Comments By Jon R.

I applied at knight on Monday drug test on Tuesday as well as hair. I know I'm gonna be positive on hair. I got a prescription for Oxy. I called the MRO rt o give them my script info to be proactive.. Still no results. I'm getting agitated. I have a perfectly safe MVR and PSP. How long should it take? Or do any of y'all know of a company dedicated Denver Portland?

first OXY is a synthetic , and not sure about the hair follicle test "but on the 5 panel " DOT drug screen those synthetics " NORCO / OXY /TRAMADOL/ HYDROCODONE dont show up !!!!

only codINE / heroine / THC / COCANE / METH SHOWS UP on a 5 panel test ...

i've been told the follicle test is the same .. I will research this ... and I know others who've applied to knight & the didn't do follicle test so ???

second NEVER tell them of any scripts you take ,,,,,

I'm on fenatnly / tramadol ..and it dont show on the 5 panel tests ..just took one for D& D in gooding Id 3 mos ago. I drive casually for a guy leased to them .....Fent. is synthetic, tramadol isn't opiate

the safety lady in gooding didnt even know this info .

I hope that helped !

This is the best Forum I've seen online. I'm 60 years old and needing a new window of opportunity. Lost my office job and now I'm looking to get out on the road for the next 10 years or so before I have to retire. I could sure use some advice on how to proceed. There's a trucking school where I live that I can attend, but I'm wondering if going straight to a company-run training program would be better. Seems like they push you harder at those though and I wonder if my age will be a hindrance in that situation? I'm healthy, but don't have the same stamina that I had in my thirties. I don't drink or smoke. Any input would be appreciated. Also, I'm tending to be attracted to those few companies that have auto transmissions. Should I re-think that attitude? Thanks.

I'm 57 , 34 yrs driving , I'm broke down & disabled ( have an inoperable tumor in my spine & have a DOT med card ) can work part time ( under ticker to work program w/ soc sec program can make 1,000 a month ( so I drive casually ) . did the instructor thing for 6 yrs , loved it ...just didnt like the CDL"mill thing that the school went to "

and I still drive casually ....So if I can still do it you can too my friend .....I trained many OLD GEEZERS at Sage from 2006 - 2011 they were in their 50- 70's to drive ...you still got a future .... trained a Dr. & his wife to drive team ... they bought a truck O/O leased to a co .in 2008 ... he was 54 ....:)

Cool. I wasn't sure if I would still have to do what the others without a permit were doing or not. I really don't want to take those tests again (Which I'm sure I can pass), that would make my time and money spent getting my permit a waste of time. I'm sure we will be studying anyway, pre trip and such.

with some schools you could do specialized training ( but wouldn't get the certificated that is required by some trucking co.'s (the PTDI accredation that shows you did all class hrs & BTW required .. through school ) all Sage schools nation wide ) will do this specialized training ( did alot of this specialized training ) .. and it's 40 hrs BTW and some times 20 hrs just to get your license .. then 4 hr. w/ skills examier . usually neutral party set up w/ state to do testing ) and will cost less w/ for the school ... usually 100.00 an hour for truck w/ instructor ..

hope this was usefull ... some schools will REQUIRE you to do entire course ...

After being in this industry for 34 yrs , then instructing for 5 yrs , and running for motor west in caldwell Id "casual " while @ Sage tech . CDL school , for 7 mos before lessors aquired them ) i always ran paper logs & taught HOS there @ Sage " ... then motor west ran people net . and then back to paper logs ...now I run casual for another trkng co. leased to D&D trans in gooding id. and the e-logs "caught me off guard " ( now this guy has 9 trucks w/ NO qualcom ) and 10 w/ qualcom ) so some of us "casual drivers (slip seat have to bounce back & forth ) ...I can see the good & bad " if the Co. has a Over booked load & they dont give enough time your screw'd , or if the qualcom screws up there is alot you have to do to defend your self for violations ...& I have come to the conclusion that the over booked loads through D& D are their problem ..and they can RE schedule ...and I'm NOT gonna hurry !

so the good & bad ....the e-logs you must run legally & must change duty electronically & must abide by 14 hr. rule , and 11 on 10 off ..and cannot do split sleeper ,,, and it better to communicate w/ them if load is gonna be late OR problems arise ... and get next load assignment ....

the bad for us old drivers is we cannot fudge our logs to get the load there ...( and dispatch should have figured the time required when booking the load ! ) a on going problem w/ all companies & dispatchers .....which was my pet peve years ago when hauling produce .hurry up & wait !!! with paper logs we could fudge paper ... today you go off duty on change status ,,if you've waited 8 hrs at shipper / receiver for load ( you stay off duty 2 more & get your next 14 hr. for days 24 clock )and get detention time . and take a long nap of course !

and they will continue to do this do this ...and they will lie to us ......!

the trick I learned really quick is you use off duty alot instead of sleeper @ shipper & recveiver ,,

my counsin worked as an instructor @ sage & works as an OTR driver @ CDN logistics ...and runs Qualcom ....he's my go to guy ...

Well , its been 4 weeks and im back in springfield getting ready for my test on tues. Id be lying if i said i wasnt nervous, but i am ready to move on to phase 2 and start getting paid!

The next three days will be spent practicing and preparing.

in the pre trip in CAB ...dont forget the AIR loss test 125 ) operating pressure ----90 governor comes )on 60 -70 alarm sounds 20-45- and tractor protection valve ( but turn you key on before you press exhaust your brakes ......w/ key on) ....you can miss 17 on the rest & still pass the out side inspection ....that one test will fail you ...)

as a driver w/ 34 yrs driving /instructor / 6 yrs and PTDI cert testing ,,,I know .....I've failed a few ...

I want to get my CDL and become a truck driver. However, I was in a minor accident in March of this year. I would like to know if I would even be hirable. I rear ended the vehicle in front of me at about 15 mph. The damage was minimal for the other driver. I was wondering that if I were to go through a private school and acquire a CDL, would a company be willing to hire me even with an accident on my personal drivers license. Anyone have any helpful information on this? I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Ryan

yes you would be ,,, the only accidents I have ever had in 34 yrs driving truck & 40 yrs driving car was being rearended 3 times ... the last one disabled me .. in 2008 .. but was a weird case ( they found a inoperable tumor incased in a syrinx cyst in my spinal canal ) ... cronic pain / and will result in paralysys eventually ...until then I keep driving ..and the ticket to work program allows Soc Sec disability folks to earn 1,000 a mon. in addition to disability .

I still drive casually ..2-3 days then a week off .. and have a medical card w/ restrictions ) I'm on fentanly ..not on a 5 panel drug screen either ,, I was an CDL instructor for 5 yrs as well .and know all the inn's & outs to qualify as a driver ..

so disclose it as a vehicle accident ...and dont worry about ..and as long as you can pass a DOT physical your good ...

hope that answers your questions

Hi every one , I've posted here a few times now , & in my 34 year career I pulled everything from single trailers to tripples . and when allowed in the 80's in Nevada "quad's w/ special permit's .. 150 ft' .. after a few injuries I tried the instruction thing w/ good results ( sage tech . caldwell id. for 5 yrs ) ,,the backing skills for newbies was a new thing to get used to learn ,,I found a trick though "I'll explain "

all landing gears on trailers are set 10 feet back on ALL trailers " to get your first jack knife cut weither in your parallell park OR off set you don't want to go past a 45 degree cut ,"either side ,,once you see the MIDDLE part of landing gear (@ the center of the X) in the west coast mirror you have a 45 degree cut "if you measure the angle of the tractor & trailer ) ..then "immediately "you start chasing the trailer ,, then once your trailer tandems OR rear of trailer is at the the first set of cones for off set or Parallel park you do OPPOSITE cut the loos for that same spot on other mirror .. then and correct ,,you are allowed 2 pull ups in all states to correct . and back into off set or parallel park ...you must do the parallel or alley dock ...your choice or examiners choice ,, and you must do off set either side "THE BLIND SIDE IS EASIER " ..and straight back " never correct the steering wheel more that 1/4 turn ...to correct trailer drift ,,"you can back for LONG distances with that manuver " I've done it " over a 1/2 mile once ....and setting up tripple trailer sets & dollies ...pulled them for 10 yrs line haul " and ran a pole yard / contracted to idaho power & crane licensed .

on alley dock you have to hold cut to a 60 degree then start chasing , the turn it into a 45 degree w/ 2 pull ups ( allowed )

this 45 degree landing gear method will work ( all landing gears are set 10 feet back from nose of trailer CHECK IT OUT ! even on 28 /30 / 40/ 45 ft trailers ...

I taught all 200 students from 2010 when new standards became until 2011 until I resigned from sage ,, I taught this approach to 500 students on original approach from 2006 to 2010 for backing skills till the states changed backing skills . to offset /parallel ..and choice of

then I taught at another school in caldwell Id . same approach to students & newbie instructors for another year ,, I was managing instructor at the other school until the school owner MIS managed money & closed school ...

I will post more ..if any one needs other info ,ask be safe out there !

I do not know how to drive an stick at all. Is it going to be an problem if I decide to go to the school. Will they actually teach me.

as a driver w/ 34 yrs experience & instructor for 5 yrs experience ( federally certified ) . I'd rather teach up & down shifting to a newbie ( with NO stick experience ) than someone with bad habits , for what it's worth ..!!

I taught many ..out of 700 student I instructed in 5 yrs ( at one school ) and 50 @ another school for 1 year ) ...100 of them w/ no experience in a stick .. they were no problem , most instructors are very patient .. then I taught 1 On one ...many schools have 3-4 students & one instructor in a truck .. decline to teach that way ( I recommend Sage tech for that one reason ) I taught there in caldwell Id. for 5 yrs ..

hope that answers your questions , best of luck to ya !!

Okay and how long does it take to get past the inspection and the other stuff.

there are 3 sections in all for license tests ..pre trip / backing skills / driving ..if you fail any one ..you must take all again !! as an Instructor ( @ sage caldwell for 5 yrs ) .. and 34 yrs driving experience ,, it usually takes 30 minutes for Pre-trip out side we taught 112 point vehicle inspection the examiner looks for around 50 things ) and 20 min inside cab seat belts , "identify all gauges" . air tanks , oil pressure, amp gauges " and proper operating ranges " windshield "cracks " /air loss "& perameters / brake check 's & tractor protect. valve " about 20 min for all this ... then after all this ....backing skills / usually 30 min / the 9 miles min for driving ,,,the your signed off ( with independent examiner is done ) & the training w/ the company begins ) usually 4-6 weeks ,,then your solo after that ...but depends on the company .... with some it's 12 weeks ,,,

I did alot of pre training w/ student the day before the examiner to ensure the student was ready for tests....

and alot of 20 hrs , training 5 -4 hr days to get student ready to just do pre trip / backing / road tests ...that was( specialized trning )

full school was 40 hrs BTW ) 93 hrs class room ... and was 4,500 $

I hope I answered you questions

I first started there after driving since 1980 or 26 yrs in the industry , I had never done a DOT 112 point inspection on a big rig / or done backing skills like these or formally taught students , so this was a challenge to me ,,,I first did class room for 3 months ( 1 week of this was w/ a seasoned instructor ) 93 hrs required & 4 hrs for testing for DOT standards ... then in the trucks it was ONE ON "1" ""never more then ONE student in the truck (for drives _) ...the range( backing skills ) was 2 students ONE instructor . and the "backing " requirements changed in 2010 ..to straight back /right turn /alley dock ( drivers side ) to off set back / paralell park / straight back ..then street skills ..9 miles ups shift / down shift ...series of right /left turns .... special situations (one lane bridge ) fwy entrance & 2miles travel & off ramp ...and RxR crossing ......and the independent skills tester signed off the student ..

though the student had 40 hrs behind the wheel (ONE ON "1" with instructor ) ...and 93 hrs in class .to pass the school ..

the school revised the class room time to less time w/ instructor ( more w/ computer ) taking tests ...and supposed to be 4 hrs shifts w/ instructor was cut down to 3 & more time on range ( because of fuel costs ) I started complaining ...about quality of training for students & was asked to resign ..and I did ..

""FYI driver's"" I still see so many drivers exiting truck forward "instead of 3 point backing out " ( if you fall & bust up you're face workers comp. will not pay your dental work ) ..

these schools have become a CDL mill's ..especially College of western Idaho . and the hole in the wall CDL schools .

and ones operated by C.R england / Swift . etc ...

I went back to driving casually ( and am on disability but can still drive part time ..

the trucking co. I drive casually for now did operate a driving school (contracted to a trking co. in boise id . ) but wasn't lucrative ..