Profile For SupermuttSadie

SupermuttSadie, I'm enjoying having you in here. You seem very well informed. Some of your information is a little muddled, but it's obvious you've done a lot of research or had some exposure to trucking previously.

We would love you to stay active in our forum during your training and your rookie year. I'll bet you could make an awesome training diary for us, and you could even post about the traveling lifestyle with a pet. That's information that could be so helpful to others.

Hey, I thought of two things I know you'd learn a lot from. First, is our High Road CDL Training Program. It's absolutely free, and will put you way ahead of the class at school. Get started as soon as possible. It's a lot of really valuable information. Secondly, I know you would benefit greatly from my book, Hit The Road. It's available on Amazon as an e-book or a paperback. It's packed with information and tips I've learned from my years on the road. It's written especially for newcomers.

Stay in touch! We are happy to help you.

I've already started on the High Road CDL. Just finished the first section with 100%.

It looks like I will go with SWIFT. They have a school in Memphis. I can wait to do the knowledge tests since I can drive over to W. Memphis to get them and I can do the classroom aspect there at the school. AR is $50 total for knowledge tests; general and endorsements AND the skills test AND the CDL license. One fee at the start. I may do a journal. I'm usually a private person, but if it really helps another. I would consider it.

Thanks Dave!

You are not required to do 34 hour breaks. I seldom do them anymore. Once you've developed yourself as a competent driver, you may find you prefer running re-caps.

Most rookies find it less complicated to run hard and then do a 34. You'll develop your own style and will discover the type of places you enjoy taking a 34 hour break.

Okay this makes sense. I've heard some seasoned driver's mention they drive 6 days a week 8 ish hour days and then take a day off and start all over. For some reason I thought it was driving 10 out of 14 hours, sleep 8 and then do it again until a forced reset. But I had thought it would be better to drive 8ish hours (planning around cities and rush hour for breaks) and just keep going only taking a day off here and there as needed. I'm sure it can change from week to week so being flexible is key.

I remember many many years ago, trucker's prefered to drive at night and sleep during the day (don't have to worry too much about traffic even in cities) but somewhere along the way this changed. I don't see too many trucks at night anymore, at least not like it used to be in the 80's. Someone mentioned it has to do with the hours allowed to drive in a certain period so if you show up at a shipper in the middle of the night that isn't 24/7 you have to sit until they open. But isn't it first come first serve? If you're at the gate first thing AM, won't you get in and out faster?

I also considered swift.The way I understood the tuition plan was,for the first year or so they took a payment from each check to pay for the program.Then for the next year they would return your payment on each check.seemed like a pretty good program.My guess is that is what you read.So if you stay 2 years the program is 100 percent free.If you stay one year you just paid back the cost.Maybe they changed it but that's what I understood it to be.

I called Swift and you are correct. First year is $75 per week taken out and second year is $50 per week paid back. It isn't really a contract per se and you can technically leave at any time. If before the one year pay off then must pay the entire amount back. If a person leaves after the one year with the company, nothing is owed. However, if you stay then you get some of it back over the next year. So far everything looks really good. Will probably join their program if Knight doesn't get back to me. Thanks for the info again.

Knight has no contract whatsoever. You're an employee before you start school. Your cdl costs will be paid if you stay a year though. Many choose to stay longer. Large companies have abundant resources, terminals, access to different divisions and dedicated routes, there are many perks that dont necessarily show up as pay.

They have a very short training peroid of just two weeks if you complete their top gun course and are suitable to go solo that quick. You then do 30000 solo miles under the guidance of a Driver development manager. There is good points and bad points to it.

Swift is also a great place to launch a career. The cpm alone doesn't dictate your income. Many of us made significantly higher income on lower cpm. I started at .44 and made 74k or somewhere north my first year with Knight.

What determines your income is your performance and your work ethic. I would concentrate more on being the safest, most reliable and easy to work with driver. In addition, ancillary pay often changes things. What's important is your year long effective rate. For instance, im at 64 cpm, but my effective rate is 71 cpm, due to bonuses, ancillary pay, etc.

I would also recommend drafting up some letters or document that your working for your family right now or somethingof the sort. Having employment gaps is a big sticking point, most carrierswont be able to hire you if you have them. Its a federal requirement that carriers have to jump through. Your going to need to account for your time on paper

I like being productive, I don't like causing waves (unless there's a really really good reason). I am a realistic optimist. I am dependable and reliable and as I mentioned in my original post won't need home time.

Also, I remember reading something about driving for so many days before the 34 hour reset but I can't remember how many days? Was it 8 days? What do people who don't need home time usually do for their 34? Do you plan to be at a terminal? A truck stop? Walmart (those that allow)? Just curious.

I left a job at the end of April to pursue some schooling but ultimately it isn't going to work out (I need way more time then I have). I just looked into it and I will be okay. 6 months is typically max, some are 3 months but if there's proof of education or even side gig work, even "looking for work" (not sure how that could be proved though), is still included. It also says that carriers with CDL schools are often times very lenient as long as I have a good driving record.

I will also look into Knight. It does sound like a good opportunity. Thanks!

I also considered swift.The way I understood the tuition plan was,for the first year or so they took a payment from each check to pay for the program.Then for the next year they would return your payment on each check.seemed like a pretty good program.My guess is that is what you read.So if you stay 2 years the program is 100 percent free.If you stay one year you just paid back the cost.Maybe they changed it but that's what I understood it to be.

Oh, that is very interesting. I didn't read it as returning the money after the first year. But then the 2 year contract would make sense for "free" cdl school. I may have to go back and read that. I think they have a school in Memphis, and maybe one in Texas too. Thanks for clarifying that! Will revisit their website.

I do not want to work for swift for 2+ years. One year would be fine. 2 years is ridiculous!

Don't be so quick to reject Swift. All that garbage on the internet is useless information. Swift is an amazing company that could serve you very well. They have all kinds of opportunities for their drivers. You could easily transition to another division in the company if you wanted something different. We've had a lot of our members start there and stay on for many years.

I think you would be very surprised to find they have a very large number of million miler drivers. It takes anywhere from eight to ten years to run that many miles. They also have a lot of multi-million milers. That's a testament to their operation that you've never investigated.

The losers in trucking always blame the company. Swift generously gives a lot of people the chance to prove themselves. When they fail they never admit how poorly they were doing. They always blame Swift.

Don't limit your opportunities by believing all the lies on the internet.

I don't have an issue with Swift, there are good drivers and bad at every company. Swift just happens to have more drivers than most so law of averages will be higher. But it says right on their own website that they are requiring new cdl paid program drivers a 26 month contract. If the pay is 45-48 cents per mile for more than 6 months it wouldn't be worth it, especially if they're deducting money to pay back some of the cdl schooling. They have a great pet policy and benefits are probably cheaper then other companies. Not to mention lots of terminals across the country. I originally thought they'd be a good fit until I saw the contract amount. I just don't like the idea of being locked in with one company for more than two years.

Most companies with pet policies won't let you bring your sidekick on until you upgrade. There are many companies who offer training, most will require potentially hitting all states. Knight and Swift have good training programs, I don't know their pet policy. CFI, Prime, TMC, Maverick and many more offer training. Get in where you fit in, stay there for at least one year, then figure out from there.

I did know that companies won't let me bring my furkid til I'm solo. It's fine, it will be an adjustment for all of us.

Swift is now requiring a 26 month contract for new hires to the CDL school and a $40 per (maybe per paycheck, maybe per month can't remember) payback for a portion of that time. I do not want to work for swift for 2+ years. One year would be fine. 2 years is ridiculous!

Prime requires too long with a trainer (6 months I think), I haven't looked at Knight yet though.

TMC.... I don't think I could do flatbed no matter how much I'd prefer it!!! There is no way I could tarp. I'm just shy of 5'3" and I don't think I could get a 100 pound tarp onto the trailer, let alone on the load itself. It would be great exercise but I think I'd flunk out of CDL school just because of the tarping. I wish I knew someone local that could show me how and then see if I could do it first.

Verihas looks like a great company but they're not hiring from AR.

I've done a lot of research so far, but there's so much to look at and I decided to come here to narrow down options. I'll try to avoid giving too much useless info but every person's situation is different. Obviously, there's no one-for-all fix in this industry. To disclose I am a 51 year old single female with a 25 lbs supermut. So here goes the life story (LOL), My mother and I bought a property in SW AR a little over a year ago. Unfortunately, good paying jobs are scarce and my mom hates AR. SO, we want to sell and I want to go OTR (and live in my truck with my dog). It will take a while to sell the house. I am currently unemployed and now in the process of selling everything I can (I have an 8x10 utility trailer and want to pair my stuff down to fit on the trailer to make it easy to store). There is a college close by that has a CDL program. It would be nice to go, but I don't think I have the luxury right now after looking at my finances. Once I go solo, I can't think of any reason I need any home time (there might be something my mom needs me to do before the house sells, but that's it). I'm looking for a company with a pet policy and preferably hired on day one of cdl training (for at least some income). My mom, of course can keep my dog while I am in training (though my dog, who is a velcro pup is going to hate that I'm gone for several months). I would prefer to drive in the midwest and south, basically cutting out the northeast coastal and Pacific coast states (probably like everyone else). Personally, it would be nice to find a long term company. I'd really rather not move around if posible. It seems many switch at the one year mark (or even earlier). I am defintely a planner and researcher (and very good at it). -I have a clean driving record, including several years of safe driving experience as a box truck driver. -I do have Hypothyroidism which is managed with meds (in case anyone has anything to chime in about experiences with that and the DOT physical). -I would prefer to drive a manual transmission but, so many are auto's now, I probably can't be too picky about it (although I'd prefer the manual cdl license).

I'm probably missing something but feel free to ask if clarification is needed. Thank you in advance.