Comments By Cotter Pin

The recruiter at Swift wants me to take a few online courses to prepare for the permit test. She also told me to get the permit before making the trip to Swift's training school...Maybe I will go ahead and get a student permit before I travel to whatever school I end up attanding...

At Swift, having your state's permit (+ medical card) saves you time and, I think, $100 up front. You can skip a CDL class & go right into the academy.

The online "courses" are just to fill out some forms, not something you need to learn. 10 minutes, you're in, you're out. I had my MS permit. There may be courses if you need to take the CDL class.

BTW, Swift works with your local state CDL if you already have the permit - they don't "force" you to get a license in the state you take your class in.

I've read somewhere that there is some kind of reciprocity among states, but that we are to get a license wherever our state requires us to.

I highly recommend getting the learner's permit (written test), out of the way with whatever school you go to, especially Prime. I wouldn't waste money on a DOT physical if going to Prime, because they will do their own anyway, unless there is something you aren't sure about, which may be worth the $70 just for peace of mind at least

I went through a training school in Tennessee 10 years ago. Never ever drove any type of stick shift, and was the only one in the class. They laughed, and called me "No Clutch." At the end of the class, I graduated at the top of my class. The less you know, the less they have to correct. I drove for a while, let my CDL expire a few years ago, but start with Prime Inc. on Monday March 30, 2015 in their paid CDL training program. Got the learner's permit with the tanker endorsement out f the way, and ready to get it going. I will be studying for the hazmat in case it is required. I want to get into tanker, so I can go to the oilfields in a year or so. Prime matched up great for me, especially since I live just 45 minutes away from their corporate terminal. Years ago, I went from a school to Star Transportation out of Nashville, TN, and was thrown in a truck after 3 weeks of training with an idiot, and then thrown in a truck by myself, and definitely wasn't ready. I drove for a while with no accidents, but can say from experience that the company paid programs are a little better than the school, then company path. You learn one thing in school, the trainer at the company will teach you another way, then the safety guy testing you to go solo will question why you are flooring the clutch, or doing this a certain way, etc. Too many variables, at least that was my past experience. My advice to anyone is 1. don't stress, 2. listen to your instructor, 3. take notes, 4. Be slow, and take it easy. 5. You will make rookie mistakes, but so does everyone. 6. Learn from these mistakes, and don't take things personally. If you can do these things, then you will be fine. Some days plainly suck, and some days you will love your new career. It is just like any other job out there. Some days are great, and then there are bad days. Take the good with the bad, and you will be golden. Keep a clean record, and within a year or two, anyone will want you as a driver. Trucking and the medical field are the two highest in demand jobs that are always recruiting. The sky is the limit!

Apparently the site does not like YouTube links. So copy and paste the link below in a browser for a video I took a few weeks ago. It was a close call.

https://youtu.be/AOXfLpPVY6g

Good thing you had the video recording, just in case things would have went south! These idiots think that trucks can stop on a dime, when that is simply not the case! Good watching out for that dumbass!

Yes all failed drug tests in the trucking industry will show up and most if not all the drug tests you take for any employment and fail trucking companies will see them as well

If I failed a drug test 8 years ago (just for taking a damn Vicodin when I was younger and dumber) for a warehousing job that is now out of business.. is there anyway a trucking company could find a record of that and deny me employment for it?

According to newer regulations, they can only report it on your record for two years. I just tested yesterday on this, unless that has changed. With that being a non-driving position, it shouldn't show up in a background, especially being over 7 years ago.

Anybody ever had experience or know anything about this company?

Somebody posted a thread a week ago about this, but never heard anything else. I called their recruiting department, and a recruiter had called, but never left a message. I tried to research the company, but I couldn't find anything out about them. To be honest, I forgot all about them until you posted this question

47 trying to get into trucking as some of you already know. So my question is this I had put Hi hopes at getting into Schneider because they have a high regard to safety and training blah blah blah. Well when I had my interview today they told me that not because my drivers licenses had got suspended for unpaid traffic. But because I got pulled over again and found out that my licenses was suspended {ak ticket for driving on suspended licenses] that i can not drive per DOT Regulations till 2017. And then she told me however there are a lot of company's that wont look at it that way. So should i keep studying and trying to get into a paid training program or should I give up the ship and try to get another factory job.

If I were you, I would just keep checking with some other companies to see what they say about it. Be open and upfront with the recruiters, and you might just find some companies that will not consider this something too major. Factory jobs are starting to get scarce, at least that has been my experience, but at your age (no offense) , I would be trying to go into trucking. The job security will always be there if you can keep your record clean, and the DAC report clean. Definitely call around and just see what other companies say. Good luck!

Congratulations...I applied a week ago, and just waiting for my 1099 to get back, so I can forward that, and hopefully be in class on the 16th. May end up being on the 23rd if the mail doesn't hurry up. Good luck to ya!

I would say Prime will put in training very fast. Call and speak to Lane Williams in recruiting and he will take care of you.

Sure will, I appreciate your help! I think after everything I have researched I'm going to go with Prime. Talked to Trailiner also. They didn't sound like a bad company running some dedicated teams, but I can't find any definitive information on them, so I think Prime should be okay. Maybe I can go flatbed instead of reefer. I'll take either one though, can't complain until I get some more experience on the resume.

Well, based on your first post, and your response, I'd recommend Prime. They pay very well for students during training - comparatively speaking.

Thanks for the reply. I filled out the application, and called to speak with a recruiter. I could tell she was reading from a script. Their website says one thing, and she was scattered, and not the friendliest, but that's how people are around here. Quite strange.

Lobos Interstate services? They have ads on Craigslist saying if you sign a three month employment contract with them, they will pay for your CDL training. But I can't find out where they do the training or anything about the program.

I just saw this also, and was wondering about them. They say in the ad, that you train for 12 weeks at $300 a week plus bonuses, and then after training you can earn upwards of $1500 weekly. I may give them a call to feel them out.