Comments By Joe W. ( aka hharleywood)

I'm also going to TDI but in Indiana. Start May 2.

I agree with old school, check western expreas. They seem to be a second chance company. And old school seemed to do great with them to start out. I'm actually looking at them to star me out, since they have recently raised their pay to b e competitive in the industry for Newbies. And their pretty close to home for me, so I should be able to get a regional gig there.

Lol... I got my grandkids to ask grandma what dinosaurs taste like.

Serenity, I too stumbled on this site by accident. I was going through the endless negative forums on the internet, but looking for truthful accounts and stories from successful drivers. I was an operations manager for an air freight ground feeder company. ( LTL air freight trucker) ad already knew what I was reading was a lot of BS. Like everyone here says, the companies are not successful by being stupid, or mis-managed. That's an opinion of the failed driver that has time on his hands to botch about how he was done wrong because it was his own Damn fault. I would love to drive for the company that I managed for, but they only employ owner operators. I have absolutely no interest in being an o/o. However I do still have a lot of my old contacts and still know a lot of people in the industry, so once I get my year or 2 of OTR in I will then have options to go elsewhere if I'm not happy with what I'm doing at the time. I have been on this site about 6 months. Lurking mostly, replying and posting some. I just don't feel like I'm qualified to answer a lot of questions that are asked. If I have knowledge of something asked from my past experience I offer that up. Problem is, I got out of the industry in 2004. A lot has changed. A lot was changing while I was still there because of 9/11. So I didn't feel confident answering questions based on me not knowing what exactly had changed. So with that I must say that I have to agree with you. This site is awesome. The best site for anyone trying to break I to the industry because it is all positive and the people are great. Brett does a great job and has put some great people in place as Moderators to keep his site exactly what he wanted it to be. We both ACCIDENTLY found the very best trucking forum on the Internet. Welcome to TRUCKING TRUTH!

Question! I have read on a lot of posts and diaries that the schools REQUIRE you to apply to X # of companies. Do I have to apply to the companies that they recruit to, or can I use the job site here on TT and show them how many companies that I have applied to? I also have Driver Pulse app, so is that also acceptable? I know I can ask my school recruiter this, but it seems like I would be stepping on his toes. All replies are welcome. Even if it's what I may not want to hear.

TRUCKIN TRUTH, COLD HARD FACTS. That's what I'm here for..

Thanks guys and gals

I'll be going there on May 2. Are you going to do a diary?

Santa Fe Springs!! I grew up "next door" in Downey.

Can't say there's much of interest there. Chris & Pitts BBQ is the local go-to for 'Que. SFS is the home of Laura Scudder potato chips. Ms. Scudder was the first to put chips in wax paper bags. You're in the middle of the vast suburbs stretching from Los Angeles to Disneyland.

Enjoy your trip over Cajon pass. (Hint: don't say "ka-john pass", locals will giggle. Say "ka-hone pass".)

I also grew up next door, in Norwalk. And yes the swap meet is the place to go. Used to have some pretty great deals, but I haven't been there in a long time.

TDI seems like a great place to go. Highly recommended on every forum I've visited. If I was going to foot the bill for training, TDI would definitely be my 1st choice.

Thanks CM I did a lot of research on them. They seem like the right fit for me

Thanks tractor man

I finally pulled the trigger and will be starting school at TDI in Sellersburg, In. on May 2. Can't wait to get started.