Comments By BuckeyeCowboy

Rolling Thunder: Good luck in school. Tell your wife we said thanks for her brave service to our country. She had the guts to so something I couldn't do, so it is much appreicated. I am a student right now in week two in Cincinnati. Like Brett recommended, start studying the High Road Series now. I did and I was so much further in my understanding than most people in the class. Good luck in class. God bless.

LOL Brett, real funny. LOL J/K.

Today was a day off of school. Being where I am in Cincinnati, we have some students from over the river in Kentucky. Kentucky has their own rules and those applying for cdl permits can only test on Tuesdays. I don't know why, but that is how it works. So, us Buckeyes had the day off, assuming we passed General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combinations. We had to go test this morning, and for those who didn't pass they had to be at school this afternoon. Seeing as I passed everything but Doubles/Triples on Saturday, I didn't have to go in, but still was required to test for that one only. I did and I passed it. I missed one question. If you check my status, Brett, you will see that I did that section on the High Road Series before I tested. So, I have my permit. I then had to drive 30 miles in the other direction to get fingerprinted for my HAZMAT Endorsement so they can start the background check and have it ready by the time I get my CDL. So, while I wasn't in school I did get a lot accomplished.

Yesterday, Werner and TMC came in. They were my other two choices, and I got to say I am impressed with both of their companies. Werner lets you choose if you want a Kenworth, Peterbilt, Frieghliner, or International. Assuming they have one available you can have whatever you want. Me, personally, there is nothing better that a Peterbilt with a CAT. However, they have over 300 different pay options based on the company account you haul for. Too confusing. TMC's trucks come fully equipped with cbs, satellite radio, chains, hardhat, etc...all the bells and whistles, but they have the percentage pay and milage pay, and a sliding scale quarterly, where if you had a bad month you could slide back down to less than you were making before. Don't like that idea.

Tomorrow, is NTB (National Truck Brokers)....Not heard a lot about them and Schneider. Schneider will be impressive too, but just not for me. Though, the $8,000 sign on bonus for tankers is tempting. But reading Brett's book he says never start career with tankers, and I agree so I am not going to do that, though I could use the money.

Been keeping in contact with the Shaffer recruiter. They seem to have high standards, which I like because I like to be pushed. When I did my application originally, I wasn't sure if I had told them about my diabetes, and so I called to tell them. They are fine with it, as long as I can pass a DOT phyiscal, and I have passed two so far, so I should be good. But if not, I have ten other prehires to take advantage of. Only one other student, out of 17 in my class, already have a job lined up out of school. That shocks me. I don't know about them, but I need the money, so I want to get to work asap. Plus, once i finish training with Shaffer I will be on my own begining of October. I would like to get at least a small bit of time getting used to the truck before snow and ice. Well, off to bed, thanks for reading. God bless America and God bless the American (and Canadian) truck driver.

I am diabetic with good blood pressure. I take a pill everyday for my diabetes and one for chlorestrol. I don't have the cpap or sleeping disorder, and I was able to pass two dot physicals, and I have a one year DOT card. Not sure if company physicals will be more stringent, but I think you should be fine.

I know with my school, they work with certain companies, and while we were encouraged to work with the companies they do, we were also told that we could find our own company, if we wanted. So, that sounds a bit fishy to me, but each school is different.

Lawrence, I don't know if you are a man of faith. If you are, search your heart. If this is something you really want, and God is okay with it, then He will make a way. If its not, then He won't. Just please don't give up without seeking His guidence first. If you are not a man of faith then really search your heart. Find out what makes you happy and do it. Don't let anyone stand in your way. Brett is right, if this is something you really want, you will find a way. I work a part time job after going to school all day and my wife is working a fulltime job and a part time job to help me realize my dreams. I am on the verge of loosing it all just to follow this dream. I don't know what will happen, and not sure I will make it. Good Lord willing I will. But don't go down without fighting. The great British poet, Dylan Thomas, said: "Do not go gentle into that good night, rage! rage! aganist the dying of the light." Don't give up. Vince Lombardi once said, "The difference between successful people and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will." This just doesn't go for truck driving, but all of life. Figure out what makes you truly happy, and go after it with all your heart and never give up. Just something to think about. Oh, not sure if you thought of it, but a yard sale might get you to your goal too. Take care and God bless.

I have like 9 or 10 pre-hires sitting in my folder. My backup options are Werner and TMC. But I don't think that I will need one. I really hope that Shaffer works out. They have a program that as long as your kids (which I have none, but hope to someday) as long as they make A's and B's in college Shaffer will give them a full ride to the University of Nebraska. That is amazing. I have never heard of any other company doing that.

I took my permit tests yesterday. Of the six tests that I took, I passed five. I failed doubles/triples. Ironically, that is the only one I had not had time to study on the High Road Series. I take the test again Tuesday, which I will fully expect to pass. I just finished studying that section. Found out orientation will be 3 days in Lenior City, TN then on the road with trainer for 4 weeks as pat one of training. You will drive half and trainer drives half. You will drive 26 states during this time. Then home 3 to 4 days, then back out for 4 more weeks in which you will be running the truck as your own for most of the time. In this part you will be seeing 39 states. So, Shaffer doesn't play around. They will run you hard and expect you to step up to meet the challenge, which I will do. Then I have to go to Omaha, Nebraska for three days at headquarters to tour the facility and meet everyone and learn how the dispatching end works and I will also be assigned my truck at that point and be given a load that will take me near the house so I can get my stuff and my wife.

So, now that all that is in place all I have to do is focus and study and get my cdl. Once I will do that I should be off an running.

Oh, btw, you never read anything negative on Shaffer. I went to Trckersreport, rip-off report, and other sites and there is not one bad thing written. That means the company is running their drivers, and that the drivers don't have time to get on the computer and complain about anything, so that is good. Thanks for reading, take care, and God speed.

I know I will not see my recruiter again. But I come from a sales background so I judge all sales people on professionalism etc. I know it doesnt reflect on the company. Just something I am "trained" to notice.

We had Atlantic Foods come in today. Extremely small company. 25 tractors. Local food company out of Cincinnati. Seems like a great company. Have straight trucks and day cabs, but for me. I want OTR. Kept getting practice tests all day in preperation for permit test on Saturday.

Got a call from Crete/Shafer my application had been processed and they said they have a job offer for me. I qm so eleated. From what I read on their website they are an amazing company. Debt free for 75 years so they know how to truck. Tomorrow starts my favorite thing. Trip planning. Ever since I was a child I have been obsessed with maps. I have a collection of road maps from each state. I can tell you what major interstates run through each city. I used to listen to the late night truckers radio program out of Cincinnnati, still do, back then was trucking bozo, now americas trucking network. When truckers would talk about where they were I would find it on the map and dream about what it was like. That wad high school. I am 31. I still do it at times. Can you say obsessed. Lol. Just getting a chance to live my dream. I will say this. There are better drivers than me, but you would be hardpressed to find someone who wants this as bad as me.

Sorry for rambling. Good night and Godspeed. Via con dios.

Studying and working is hard, but so worth it. I commited to Shaffer/Crete today. I have an app in right now. They are processing it. If everything goes right I will be headed to Knoxville, TN when I get my cdl for orientation. I wanted to get the decision out of the way so I could learn the material and not have it hanging over my head. I am amazed at the professionalism I have received from the Shaffer recruiters. They have gone above sales pitches including thinking enough of me to call me once a week just to check on me. No other company has done that.

I test Saturday for my permit. 6 tests. General Knowledge, Air brakes, Combos, hazmat, doubles/triples, and tankers. In Ohio you have to pas General Knowledge first before any other tests. We have been testing in class all week and studying and I have been doing the High Road Series so I should be fine. Thanks for reading. Good luck and Godspeed.

Brett, I know what you mean. I have visted the TruckersReport there and you would think that there is not one happy driver in all of America the way that they talk.

Today was a good day, tested on Air Brakes and HAZMAT and scored pretty well. I can always do better, but missed 3 on Air Brakes and 4 on HAZMAT. Tomorrow is doubles/triples, combinations, and tankers. Thanks to the High Road Series, I am prepared for whatever they throw at me.

I was really interested to see that the recruiters from U.S. Express and Averitt were so different then the one from Maverick that came yesterday. The U.S. Express lady seemed to be rude and crass, while the Averitt one didn't seem to care if he was there or not. Tomorrow we have BST, Shaffer/Crete, and one other company and it has slipped my mind.

I really wanted to ask this...the U.S. Express lady recommeneded that we pick two companies, sign up for both orientations and then when we make a final decision, call and back out of the other one (nicely, of course, without burning bridges). That seems a bit rude to me, but is that something you all would reccomend that people do, or should I just pick a company, and God forbid it doesn't work then take my pre-hire to the next company? What do you all think.

I have narrowed my final two companies to Crete/Shaffer and Werner. Both are great companies, and both have been around a long time. Shaffer has been around since 1933, before being bought out by Crete, and Werner has been around since the 50's. After comparing and contrasting the two, they are both so similar and offer a lot of the same things, with slight variances. For instance, Shaffer offers the deal where you can pick your load from a list of three and they have great pay. Werner's pay is on a sliding scale (which worries me), but they have a sign on bonus, and first to implement electronic log books, so you know they are on top of innovation. Benefits both start at 30 days. Crete/Shaffer pays more for orientation pay and training, but Werner has the sign on bonus. Hometime is the same within a day or two (something not interested in). Both will let me take my wife from day one, year round, while Shaffer's is free, Werner there is a small fee. Shaffer's benefits are really expensive, not sure about Werner's. With all that being said, how do I choose a company between these too, when they are so similar? Any ideas? I know you cant give recommendations, but any help or something I missed, please point out. Thanks and God bless.

Daniel, Prime, in my experience is a great company as well. They require you to team up as well. I forget how long it is, but they do. They have a lot to offer drivers. With teaming, what I have found is that there are some companies that will only pay you for what you drove, while most will pay you miles based on how many miles the truck ran all together. Obviously, you make more money under the second scenerio. Just a thought. Good luck in your search.