Comments By TxsGent

Off topic, but just have to throw it in to the mix. Frequently at truck stops there are people either trying to sell you something. Sometimes it is a sob story. I was fueling and a guy asked if he could wash my windows for a buck. They were dirty and they needed the cleaning. He only asked for a dollar. He cleaned the windows, mirrors and headlights and did a great job. He worked for the money. I think I have him a five and I would like to do it often. I wouldn't leave my tire pressure up to someone off the street, but if a trained person would work for tips, I would occasionally bite. Still looking to use the credits that Love's put on the card.

1 killed in bridge collapse in Central Texas

Sue, Lumper fees are very high on my mind right now. I don't understand the process, but I have handed over three checks in the last three days.

The price was not determined until the job was complete. After the job is complete, I received the amount and their federal tax number. I sent that to my company and they send an authorization number for a ComCheck.

In my very limited experience, when dealing with lumpers, it isn't just unloading or loading the truck. They are like contract warehouse workers. I had to wait while they broke the contents of the pallets down into separate outbound pallets. It really ate up my clock.

Andrew, Welcome aboard and a pre-welcome to PTL. I went to orientation the Thursday and Friday before Thanksgiving.

Most likely your phase one training will be in a standard. That is 5,000 with a trainer. Phase two will most likely be in an automatic teamed with another P2. Phase two is 40,000 miles and expect to see California a lot. That is where I am now. Getting a trainer and a P2 partner made me feel like a buzzard circling with a group just waiting for the opportunity to move in.

PTL is not all automatics. The newer trucks are. I suspect after I finish P2, I will be assigned a manual with some miles on it.

Hope that helps.

You can definitely team drive, but the driving responsibility would be equally shared. Team trucks stay rolling for the most part. The company I am in training with utilizes teamed trainees to get freight to the west coast in a timely manner. A solo driver is restricted to eleven hours of drive time, but a team, twenty-two. When you throw in fuel stops and mandatory breaks, that is around the clock.

Soren, I think that the best option would be for just you to get your CDL. A team driver does not make more money. The driver actually makes less for the miles he or she drives, but gets money for all the paid miles the truck travels. That comes out a little ahead. For a husband/wife team, this is a benefit because all the money goes to the same household. Companies, don't know if it is most all or a few, will not allow a CDL rider. Experienced drivers can correct me if I am wrong.

I just started phase 2 of training. Most of what I hear is positive. I believe after the company went employee owned, there was a big push on improving equipment. All the new tractors are automatics. I am not a recruiter, but will try to answer questions from my observations. A recruiter can give you the sanctioned answers and have access to more info.

Kent R.,

I am a newb, so I am only speaking from personal experience. I went to a four week private school and then took a month off. That month caused a real slowdown. I filled out an application one night and had a bus ticket confirmation the next evening for orientation. Because it was the week before Thanksgiving, trainers were scares. The company that I chose will do everything they can to get you home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most of the trainers were heading home.

If your driving record and health are good, I suspect it will go quickly.

D-Wash,

I am going to go against the community consensus on this.

It depends.

If the first week is to prepare you for the tests; the school provides transportation and time for the test; and the costs of the tests are included in the price of the school, it will benefit you very little to take the tests in advance. Most likely the first week, 40 hours, add to the hours on the certificate you will receive. If the tests are on your own dime in addition to the cost of training and you have to provide your own transportation, there could be some benefit.

If you go through the High Road Training program and can breeze through the questions, you won't need an additional trip to the DMV. You will be able to breeze through the tests with confidence.

You really need to talk with the school to help answer your questions.

Hope this different prospective helps.

To piggyback off of Brett, where team driving pays off is when it is a husband and wife team. While not making significantly more money individually, all the money earned goes to the same household.