Comments By Pelican

Well that can't be good.

FWIW, the service stations on the I-80 toll road are my cup of tea. Very nice places.

When in doubt, I'll try to find a rest area before a truck stop. I dunno why but I just find rest areas more serene. Well, some are.

We live in a world where people have been programmed to be offended by everything.

Man, this needs to be on a billboard or something it's so damn true

Just try to stay with your first company at least a year. It helps you get a feel for things over time and future employers are less likely to view you as a "job hopper."

And go ahead and fill out this form, it will have you apply for like ten different companies at once.

Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

"Is the school you are going to attend affiliated with any company?"

Thank you for your reply, BK!

No, it's not a company affiliated CDL program. It's a school offered through a local community college. It's a free program and in very high demand so I consider myself mighty lucky to have been accepted... Especially since I don't have to endure what I've been told amounts to endentured servitude once licensed.

Yes... as I understand it, the school will have recruiters available. I just want to ensure that I'm adequately prepared to ask the right questions and make smart decisions so I can become the best driver I can be. I was a boy scout in my youth so I have a deep ingrained need to be prepared. Thank you for the solid advice. I assure that I have no desire to purchase/ lease a truck at this time. Maybe after a few years once I've gained the necessary skills and experience. I want to be confident that I know the ins and outs of the industry, and accrue a sizeable savings before I take that plunge.

I suppose I'll just need to be more patient and see what all the school has to offer. I don't mean to put the cart before the horse. I'm just excited and I want to set myself up for success.

Thank you again for your input and your time. It's greatly appreciated!

Covenant is almost exclusively teams based. They have a good reputation for taking care of their drivers.

Click on this link to learn more about team driving with them.

Good luck, I will never team drive lol

I have a buddy that worked for Pam until he had to leave due to medical reasons. Pam is a good company. He spoke really highly of it. Pam does not do flatbed, however.

If you're dead set on that, here's a few flatbed companies that will help you get your CDL. Click on the company to see their program details:

Maverick

TMC Transportation

Cypress Trucking

Swift Transport

Roehl

McElroy Truck Lines ....I'm not sure if McElroy will pay for your schooling or just reimburse you. May want to call about that.

Above are links to each company's cdl program. Swift and Roehl have multiple divisions, including flatbed, but also others like dry van and reefer. (Not sure if Roehl does reefer)

The other 4 I listed, as far as I can tell, are exclusively flatbed bed companies. So there ya go. Many of these companies have physical fitness tests beyond your usual DOT physical due to the demanding nature of the job so just be aware of that.

That's solid advice, BK.

My company has said they prefer us to use recap but I had two days where I got back 5:45 and 6:45 respectively. I think I'm gonna start doing 34 hour resets more. What's the best way to ask for a reset?

How often do you guys do 34 hour resets?

When I run out of hours and only get back 7 to 9 hours over the next two days, then I do a 34.

Laura

How often do you guys do 34 hour resets?

I thought the way that the buttons and stuff was laid out on my trainer's Pete 579 was just all wrong and counter intuitive.

Asked my company for a Freightliner and I like it a lot. Seems underpowered compared to the 579 engine but that's not a deal breaker for me.

579 has a digital gage cluster. Some like that. I'm just fine with the regular cluster on my 2020 cascadia.

The 579 has had lots of issues with its compartment door not latching properly. It opens up on the bed as well, so when my trainer's bed got moldy from all the water seepage, he had to get a new bed. A common problem was water leakage on the compartment door, said our shop. Cascadia compartment door hasn't had this problem plus it doesn't open up the sleeper.

My cascadia has fog lights, super helpful. Our 579s don't have fog lights.

I'm glad I asked for a Freightliner.