Comments By Little Carolina

Well Ladies.... I am heading out on Saturday to school with Celadon/Quality Drivers and wanted to see if y'all have any last minute advice for another lady trucker? I have my bag packed with pretty much my bare necessities however I did not want to lose my femininity so I did pack some makeup.. I realize its going to be difficult at times but at least I have it when I can.. I will wait to hear from y'all. Have a great day and stay safe!

Have been talking to people at squire program for knight, has anyone gone thru this and any information would be great

This was my first choice but as they only hire out of Arizona I was not able to attend. Good luck to you!

Good luck to you, girl! I'll be following you and eagerly awaiting your updates. :D

Thank you! I have a few places I am going to be blogging but if you like you can follow me via my Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/MyTruckingJourney for some reason it wouldn't let me insert the link it says invalid address. So on another note I am nervous but READY!! Thank you for all of the support it is very much needed!!

Little Carolina, Congratulations on your acceptance into Celadon's new school! Just wanted to tell you that when I was in Driving School my classroom instructor was a lady that had driven for Celadon for 15 years. She really liked working there and said that everyone there knew her by name, not just a driver number. She also said that, in her opinion, they were the most female friendly company that she ever drove for. Good luck, and keep us posted.

I sort of got that impression from following Pebbles and every conversation I have had with my recruiter. That makes me feel that I really did choose a great company!! Thanks for the support and I will keep y'all posted!

In two days I'm leaving on a jet plane, I don't know when I'll be back again...yeah, it's cheesy but admit it, when you read that you did it in the tune of the song ;) I start orientation/training/boot camp with Prime on Tuesday May 7th. I have worked hard to save money for this day so that I could have a nice back-up in the bank for the first few weeks.

So yeah, about that whole jet plane thing. I got the confirmation email from my recruiter with the grey dog info on it and hit the greyhound site looking up the itinerary for that particular bus ride...23 hours, about 15 stops, leaving on Sunday at 7:30pm and arriving on Monday evening. Hmmm...do I want to arrived disheveled and worn out, only to spend a couple of hours filling out that infamous golden packet that Prime hands you at check-in or do I want to spend a few dollars, arrive in a very reasonable amount of time, and have Sunday evening and all day Monday to fill out that packet. Yep, called my recruiter, was advised that I would be reimbursed up to a certain point on the ticket and also told that it would be ok to arrive a day early (on Sunday)! I found a pretty decent deal on a ticket ($240 from Columbia, SC to Springfield, MO) and I can't wait for Sunday to get here!

My duffel is packed with clothes, toiletries, etc. My carry on is packed with all my paperwork and my two e-readers. It's getting real, especially today for some reason.

I will do my best to update as much as possible. With Prime you spend 4 days at orientation before heading out for PSD for 2 to 4 weeks. You then come back and test out for your CDL and begin the TnT portion for the next 6-8 weeks. At that time you test out to upgrade to your own truck! I am following Prime's recommendation and arriving with my CDL permit in hand. This means that I can jump right into the simulator after clearing the paperwork, physical, and orientation without worrying about studying for my permit and passing the tests. A big thank you is offered here for Brett, and/or anyone else involved, and the development of the training program here. After just one time through the main areas needed for my permit (General Knowledge, Air Brakes, Combination) I absolutely killed the test here in SC. Please do yourself a favor and do the program. It will help you pass. When the time comes to get my hazmat, tanker, and doubles/triples I will be hitting the program again with full knowledge and faith that I will once again nail the test.

Stay safe out there everyone!

Wow another Carolina here! Go Game****s! That's good that you found an airline that was a decent price I went with the grey dog.. I leave next Saturday for Quality Drivers. Good luck to you! I didn't have the option to get my permit as Indiana will make me get a new one. I wanted to so many times though.. The training program here has been a GOD SEND!

Well, I'm flying out to Springfield, MO for Orientation/Training/Boot Camp this coming Sunday. Having not traveled outside of the southeast very much, and never during any season other than the middle of summer I am wondering if I should pack a coat or jacket or sweatshirt, something just in case I hit a cold spot with my trainer? Or do I just save the space since there's two of us on the truck for the next 8+ weeks and take my chances? I have one medium duffel bag with 7 pairs of pants (5 jeans, 2 khaki tactical pants leftover from my LEO days)7 polo shirts and 7 undershirts (white t shirts) along with underwear and socks. This will last me two weeks on the road between laundry (which I am assuming is at the owner of the truck I am training in's discretion. This all fits in the medium duffel, maybe 3/4ths the size of the old style Army duffel bags. Plus I have my toothbrush, soap, shaving goods, etc. What says ye? Too much? Not enough? Help!!!!!!!!!!!! oh and thanks for any feedback ;)

I keep asking my recruiter if there is a list of what I can go off of for items to bring and she says just use common sense. so I guess that is what I am left doing I don't want to bring too much because I know I will be on someone else's truck for that training period and I try to be respectful as much as I possibly can. Plus there are a few things I can get once I get to school such as laundry soap etc. Bus travel always sucks when your loaded down. but any perspective from some of the gals would be helpful. Oh and I also asked about steel toe boots as I saw on a video on YouTube that people are saying that is required and she tells me nope just tennis shoes.

The ten years is for your work record/jobs held in the last ten years. Not driving record.

But its always a good idea to know what is on your DMV report

Like I said just wanted to know that I have all the documents gathered that I need and they keep saying no on driving record. She says that I am approved that must mean nothing came up which shouldn't. I have talked to Pebbles. I am getting excited! any last minute advice? I leave next Saturday.

Okay, I know I have asked a couple of the questions before. But I am going to try and combine everything into one post so bare with me please. I am ready to get going on starting my potential career. There are just a few things I believe are holding me back.

1. I don't have a great work history. Most of my jobs have between 3-6 months. I was pretty inmature coming out of high school, and wanted to spend more time with my gf, and less time working. Well these last two years I have been kinda forced to grow up, and my last job, I probably would still be at, but I was fired for a something stupid. ( Yes I know, no one is ever fired because of something they did, but I really I am not making it up. ) Then there went about a whole year where I couldn't find a real job because it was hard to get people to hire me because I have 2 theft charges on my record. So I did various jobs here and there for cash. So Lets just say my work history sucks.

2. My background check. I have an excellent driving record. But I have been caught shoplifting twice.

3. As for right now, paying for school isn't an option I can afford. I need to go to a Company Sponsored School, which I am sure limit my options ever more given the above.

I have applied at swift which would be my preferd school to go to given I live only 3 hours away from the HQ. I have also applied for CR England. But I have not heard anything from either school and it has been about 1 1/2 months. Does anyone know how hard it will be to find a school that will take me in givin everything I mentioned?

I am not sure when your theft charges were or how serious but I do know that I had this same issue being a housewife. I finally found a school that did not look at that. Quality Drivers for Celadon. Check them out! I dont pay a penny out of pocket they provide travel, hotel, food and all cost of licenses and provide a stipend every weekend. here is the site Quality Drivers

Good Luck!

I am getting ready to head to school and not once has driving record come up but seems just about every article, forum or Trucking magazine I have read says it is required to obtain a 10 year report. Does that mean the company has already ran mine? Do I need to jam down to the DMV before I take off? any help in this matter would help? All I know is that I filled out the application and about a week later was approved to the training and providing I get my CDL and pass their employment test (90 degree backing) I will be hired. They have not mentioned anything.. Not that I have anything to worry about record wize but would like to know if this is something I will need to get before I leave? Last ticket I had was 2003 and according to the website of this company they go back 3 years. So maybe this means I am good? Just do not want any set backs.

Wow that is exciting! I cant wait to see your stories. Good luck and I know you will Rock this!

yes I have been waiting for this for a while now.. I keep pinching to see if this is real and yep it is.. I will for sure keep everyone in the loop as I train. Do my best to post depending on internet and such..