Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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After careful consideration I've decided
Yep, I used to live in Brazil about 8 years back or so.
Well good luck out there neighbor!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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After careful consideration I've decided
1001 Columbia, of I-215 that's all I know.
Who do you drive for? I live in Greencastle, IN. Heading out to orientation for PTL this coming Monday.
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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My 3 week school experience at C1 Driving Academy in Indianapolis, IN for Swift Transportation
You think you have it bad? omg.
Hi Brett, ty for the site, it's tremendous and I love the input from others.
But let's clear something up. I am not breaking any contract. My contract states that Swift financed my schooling. In no way does it say I am obligated to drive for them for any period of time, I am only obligated to pay back the loan...........
1st: I read the forums and understood if I paid for the schooling myself it would be much harder for me to land a job vs. going through a carrier.
2nd: I appreciate the fact that they did this for me. I only went through Swift to get financed for the schooling because it cost $3900 through them, versus me paying $5700 if I paid for it myself. Now I'm not sure how your math is, but to me that's a $1800 savings off the top. When I decided to go through Swift, I asked them beforehand whether I would be obligated to drive for them. My answer I received was "no". I was only obligated to pay back the loan. As a businessman who has owned his own successful business, I'd say that was a wise decision financially.
Don't make this sound as if I entered into a contract that I don't intend to fulfill. That is not the case!! I could've paid for the schooling myself, I'm retired from the USMC, 26 years and have been very successful running my own business for the last 7 years. I want something different at this point in life. I intend to retire in 10 years and my wife in 10 as well (she is a nurse), meanwhile I will pay off my 37' RV I purchased a few years back. I will be completely out of debt at that point and hopefully will have some more money banked and live a happy retired life and still traveling North America.
Maybe it's the bad rap that trucker's get, I'm not sure. But I am not willing to believe that everybody who decides to become a professional driver does it for the money. I may be wrong, but it seems that is what you are thinking, and if so, maybe you should not assume that..............
I really do appreciate the input, but I think you may be generalizing a population of drivers who are getting into the profession for different reasons. You are judging my decisions without knowing anything about me and I know your the moderator of this site, but what gives you the right to judge anybody for the decisions they make without knowing anything about their lives and what they want out of their lives?
Please answer that, as I am really interested in why you think you should judge someone on a decision they made when you know nothing about their lives.
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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My 3 week school experience at C1 Driving Academy in Indianapolis, IN for Swift Transportation
Tazzy, I see some form of your recent posts that you are not going to continue with Swift. I think you are making a mistake, and let me explain why.
Swift has something invested in you now - they really want to see you succeed. They have got a great program to give you all the tools you need to make the difficult adjustment to the new lifestyle before you. They've also got a ton of options for you to choose from as far as freight.
Any where else you go to will not be as willing to work with you if you prove to have some difficulties along the way. Lets say you have a minor fender bender and cause some damage to another vehicle (a scenario that happens way too often for new rookie truck drivers). Who ever you are with now is more than likely just going to cut their losses and send you back home, where you will discover that as a rookie driver who just had an accident, with out yet even having a years worth of experience, you will find it very difficult to land another trucking job. Whereas I have heard tales of Swift drivers getting sometimes three different chances at proving themselves after an accident. They have an investment in you - that makes you worth hanging onto so that hopefully they may see some return on that investment in a year or two. Paschall, or whomever you end up with has no financial commitment to you and will not think twice about letting you go if there are some bumps in the road for you.
I'm posting this not so much to get on to you, but rather I want others to realize what is at stake here. I know you think you have your reasons, and they seem reasonable and rational to you, but the problem is that you don't really know what might happen during your first year. Swift, or any other company who sponsored you for training is going to be more willing to help you get established and will work hard toward that end of helping you to become a professional driver.
Thanks Old School, I do value your opinion as I have read many post you have put here.
I am just not feeling real comfortable with Swift, how they have handled any of this since the start of training at the CDL school all the way up til now. I was supposed to start orientation with them this coming Monday, I have all the paperwork completed that they have asked me to complete and have been waiting 2 days now for a return call about transportation to orientation. I'm not a whiner so I am not going to go into everything that has gone down, but it hasn't left a good taste in my mouth. Swift and I was supposed to be entering into a partnership, but it sure doesn't feel like any I have ever entered into before.
I understand what your saying about the investment vs. the non investment that involves PTL, but I have to put my life in the hands of God and pray that I am making the correct decision for me.
Thanks again, and I'll be reading your post as I come across them as you seem very knowledgeable about the industry and god knows I can use all the help I can get.
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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Beginning new career with PTL. (A diary)
As of 8 am on May 22, I am no longer a trainee at PTL. I did about 5k miles with a trainer (an awesome guy, possibly a lifelong friend) whom I talk with most days still and is reccomending me to become a trainer when I'm ready. I did 26k of the 30k team miles in phase 2. My smallest check during training was $400 ish and my largest was 875$. (I did go home for 5days, that check was $75). I finished CDL school on 3-15, took test on 3-20. I started orientation on 3-24, hire date was 3-26 and went out with trainer on 3-28. Upgraded to p2 on 4-9 and started team driving with p2 partner on 4-16. Finished p2 on 5-2.
I am in Murray right now waiting on a solo truck. Should have one in the morning and am going to immediately put in for hometime. Changed my status to rookie solo driver.
I will no longer be updating this thread as training is finished. If anyone has any questions regarding training with PTL or the company in general feel free to ask here or send a PM. I will try to respond timely. Response will come here or in a PM depending upon the content of the response. Thanks for reading and replying and thanks to all of you have supported me.
Thanks Scott for all your insight!! A must read for everybody, very entertaining.
I start my orientation with PTL this coming Monday 8/17/2015 and really looking forward to it. Maybe I can keep a diary such as yours, but it certainly will not be written as well and not as funny.
Your a funny man with a keen sense of humor. I hope to get someone like you in P2.
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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Woot!!! Passed CDL test today!
After finishing school on 3-15, I was scheduled to take the CDL test today, 3-20 at 1000. I left in plenty of time to get to the site and it's a good thing. When I was about 10 miles from the testing site at 0820 I received a call from an instructor at my CDL school informing me that the test truck had a major air leak and they had to cancel my scheduled appointment. I told him I was 10 miles from the test site and told him of the hardships this would cause me if I didn't test this week ( i.e. I am scheduled to attend orientation on Monday 3-24). He called me back and said they cancelled someone else and gave me his 1400 appointment. Being so close to the site I decided to just go there. When I entered at 0835 the DDS lady asked me "Are you the 10 o'clock" to which I replied yes. She let me go ahead and check in. Then at 0910 the mechanic from my school informed everyone that the test truck was fixed. So it turns out my school had tried to postpone my test to an indefinite time next week (or later) because of a 1 hr downtime with the test truck.
The student who had the 0800 appt. got started about 0930 and ended up failing air brakes test. So I actually started my test around 1030 (on a 1000 appt). I missed checking the steering wheel play on in-cab PTI, touched a line on straight line backing of all things, and missed a downshift when entering a left turn which I quickly recovered. Considering how upset on top of nervous I was, I'm surprised I was able to get the key in the ignition. All in all, after being cancelled then rescheduled to 1400 I was holding my brand new Class A CDL at 1230.
I attended the cheapest school in Georgia and every single day I found out that you get what you pay for. In retrospect, I would have forked over the extra 500 bucks. But that part of the journey is now over and I'm so excited to be moving on to orientation and getting with my trainer. I will be going to Paschall Truck Lines, PTL, in Murray, KY on. Taking the dog on Sunday, 3-23.
Hi Scott
Curious to know if you are still with Paschall, and any insights you can give me about the company. I am scheduled to go to orientation this Monday 8/17/2015. Anything would help.
Thanks
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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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.
Hi Txs, are you still with Paschall? I don't really have any specific questions just wanting to get a feel of what I am getting into. I go to orientation for them on 8/17/2015. Anything you could tell me would be great!!
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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Any recommended first time employer trucking companies?
PTL or paschall truck lines home in Murray Kentucky get through first week and a half and get to know someone in orientation and get there number pair up with them for a 30,000 mile team run and you will do fine be in your own truck in no time, ptl in my company we all know it is just a starter company, after a year move on or become a trainer
Hi Michael:
I'm interested to know if your still with Paschall? I start orientation this Monday 8/17/2015 and would like a little insight on the company, good and bad?
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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Anybody out here that just completed orientation and even driving with their mentor that can tell me what exactly to expect?
I did my orientation last January in Memphis & mentor driving was mostly in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. Take a gander at my diary for orientation & the ride: Swift Orientation, Memphis, TN Your Gary experience should be close. Chances are you'll probably get an OTR driver, my mentor was dedicated to Georgia Pacific.
Just read the entire 7 page journal Errol, Congratulations and although there were some bumps in the road, I hope my experience ends in the same manner that yours did. I honestly hope I do not end up with a mentor who is on a dedicated route like yours, I really want to experience more of the country, and for my own selfish reasons get my 200 BTW hours in a little quicker than you had the opportunity to get yours.
I believe I will keep a journal from day one of orientation through the entire process of me getting my own ride on here much like you did. I believe reading yours will be of some help to me, and hopefully when I write one it will be of help to someone else.
Congratulations once again and thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 8 years, 7 months ago
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After careful consideration I've decided