Comments By The Chad

Chad, I have been following you since you left Stevens. I quit Stevens training in the second week because I just don't agree on going solo after just 9 weeks. I am looking at PAM to start again. Did you get the feeling Stevens had the dps office in their pocket? Anyway, please keep me updated as I will be looking back into CDL training again soon.

Hi, yeah Stevens Academy is a little shady, plus they are way to expensive! The company is decent, my brother is working for them and is getting miles.

Pam has been good, lots of drop and hook loads, ALL of my loads have been correct so no problem there. Get pre planned for the weekend if possible, or you may sit sometimes - part of trucking though.

Layover pay sucks, so that is one complaint, but we are getting miles and that means pay soooo it's all good

I have been with PAM a few weeks and so far I am happy, they prefer newbies to team, and when I had to go solo for a bit the loads weren't great, but now I got teamed with a friend from CDL school and we are gonna be good. The people are nice, need more time in to form a more informed opinion, but so far so good

You're welcome, that is true about OTR training, she is an Academy trainer, and that is mixed. I omky called the recruiting dept once a week, and that was just to make sure I was still going. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

PAM IS Ok, Stevens is a good company and I will eventually try to get back to them. My Brother works for them and thy give him a load and halfway through that load he is pre planned for another. The school is challenging because it was difficult to get quality seat time, and I feel like I was rushed out to take my DPS road test to soon and consequently failed it 3 days in a row. Some trainers are good and some aren't, but that is the same with every school/company. Mary Anne is a hell of a trainer, get with her if you can.

If you are still in need of testers, I am interested.

Javon, you are about to TEAM up with a trainer for 6 weeks. So, I think all the debate here is a mute point, so wether you like the idea or not...get ready!

It's ok to be a little nervous, this can all be a little intimidating at first. But try to have a little fun, this is an awesome job

I'm with Brett, honor your contract. I have gotten offers to jump ship for more money, but the grass ain't always greener. Some companies will tell you come on over we have tuition reimbursement, but then something happens and now your out of a job and still owe the the school. Also PAM is a lot of drop and hook, I got a buddy that went to another company for a few more cents/mile but sits through 6 hour live loads and instead of 6, 7, 8, 900 mile loads he will run 300 miles, then live load, 400 miles live load. I think we make the same by this point.

Back to sleeping in the truck for a moment...I guarantee after driving your first 500 miles you are gonna be so tired you would sleep on the back of a bull. You will adjust.

No matter what you are going to have to team w a trainer for at least 4-6 weeks. W Stevens you have to log 10,000 miles and drive certain areas of country and mountains. After that you will team for a couple weeks a another trainee and then go solo.

Stevens doesn't put u with another rookie anymore, you just do ur 6 weeks

I work for PAM and part of the agreement for paying for your school is that you team for 6 mos. anything longer is your choice. Stay with them a year and the schooling is free! Now this is completely dependent on them finding a teammate for you that lives within a 100 miles. Now many of my PAM friends that are teaming met someone from school and got to know them a little and teamed up, some met someone during orientation. Now if you get teamed up with someone you are NOT stuck with them if you can't get along. One friend of mine was with his teammate for a couple of weeks and couldn't stand the guy. He is now running solo until they find him someone else. I never met anyone from my area during school or orientation, and found out the paired me up with someone after I upgraded. He is younger than me, but has been running a few months so has some experience I can lean on and we get along well. If you do the team hazmat there is good money to make. Now, sleeping in a truck takes getting used to, but if you can't sleep then you will spend 6 weeks of training without sleep if you go to Stevens. The best thing to do is talk to people at the trucking school and see if anyone lives within 100 miles and get to know them. This will take an effort to actually approach people and start a conversation, so let's hope you don't have an issue there. Two of my friends from school met there and became instant best friends and teamed up, so there is that chance.

Thanks guys, it really has been great. Lot of responsibility though, 4 wheelers don't have an idea u r even there sometimes