Location:
New Bern, NC
Driving Status:
Considering A Career
Social Link:
Wile E. On The Web
Greetings! I'm John and I'm an old fart (sounds like I'm introducing myself at some sort of AA meeting), a grandfather of 6, still working in the plastics industry (vacuum forming) as a mold builder/CNC programmer.
I drove a truck for 5 years, back in 1978 - 1983, for a local corrugated container manufacturer. Day runs only, dispatching from 1:30 AM to 6:00 AM Mon - Fri. Home every night and weekends.
I wanted to go over the road for the better money, but with 2 little kids at the time it just didn't fit. So, I went in a different direction. Tried sales, ended up swinging a hammer building houses. Went from there into the plastics industry. I knew the manager of the company and he thought my woodworking skills were a good fit for a tool (mold) builder. Been there 30+ years.
But I never got the road out of my system. Thinking about giving it another go.
Update: I completed CDL school in July 2022, and have my CDL. I accepted a regional job with Epes Transport, which would have gotten me home most weekends. However, my current employer, under new ownership and all new upper management, took a look at my situation and made me an offer to stay. Had it been the old ownership, I would have kept walking, but the new owners are finally taking a hard look at compensation across the entire company. Financially, it was the right choice for me to stay where I was. Mentally, we'll see. I may still end up driving at some point. I hope my prior driving experience years ago will allow me to hang around.
Since there's no private messaging here, I can be reached at jbwillard56@gmail.com. Or, the "My Social Page" link is my Facebook page
Posted: 5 months ago
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The CDL school I attended had a simulator. Overall, I think they're a plus. Ours was a large simulator, 3 screens surrounding the driver, rear view mirrors were reasonably realistic, driver's seat, pedals, shifter, etc...
As FR8M4N said, it's the scenarios that really help. Is that driver going to back out of their driveway in front of me? Is that kid going to chase his football into the street? What impact is this rain or snow going to have on me?
As for how it felt to simply drive vs the real truck, I thought it was a bit lacking, but it's still valuable, especially if you're learning a manual transmission.
Posted: 7 months ago
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I think Biden forgets that on day one he stopped new federal leasing and banned fracking.
I think they would love for people to forget that and instead focus on Russia, Russia, Russia causing all this.
I've said this many times - we are living through the deliberate destruction of our economy, our laws, and our culture. Ultimate control for those who seek it will come in the form of a digital central currency and the elimination of physical currency. Once our currency is digital, the government will then have complete control over every facet of our lives.
To make this happen, they must first destroy the dollar completely, take us into a deep depression, then "build back better for our own good."
Posted: 7 months, 2 weeks ago
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Marc L,
I have spoken with one company that has a requirement along the lines of what you mentioned. I'll share the company name, and by doing so, understand that it is NOT meant negatively. In other words, I think they're a solid company, and they have a way of finding/hiring drivers that works for them. My info is not hearsay. I spoke with their recruiters multiple times, and they're very responsive on Messenger as well.
KLLM. They have their own school in three states, requiring that you have your permit, and they'll help you get your CDL. Those schools can only train students from those states, and a few other adjoining states. Their schools, as with many companies that offer company training, requires a year commitment.
If you don't live in one of their approved states (I don't), you must get your CDL through other means. For a new driver, that means a private school. After you get your CDL, they will then require you to go through their refresher course, which is only 8 or 9 days, and yes, you'll sign a contract for the cost of that refresher course, but it's only for 6 months, not a year or more.
At the time I was looking, their director of recruiting called me one day and said he was aware I was talking with their recruiters and wanted to update me on a change in their situation. He very politely went on to tell me they were temporarily hiring inexperienced drivers from their schools only. The reason was that they were struggling to have enough trainers to cover their own school graduates, and simply didn't have enough to also work with refresher course students. He said they only required 3 months experience to get you into your own truck, suggested I give them a call when I had earned that experience, and wished me well.
I've not spoken with them since July of this year, so I'm not aware if their situation has changed.
Anne is also correct about the new ELDT mandates. There is a list of schools that are in compliance with the mandate, and if the school isn't on that list, very likely a trucking company will not be interested in anyone coming from such a non-approved program.
Posted: 8 months ago
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Intro and a few newbie questions
Welcome aboard! As you're finding out, this site is a fantastic resource!
Posted: 8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Truck Stop Follies and Assorted Stupidity
This happened earlier in the week in my home town of New Bern, NC, on the Trent River bridge. The driver survived, still in the hospital. The truck was not speeding, but thought to have been at or near the speed limit, which is 60 at this point, during heavy rain, tanker was empty.
Posted: 9 months, 3 weeks ago
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Chuck Norris Jokes You've Heard
Chuck Norris never has to trim his beard. It won't grow without his permission.
Posted: 10 months, 1 week ago
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Old Man Leaves Six-Figure Salary to Begin Training as a Trucker- Psychiatric Evaluation Pending
Congratulations! Wishing you all the best!
Posted: 10 months, 1 week ago
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Old Man Leaves Six-Figure Salary to Begin Training as a Trucker- Psychiatric Evaluation Pending
Best wishes on your test! You've got this!
Posted: 1 month, 3 weeks ago
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Pre-Trip Inspection Test...Any tips/Advice?
Our school training director did a YouTube video on the pre-trip. We were not required to do it in his exact order, but the video was a big help. I watched that thing every day. Also, one of my instructors showed me the order in which he did his in-cab portion, which made more sense to me and was easier to remember.
Also, we were allowed to use a cheat sheet during our on-field training. Some here have mentioned flash cards. I made an outline to use as a reminder (front and back of two pieces of paper), put it in a clear sleeve to keep the dirt/grime off of it, and carried it every pre-trip I did during training. Each time, I used the cheat sheet less and less, until I was getting through the pre-trip without help.
On exam day, I missed two things: I failed to call out check air pressure on the drive tires, and I missed a torsion bar on the trailer tandems.