Comments By Cactus Mo~

Just my piece of advise. Getting hazmat is a big process that cost a lot. I would wait until you are out of school with a full CDL - A before testing. It is good to get as many endorsements as you can. Why rush though?

That is exactly what I was thinking. I know what I am ready for and can handle so my goal was to get my CDL first and then go from there.

Hello,

My husband and I are currently at Quality Drivers. They do recommend that you have tankers, doubles/triples, and hazmat but they are not required to get processed for your permit. So far I'm very pleased with our experience, however we are staying at the hotel so I can't say anything about the dorms.

Good Luck!

When I was there before we all stayed at the Quality Inn in Greenfield. No endorsements were ever mentioned. we hardly had any range time due to the amount of students coming in and break downs. I know thats how it goes and willing to accept it again. hope to see you there she hasnt given me a date as of yet.

Well good news came in today. I never thought it would happen but I am going to grasp it and be thankful. I had sent an email to Quality Drivers recruiter from a year ago as those know I was there a year ago and had to leave due to some issues with my daughter so I was unable to test. I was given approval to go back providing I pass the permit tests within 8 days. I have no doubt that I can do that as I did it the first try last time. I already know what to expect from the instructors and class room and what documents I will need and already have in a file folder. What I dont know is the changes that have occurred in the last year maybe one of y'all can tell me. I had heard at one time that tanker was required but unsure of that. I have a whole new attitude about going back this time I watched as some of the classmates became cliques and it became a drunk fest I am not going there to party! I am going there to learn and perfect my skills as a driver. I am a little nervous that they might expect more from me as I have done this once already. I do feel better about going back simply because they are the ones who taught me everything I know so there wont be conflict of different teaching styles. Anways will keep everyone updated.

Quality Drivers

I was told that I didnt need hazmat I may go back later and take it but for now I am focusing on what I need.

I have always wanted to get on with Knight but I dont think my lack of employment (stay at home mom) would meet their qualifications. I have no tickets, no accidents and no criminal activity.

Originally, my husband was going to get his CDL and drive OTR for a year during which time I would ride with him. He was scheduled to go to Central Ref, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense to do the husband/wife team. We started looking over companies again reviewing the team options. We settled on Quality Drivers which is the company sponsored school for Celadon. It made sense for us since they require you to team initially, everything is paid including meals, and they don't withhold anything for the schooling. You sign a commitment to drive for them for 120,000 miles, and once you get your truck and partner the pay is $0.36/mile(split).

After speaking with a recruiter we were scheduled to begin classes on Monday, March 10, they provided transportation by Greyhound so we arrived late Sunday night. The school has dorms, but they were full so they placed us at the Quality Inn in Greenfield. The rooms are clean and it's better than I expected to have arrangements with a trucking school. The shuttle gets you to the school in time for breakfast and then the first week is classroom time. You spend Monday and Tuesday going over the material for your permit tests. The company doesn't require the tankers, doubles/triples, or Hazmat endorsements but they do recommend getting all of them and they pay for them. On Wednesday you go to the BMV to test and then whatever you don't pass you can go back on Thursday and Friday. Derek passed everything except Hazmat on Wed., but I failed my Indiana license and had to go back Thurs. but then I passed everything except Hazmat. You continue sitting in class for the remainder of the first week even after you pass your exams, because your required to have so many hours of class time.

Starting the second week if you have passed and been processed for your permit you get to go out on the range. You'll start out on range 1 just learning to straight back then as you get that you'll start learning to offset and parallel and be moved to range 2 & 3 which are supervised but they're not telling you every single thing to do like in range 1. Now I was a nervous wreck at this point of actually getting in a truck, I had never drove anything bigger than a pickup and nothing other than automatic. Since I had no idea how to pull out with a clutch the instructor worked with me and I was amazed at how simple it was.

We just finished our third week which was pretty exciting. You get to start your drive time on the road during week 3. We both were scheduled on the road Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and got an hour each day. We done well, they score you on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest, and they use these scores to determine when your ready to move to range 4 and 5 and when your ready to test. If driving that day you'll either be scheduled in the AM or PM group, and they'll be 4 students per instructor in each truck.

Let me know if you have any questions and I'll continue to update.

I was in one of the first set of classes with them. Sounds like they have cleaned up things and I see changes have happened again. I loved all of the instructors on the range and road training and miss MAX so much. I had to leave due to a family thing but learned a lot there the biggest problem was how many students there were so we did a lot of waitng back then. Glad to see that you are enjoying yourself.

Wow my scores are really fluctuating and today I just couldnt get into the game. I think its because my houise was very chaotic with my teenage daughter's friends and such. I think I did very well yesterday however need to work on the combination a bit more. What do you guys think?

Thanks everyone for your answers and suggestions. I ordered my driving record and it says, no violations, accidents or convictions on file. Does that mean the accidents that I was involved in 3 and 5 years ago do not have to be reported on the application? Is that the only record that I would need to worry about?

I'm looking for something near Bellingham, WA and it seems not too many companies who hire recent grads are hiring in my area. Do you suggest going directly to some of the company website(ie. Prime, swift, Knight, melton) and using their online application and calling the recruiters to see if they are hiring in my area? Thanks again in advance for all the help you guys are providing.

Check our Gordon Trucking out of Pacific WA. They hire recent grads ! Shelly Green answered some of my questions .

Gordon Trucking is one of my goals. I would love to get on with them in the near future but I realize I am a beginner and have to start with the basics which for me means school first so when I have completed my year I may be calling them.

I recently decided to join the truck driving industry but have no idea which schools are better than others. I need for it to be in Indiana and Preferably charge nothing up front.. I recently tried C1 Driver Solutions and that place is a joke!!!! theres no one on one time your pretty much just a paycheck to them. On top of that the driver agent lied to me about literally everything and i mean EVERYTHING! From the transportation to school from hotel, the hotel itself, the pay, where I'd be going afterwords.. everything and I want to make sure that doesnt happen when I find another school. Someone please help any advice on schools would be GREATLY appreciated.

If your trying to go free and stay within Indiana I would check out Celadon There program is not perfect however they will teach you. I was there once just be prepared to wait a lot.