Comments By Don R.

Welcome Don.

I get up your way every now and then running freight to our terminal in Albany, NY. I-87 can be a bugger in the winter time. If you're looking for a regional or dedicated route, you might also want to look into LTL companies. Linehaul jobs and especially P&D jobs will get you home daily if not weekly. Of course truckload jobs can be more abundant - it all depends on your area.

This site has a ton of resources and lots of friendly truckers. I used the High Road Training Program and it gave me a tremendous advantage, even during my time at private CDL school.

6 String,

Thanks a lot. I have been doing the High Road training and it is a good deal. As for LTL, I don't know what that is. I've found reading a ton of contributions here that there are Acronyms that I've no clue what you guys are saying. Maybe Brett or someone can have a page for all your abbreviated terms, lingo etc. Unless there is one and I haven't discovered it yet. There are soo many trucking companies out there that its overwhelming to try and start to look them up as you don't really know anything to ask yet but the very basic . But I'll manage. Don

Old School, Thanks a lot for your response. I have gone thru this website pretty thoroughly and I must say , what a great site! Again a big thank you to Brett. Great job. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and following along the daily events of Andy C. and PJ. And some others as well. Great recruiters for those companies I tell you. I am coming from an aviation career of some 20+ yrs and always had this truck driving thing in the back of my mind. I remember back in military flight school the counselors would always say to us if we thought we couldn't hack the current training we were in that, "Well , theres always tractor trailer driving school". Literally put a magazine pull out for a school and pin it to the information board we had to look at everyday. But as a child I grew up around some family who drove logging trucks and fuel trucks. Again it always interested me I currently live near the only big truck stop between Albany NY and Canada so I see a lot of truckers pulling in and leaving and hell I even eat there a lot. good food. I have been doing the CDL training materials here on the site preparing for the permit exam. Wow big help. It's awesome. Just have to schedule the DOT medical now before taking the permit test. Would love to find something Regional or Dedicated . Don't know if that's possible being a rookie. It fits my schedules (family) but understand might not be possible for some time. I want to thank everyone that contributes to this great forum. So much help and information. It surprises me as I read in someones blog, maybe Daniel B. how unhelpful he found other drivers in helping one another out. But here it seems everyones great. I guess theres always a few eh? Thanks Don

Hi Jeff Thanks for your information. I have been considering looking at Schneider. Would appreciate any information you can offer. Ive read a lot on here about Prime and Swift etc. but not Schneider.

Don

Jacob, Thanks for your input. I too am in NYS. Eastern part and studying for the Permit exam thru this site. Did you find anything peculiarly different than that in the exam? I did notice one question regarding OOS Orders time losing your CDL. I believe this site says 6 mos and NYS book says 90 days. But as I recall it doesn't specify first or second offense.. You are at National Tractor Trailer school? Is that in Syracuse? I did a school check through this site there wasn't anything in my area, (Albany). Im interested in trucking as a second career. I too will be 50, soon. I live on I87 corridor and see many many different companies. I don't know what I don't know . haha make sense? A school or a good reputable company. I enjoyed reading the blog from the guy who went through Appleton Wisconsin . I don't even understand how the pay system works for truckers. Is it mileage only? a salary and mileage? Thanks for reading and any input you may have. I too am retired military.

Don R

Hi Don - Thank You for your Service brother! If you have not used your GI Bill or Post 9/11 GI Bill yet, my own advice would be to first use this site to find a reputable private trucking school that you like (call them) and then go through the V.A. office in Buffalo, NY, and pay for the school with your military benefits. According to the info I got the school I applied to is supposed to be good - I will let you know after I've graduated just how good they are. Since I happen to live in New York City, only one of the schools in my area was endorsed by truckingtruth.com , and that was Al Sorano's Professional Truck Driving School in the Bronx, NY. If you use your V.A. Benefits, they would even pay for Cost of Housing allowance during the time it takes to complete the program if you choose to travel to a school far away. In fact, I'm going to a Heavy Equipment Operator School in Wisconsin after I take this Class A CDL; its a 6-week training program (you live in barracks just like in the US Army) - and the tuition is completely covered by the GI Benefits. I think its great that the government gives Veteran's a chance to learn new skills for a new career. If you want to check them out (they give CDL Class A training also) - here they are: https://www.operator-school.com/ Anyway, to get to your point - by studying this website's CDL training tools you should be able to pass the DMV office CDL exams with no problems. The only thing I would encourage you to do is to read through the NYS CDL manual as well, because New York has some specific regulations regarding the School Bus Endorsement that are in addition to what most of the other states seem to have. Also, request the NYS DMV Supplemental rules for the TOW TRUCK and METAL COIL CDL Endorsements online at: http://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv14.pdf Simply because these two endorsements are unique to New York only - from what I understand. So far I've passed all the DMV CDL written exams (CORE, AIR BRAKES, COMBINATION, DOUBLES/TRIPLES, HAZMAT, TANK, PASSENGER, SCHOOL BUS) except TOW TRUCK and METAL COIL - I'm studying for these last ones now. The HAZMAT is a little tricky - try to memorize as many Classes and Regulations as you can. As soon as you get your CDL Permit with the HAZMAT Endorsement - apply to the TSA for your government permit via: http://www.tsa.gov/stakeholders/hazmat-endorsement-threat-assessment-program I think simply showing up at the school with all the endorsements on your CDL Learners Permit already should save a lot of time, and let you go straight to the actual driving classes. Going to a private school should give the student a little more independence when it comes to looking for work with different companies after graduation. I will write a review of my school on this site once I have completed training and obtained my CDL Class A. My goal is to get qualified on different types of equipment, so as soon as I'm done with the CDL I'm going to a Heavy Equipment Operator School next - always wanted to learn how to operate a Bulldozer and an Excavator! I figure in today's job market it would be good to stand out with more qualifications on your resume. Regarding your other questions I simply don't have that information yet - I'm sure more experienced truckers would know. Good luck to you brother - stay motivated - and Happy New Year! Jacob I.

Thanks Jacob, good information! I will look at the Metal Coil information. Thanks to you as well for your service..

Don

Hello Brett, and others.

I am seriously thinking of the trucking industry as my second career, having my current position eliminated in the company Ive worked for for the past 11 yrs. I live on an interstate corridor in the Northeast. I see 'em all, Schneider, Prime, Conway etc... Knowing nothing of the trucking industry and how the pay works, to how long away from home to how much home time is there being an OTR driver. Ive read the pros and cons of the driving schools as opposed to the company sponsored training . Im sure there are other men and women , middle aged looking at trucking as a new adventure in their life and have or had the same questions. I do know that I don't know, what I don't know. I am doing the study materials that you have on this great site! And Im doing very well. It's awesome Brett, great job!!

Don

Jacob, Thanks for your input. I too am in NYS. Eastern part and studying for the Permit exam thru this site. Did you find anything peculiarly different than that in the exam? I did notice one question regarding OOS Orders time losing your CDL. I believe this site says 6 mos and NYS book says 90 days. But as I recall it doesn't specify first or second offense.. You are at National Tractor Trailer school? Is that in Syracuse? I did a school check through this site there wasn't anything in my area, (Albany). Im interested in trucking as a second career. I too will be 50, soon. I live on I87 corridor and see many many different companies. I don't know what I don't know . haha make sense? A school or a good reputable company. I enjoyed reading the blog from the guy who went through Appleton Wisconsin . I don't even understand how the pay system works for truckers. Is it mileage only? a salary and mileage? Thanks for reading and any input you may have. I too am retired military.

Don R