. I will check out Knight as well thanks. 😀

You starting with Wilson?

Some of the folks that have been here a long time can tell you better. Im just fixing to start company paid school on Monday. I do have a ton of experience with speeding tickets however. As long as they are documented at under 10 mph, and you did not have a CDL nor a CLP at the time, many companies will still hire you, but it depends on their hiring policies. As far as the accident goes, I think a lot of that would depend on how it is handled and documented through the company you are/were working for.

It brings up a great point that was brought up to me and changed the direction I was going to go in. Old School and many others here have ample reasons why it would be more advantageous for you to pursue company paid/sponsored CDL training. I bring this up because you mentioned that you were saving up tuition. In doing so, you could find yourself finishing school, getting a nice fancy looking CDL and not having a job after spending all that hard earned money. CDL school only teaches you how to qualify for the bare minimum requirements to get a CDL. It doesnt teach you how to become a driver, nor do you get the needed experience. As it is, Most companies require experience and like to see you in at least 6 months of OTR before they will even touch you. I can attest to this, I have a stack of denials from companies that I tried to get on with when I was going to go the self paid route.

The company Im starting with on Monday, while not paying for my school per say, has some skin in the game. Im already hired and will be getting paid to attend their school, paid to train with them and am getting the schooling on a low cost zero interest loan thats deducted from my checks in small amounts. In addition, I get to train in the same tractors and trailers I will be driving for them.

Id highly recommend looking into the links here for Paid CDL training and resource materials available. Paid CDL Training Programs

Truck Driver's Career Guide

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

And Im not sure how to link on but the article of Why I prefer company paid CDL training to self paid CDL school. If someone can link to it.

Knight Transportation. They are a little bit different than most, youre actually hired before you start with them, so youre earning a paycheck the day you start school. But, you have to pay for your hotel, etc. It works out about the same as far as I can tell. There are a lot of factors to look at between one company and another in regards to training, costs, pay, length of time etc.

You starting with Wilson?

Some of the folks that have been here a long time can tell you better. Im just fixing to start company paid school on Monday. I do have a ton of experience with speeding tickets however. As long as they are documented at under 10 mph, and you did not have a CDL nor a CLP at the time, many companies will still hire you, but it depends on their hiring policies. As far as the accident goes, I think a lot of that would depend on how it is handled and documented through the company you are/were working for.

It brings up a great point that was brought up to me and changed the direction I was going to go in. Old School and many others here have ample reasons why it would be more advantageous for you to pursue company paid/sponsored CDL training. I bring this up because you mentioned that you were saving up tuition. In doing so, you could find yourself finishing school, getting a nice fancy looking CDL and not having a job after spending all that hard earned money. CDL school only teaches you how to qualify for the bare minimum requirements to get a CDL. It doesnt teach you how to become a driver, nor do you get the needed experience. As it is, Most companies require experience and like to see you in at least 6 months of OTR before they will even touch you. I can attest to this, I have a stack of denials from companies that I tried to get on with when I was going to go the self paid route.

The company Im starting with on Monday, while not paying for my school per say, has some skin in the game. Im already hired and will be getting paid to attend their school, paid to train with them and am getting the schooling on a low cost zero interest loan thats deducted from my checks in small amounts. In addition, I get to train in the same tractors and trailers I will be driving for them.

Id highly recommend looking into the links here for Paid CDL training and resource materials available. Paid CDL Training Programs

Truck Driver's Career Guide

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

And Im not sure how to link on but the article of Why I prefer company paid CDL training to self paid CDL school. If someone can link to it.

It's my fault for not listening to what we were always told on the Fire Dept. Never change your answer unless you're 100% sure your initial choice is incorrect. Like you said if we misread the question etc. A lot of our training in the academy was tips on test taking because you have to get through so much stuff in the books besides all the physical work that needs to be done and comprehended. Just been like 8 years since I have taken any kind of test or studied for anything lol. 🙃

Gabriel moans:

The kicker is the questions I got wrong I changed to the wrong answer second guessing myself. If I had left my first choice alone they all would have been right.

This is a fact: your first answer looks shaky and you want to change it, your first try is often the correct one. Obviously if you realize you misunderstood the question or found a mistake in you're own calculating, change the answer. But if you're simply just kind of shaky on "which one is it", don't make the change.

I taught middle school for 12 years (with all those multiple choice state achievement tests) and taught a CDL permit class for a bit at Swift. It is possible to pass some multiple choice tests without even knowing the topic, which you almost proved!

Yes I was on a computer. Thanks for explaining I didn't know that's how the skip worked. I figured it would just circle back at the end.

Like I said full disclosure I haven't studied one minute for the tanker portion yet just gave it a shot the lady said what's the worst that happens you come back and do it which you're gonna do anyways after you study. On the last of the 20 questions I got it wrong and failed if I had gotten it right I would have passed lol. So close. The kicker is the questions I got wrong I changed to tje wrong answer second guessing myself. If I had left my first choice alone they all would have been right. Should have left them be lol. No biggie though I'll just go back on the 31st and get it done and leave with the learners permit.

But thanks for clarifying about the skips I didn't realize thats how it worked. Wish I had known that this morning lol.

Gabe, If MD uses computer testing (I think all states do by now), do this:

If you can skip a question, and you are not pretty sure of the answer, skip it! You will continue to get more questions. The goal is to get 15 correct answers (out of 20). So, if you can answer 15 correctly and skip the iffy ones, you pass! The test will stop once you get that 15 - no need to answer more than the minimum!

Well minor update.

I went to take my written exam. As someone posted previously in this thread, in MD you cannot take the hazmat portion of the test until after you have a permit. The same goes for the Doubles/Triples.

I took the General Knowledge, Combination, and Aor brakes section and only missed two questions total so was happy about that. At the suggestion of the test administrator I attempted the Tanker endorsement which I have not studied for at all and I literally missed by one question. The lady told me to wait to get the learners permit until after I pass the tanker portion so I don't have to pay twice and pay more money.

I am scheduled to go back for the Tanker section on the morning of March 31st. Will be focusing my study time to that now. This is not a requirement for CRST but I rather do it now and get it over with. I am also hoping Wilson will make an exception on my lack of work history due to disability and offer me a position. I much rather go work for them.

I will update the thread as there is reason to. It was unfortunate Prime would not take me die to the lack of work history but hey everything happens for a reason right. Worst case scenario I will be heading for school for crst in a couple of months.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I will await Monday to be a year older and begin my studies for the tanker portion of the test.

So that you all may update your list. I was informed today that CRST now does both Hair Folicle and UA testing.

I wanted to go to your company but the recruiter told me I need 2-3 years of verifiable work experience and my time disabled disqualifies me. He said if I stayed with my current Employer for 6 months I could contact him again and "maybe" they would make an exception. You guys were one of the companies at the top of my list and the first company I spoke with via telephone.

The other company that made me an offer to go to school said this was Nuys with the demand for drivers and me not having any issues with background or DL. I don't know enough to say anything either way just looking to put my life back together and have a rewarding and stable career again.

😁

Congrats.... Keep in mind that is not a job offer. It is an invitation to orientation and the entire training process including once you started your salary employment is an interview. Keep a good attitude and understand you are on equal footing with others until you prove yourself as a star. It is a competition of sorts.

With that said..i started at a company expecting to stay a year and got home. I have been here ever since....5.5 years later.

Good luck

Thanks for replying. I have no dilusions about what is happening and know full well things will just increase in difficulty not get easier. I'm just grateful for the opportunity at hand which is all I need.

3 more days until the written exam. Fingers crossed.

Congrats.... Keep in mind that is not a job offer. It is an invitation to orientation and the entire training process including once you started your salary employment is an interview. Keep a good attitude and understand you are on equal footing with others until you prove yourself as a star. It is a competition of sorts.

With that said..i started at a company expecting to stay a year and got home. I have been here ever since....5.5 years later.

Good luck

Any update on CRST since 2017?