Comments By Johnny Boy

I'm at the freightliner dealership. North Sid of cincinatti 1 freightliner drive is the address. Ive talked to my dispatcher, but they make us search the places out

So my commdata card isnt working because of god k ows why. Anybody know of a hotel near freightliner dealership that takes commchecks?

The 450 minimum was for training, and it was salary not a minimum. You can get it bumped up to 525 if you get your hazmat. Training takes five weeks. You get a 750 minimum as a driver for the first 90 days if you have hazmat and the person your driving with does as well. 1000 minimum after 90 days. If your fleet team is worth a damn you won't see that minimum unless your truck breaks down and you're in the middle of nowhere.

Douglas, Was the minimum pay of the 450 for the first 35 days and 700 for the next 240 days true? If so was it per driver or 700 total per team a week minimum? Thanks.

I just went through their program, sponsored by Covenant Transportation. I am very pleased with their program and the trainers. They also have a school in north Carolina and one in Tampa (the one in Tampa is "Tampa Truck Driving school")

They take anybody from out of state and will even house you in an apartment with washer, dryer, and a full kitchen. They even supply toilet paper and basic household supplies. You just have to get there and have a way to feed yourself while you are there.

The program cost me 4300 dollars in total for three weeks of training. If you don't have the cash you have other options. You can make a down payment and go with one of the companies they have that will payroll deduct 75 a week to pay off the loan (which is in house btw), or go with one of their 3 companies that will cover the upfront costs. (Covenant, Total Truck Driving, or Steven's Transportation, they all have you sign a 6 month promissory note, but do not pull you cdl if you move to another company). The school won't pull your cdl either, however they will not release your certificate to you until your paid off. I chose covenant for reasons that aren't pertinent to this post and they have tuition reimbursement which when combined with my 75 a week will pay off the school in 6 months.

They will help with job placement for life and even have a student support line for any question you might need to ask while you are getting started in trucking. All of the instructors are former drivers and one man in particular had 24 years of driving experience and a lot of interesting stories.

The equipment they have you driver in the yard for backing maneuvers is old and raggedy. This kind of put me off, but why have new trucks to teach students how to drive. Plus fighting those beasts into submission made me feel like I'm driving a cadilac once I got into Covenants truck.

3 weeks seems like a short time to learn what you need to pass the cdl exam, but if you give it 100% you can do it. The school doesn't give up if you fail either, they will work with you on what you need help with and make sure you pass.

Anyways, that's my summary of the school I went to. I can answer any questions if I have the answer to them.

It's a good school, at least the TN branch I went to was. Covenant went well but team driving isn't easy. Covenant will help match you up with somebody, but it's hard to drive with somebody you don't know. Good luck.

Cool thanks man, i really appreciate the response, i gotta do some research about them since i live near tampa Florida.

Correct. At least until you get a certain amount of time in, can't remember how much. But after 90 days you can transfer to either Star transportation or Southern Regrigerated Transport through Covenant as they own those companies. I went with star. I've been driving four months in total and I have a dedicated run, home every weekend and I make .40 a mile. I don't know what SRT offers though

Thank you for the reply, so they only do teams?

Hey, im looking at starting with Tampa truck driving school on monday and hauling for covenent, so far do you like the company you chose? Making a living?

Well, Covenant isn't a bad company and you can make good money there. They will keep you moving. They have decent equipment as well. I've left there though because I didn't like team driving.

Correct. At least until you get a certain amount of time in, can't remember how much. But after 90 days you can transfer to either Star transportation or Southern Regrigerated Transport through Covenant as they own those companies. I went with star. I've been driving four months in total and I have a dedicated run, home every weekend and I make .40 a mile. I don't know what SRT offers though

Thank you for the reply, so they only do teams?

Hey, im looking at starting with Tampa truck driving school on monday and hauling for covenent, so far do you like the company you chose? Making a living?

Well, Covenant isn't a bad company and you can make good money there. They will keep you moving. They have decent equipment as well. I've left there though because I didn't like team driving.

Hey, im looking at starting with Tampa truck driving school on monday and hauling for covenent, so far do you like the company you chose? Making a living?

Well, Covenant isn't a bad company and you can make good money there. They will keep you moving. They have decent equipment as well. I've left there though because I didn't like team driving.

We make enough for 15-16 people haha. I didn't think about it that way, 100 or more at a restaurant for a family of four is an awful lot.

175-200 dollars in groceries for the meal though.

I'm Sure that will feed at least a dozen people, or groceries are VERY expensive where you live!

I may not be at home but my wife and mother are cooking thanksgiving. 175-200 dollars in groceries for the meal though. I can understand why some people would rather go out for it, the cost would be similar and they don't have to clean up the mess.

Don't know if it helps but I'm heading east on i-10. Well my partner is driving anyway

Anybody have any info on a good turkey day meal on the road? I'm about to hit a dennys, but any other info before I get there would be awesome.