Comments By Andre G.

I've been accepted into training school. I'm wondering can anyone offer any advice regarding how/what to pack? I understand the toiletries etc but any advice would be great? What should I expect in the 18 days straight from 7am-6pm?

Thanks

Andre, StarCar is a former owner operator for many years. she has been missing in action this week, but she will return I'm sure. Maybe she will comment on your thread when she gets in here. She financed several trucks various ways - she can sing the blues for ya, if that's what you want to hear.

Lol Old school I appreciate that. I've been all over This sight and read post from various people you have commented on when it probably didn't even pertain to me at this point in the game, but again I appreciate you. Hope to hear from Starcar soon. Trucking truth is awesome and so are you. Thanks again and GOD bless you.

PJ thanks for responding. Just wondering. I'm also looking to see if anyone knows someone that has purchased their own truck from their personal bank/credit union? Again thanks pj. If u can answer that or know someone let me know.

Thanks

I'M WONDERING IF ANYONE ACTUALLY OWN THEIR OWN TRACTOR TRAILER? IF SO HOW'S IT GOING? DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN AUTHORITY OR BROKERS LICENSE? THANKS

Thanks everyone. I'm leaning towards KLLM in Ft Worth, Tx. Also does Brett only answer to those who've been apart of this forum for a long time? I know he's busy but I'm just curious?

Well, just to toss this out there.... there are many really good company sponsored schools out there. There are advantages and disadvantages to the different schools. By going through a non company sponsored school, you have to put a lot of cash out of pocket. You may get it reimbursed after you get hired over many months. You will not make any more money either way. You will still have to go out with a trainer for the company you choose after school either way. Many of the company sponsored schools will pay for your trip to the school. I started with Roehl. It was a great school and they have treated me great. Just don't want you to discount company sponsored training with out researching them as well.

Great stuff. I appreciate that. Each time I lean one way I hear from someone else to go the other lol. I was thinking private so I can go to whatever company I want but I don't just have that kind of cash laying around. So looks like school will be it for me. I def appreciate everyone's opinions. Decisions decisions decisions.

Also check Quality School. Quality Companies is a subdivision of Celadon. They just open a new school in Laredo, TX.

Hey there thanks. Ill look into them as well. I got a call from swift today so I have to contact them back in the am. I'm leaning towards KLLM in ft worth but I wish I could do a private school so I won't be tied down for a year or so. My goal is to purchases my own truck although most say no. I know ppl making good money having their own truck. Will keep praying and decide. I wanna start by 2nd/3rd week in September.

How'd things go for you today?

I originally wanted to go to El Paso Community College which partners with Mesilla Valley Training Institute. However, I discovered that Averitt Express, at least right now, does not hire from El Paso, Tx anymore. Averitt requires to live not more than 150 miles away from the hiring location. If you want to get hired in Grand Prairie, TX, you need to live not more than 150 miles away.

Averitt have a good starting pay. During their Student Driver Programs you already receive a flat rate of 600 per week.

The Stevens Driving Academy is in Mesquite, Tx. They have a great program, but accelerated. You do your licence in 17 days. The on-the-job training is very good and it take at least 5 weeks. You can extend the training until you feel comfortable to drive your own truck. Stevens make sure that you drive all the different area of the United States. In the training, you are required to drive North East, South East/Florida, Midwest, Southwest, Northwest, and California. They will make you drive through the Rocky Mountains and through major cities as part of the training. During the training you are the one who does the trip planning. The trainer will help you, but at the end of the training you should be able to plan your trip and using the Electronic On-Board Logs. During training you make 400 per week.

Also consider International Schools. They are good and they partner with Werner Enterprises. It is one of the schools approved by Werner Enterprises. The closest facility from your place is in Dallas. You don't need to take the Greyhound to get to their place. Werner reimburses the tuition up to $6000.

Check their student program: http://www.werner.com/content/drivers/driver_opportunities/student_driver_program.cfm

Here you can search for schools that they approve in your area: https://drivers.werner.com/Recruiting/Prospect/New

Hey thanks. You've given me some very helpful information to look into. I'll keep you posted on my journey. Thank again

Check the Benefits of each employer on their website. They also give the information how many percent of the loads are drop and hook or non-touch freight. Long Haul Companies have usually drop and hook, but medium haul companies such as Knight might have more. Reefer is usually non-touch freight. LTL is usually touch freight, because as an LTL driver you are also hired as a dock worker. Check each company.

Drop and Hook/no-touch freight:

FFE: 70% (the other 30% are either non-touch freight. You might need to alley dock at the dock and wait until the trailer gets unloaded and loaded. In some cases, you have to help unloading yourself. If you are dedicated and the account is Family Dollar you should exprect to help unloading. Other account may require no unloading at all.) Knight: 70% Stevens: 60% Central Refrigerated: 70% CRST: 99% non-touch freight and 80% drop and hook. Swift: 85% drop and hook CREngland: 65% drop and hook Averitt Express: 90% no touch freight

The best way would be to go to a truck driving school that is approved by Averitt Express which offers 240 hours of instruction and the start your career with Averitt Express. If you don't mind to wear a uniform and be clean shaven, this would be a good choice. If you can't finance that then choose one of the schools in Dallas area. There are so many company-sponsored schools in the Dallas area. Dallas seems to be a major hub.

It's such a BLESSING that GOD put people like you on this earth That don't mind helping others when you haven't even made it all the way yourself. I really appreciate you. I so new to this and have a few fears but I do k kw I'm a go getter and catch on very fast. Again thanks and ill work on this info tonight. Please keepe posted on any and ALL info at your earliest convenience. You can also private message me anything if that's another rought. I'm sure this post will help someone else as well all over or in DFW area. Have a blessed day

I live near Austin. I wanted to go through the local truck driving school ran by a guy out of Abilene. As it turns out, during my immediate time right out of the Army I didn't get to go. Now I'm going up to Dallas to go through C.R. England's course to drive with them. I know, I've heard all the negatives about them (low pay, etc) but I gotta do what I gotta do. All I did is apply and I immediately got a call back to go up there and train. Looking back, I wish I could have made things work out to where I could go through the month-long school and learn the trucks better. Now I will have to rely on my trainer to be squared away and teach me correctly. Of course, I will be on here checking facts and getting tips from all the veterans and pros out there.

Timothy S., check into a company called Action Career Training. They are a Texas based trucking school that runs about 30 days long. When I went and talked to the instructor he described the course as being a LOT of wheel time so that you will not only pass, but be a decent driver too.

Hello I'm also out of Dallas tx and wanting to know how is it going for you here at CR? Any advice you could offer? KLLM in Ft Worth?