Comments By Whip-Stock

Any experience available for anyone that has been through Schneiders training in West Memphis?? Hopefully I'll be through there within a couple of weeks...

What you need is the logbook rules module in our High Road Training Program. That has it all!

Thanks for leading me in the right direction.... This is a good tool for anyone wanting to get a grip on legality of driving hours, etc... 13.4 and 13.5 is a bit confusing but will get the hang of it.....

Can someone explain to me about the legally allowed driving time? I understand it's 11 hours allowed within a 24 hour period... This is true or how does it fall in place? Also what of the 60 or 70 hour rule I have heard about in driving school...

I'll make this one short and sweet. I am very much a newbie and have only been on this forum for a very short time but I have tons of experience in attitude and work ethic and yours just ain't happening. At 60 y/o and just coming into this trucking business I have found "loads" of good advise from some of the experience here.. Speaking past tense, you should have taken good, free advise while it "was" available....

From 60 y/o and an entire working career in the oil industry the adventure of driving is my main reason for getting in it. I have to admit that my initial perception of this business turned me off after listening to my brother (who is a Pertebuilt mechanic) told me of how sometimes he would smell the stench of old urine and stuff in some of the trucks that came into his work place. Now after obtaining my CDL and this forum, I came to find out that there are some really neat folks on the road and have a lot of good experience and useful information to offer....

I start my 17 day Orientation tomorrow for Schneider Van division . The van division you are with a trainer for 7 days, it can be longer or shorter depending on how fast you learn from what I hear. If your going the tanker division that is like 30 days. I can re-post tomorrow if you like i will try to find out exactly what it is.

Please do.... My son who passed his CDL with flying colors, is trying to get me with Empire as he did and his argument is that a week on the road is not enough training to be driving solo...

The heat comes from what is commonly called a "bunk heater." This is a very effective heater which sips diesel from your tractor's fuel tanks for it's fuel. It will run you out of the truck if you're not careful.

Don't get all concerned about idling. All these companies have a stated policy about it, but they all want their drivers comfortably rested - I noticed in another post you mentioned using a CPAP - you will need to be idling for the power source for that anyway. Everyone idles when necessary - the companies understand you have got to be comfortable so you can rest properly.

Since you knocked out 2-n-1 on that reply, what's your take on Schneiders 3 week training vs others that seem to utilize approximately 6 weeks....?

Newbie back again with some inquiries before getting started... I understand Schneider has strict "non-idling" policies and are not a proponent of APUs.. Where does the heat come from in the winters?

I just returned from a sleep study. I will say its the most miserable thing in the world next to my ex wife. at about 1230 they came in told me I met the criteria for a cpap. They placed it on and immediately I felt as if I couldn't breathe. I tried it 3 times before I said enough. I went back to sleep slept on my stomach like I normally do and no issues. The tech said that there were dental devices that worked for those who cannot wear a cpap. By not being able to wear the machine does this spell the end before I even get started?

I'm assuming when you felt like you couldn't breathe, that you had difficulty with exhaling.. In that case, you need to try a CPAP machine with a "C-Flex" or "A-Flex" option that will decrease the pressure during exhalations, which makes breathing with a CPAP mask on much easier for some people.

I have planned on losing 10 to 20 lbs or so, just to be healthier, plus the benefit of dropping the blood pressure, as well.

Having sleep apnea is no joking matter: it is certainly contributing to your high blood pressure and possibly to your weight issues as well, because it can lower your metabolism. Sleep Apnea and Related Health Conditions

If you truly have sleep apnea, you need to get treatment for it regardless of whether or not you wish to get into the trucking industry.

I have sleep apnea to extremes and use the CPAP religiously and from day one I could tell the difference.... Strangely enough, I don't have an issue sleeping with the machine at all., I however am planning to hook up with Schneider when I close out some property title here in Brazil... They (Schneider) have verbally accepted and asked me to contact when I return so hope all goes well.....

Welcome aboard!

is my trucking career over before it begins?

Absolutely not. Prime has one of the more strict policies about previous unemployment but very few of the Company-Sponsored Training Programs care about that. Follow that link and you'll find a bunch of companies that offer training with little or no money out of pocket. Any of them can be a great place to get your career underway so apply like crazy to all of them and see who gives you an opportunity.

Unfortunately, as you've mentioned, the Federal Government does not back loans for truck driving school because the courses are too short. Seems really odd because they have an outstanding opportunity to get their money back with such a high demand for drivers and relatively inexpensive training. But hey, that's how they do it.

But look at the other programs. As long as your background is pretty decent you'll be certain to find other opportunities.

Diesel Driving Academy offers a course for 20 weeks that can apply for grant as well as student loan....