Comments By Rod B.

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?

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.

Oh sorry, im new to the forum and i thought you drove for them. I did see knight run through town here but i cant get the recruiter to pick up the phone.

No Rod, I work for Knight driving a dedicated truck for SAPA Aluminum.

Thank you for the reply, ive been reserching tons and the only company thats gotten back to me is Stevens but i rarely if ever see them here. Theres a Maverick parked right now at PGT, wouldn't be you would it?

Hey Rod, as you are discovering, getting hired out of Florida is a tough proposition. I'm familiar with that customer (PGT). I'm in there all the time with flat-bed loads of aluminum extrusions.

The big problem down there is that there's nothing but really dirt cheap loads going outbound. So the companies don't need drivers who want go there for home time. I very seldom can get a load to leave Florida, I usually end up dead heading out of there.

I often times stop at PGT in Nokomis and then have another stop or two down in Miami, but then I am running empty just to get out of there.

I did but the recruiter told me they arent hiring south of tampa. Im 78 miles away. Just my luck lol

Have you tried Schneider? Im in Tampa, and they were one of the first companies I started to look into because they have openings/routes here in Florida.

I recently found out Maverick has a receiver of a glass plant 5 miles from my house in Nokomis florida. I saw on their website Florida is in the non hiring state but i have seen other companies stating the same but are hiring, any imput will be greatly appreciate

Hey guys, been lurking this site for months and i cant thank everyone enough for all the advice and comments. I have decided to make a career change due to Florida's low paying jobs and the housing prices being outrages i just cant make ends meet. I have always been fascinated with Semis and always wanted to drive them. I have been towing goosenecks around my whole life so i figured what the heck, give it a try. Since the funds are tight ive been looking for company sponcered program and being in Sarasota Florida (just south of Tampa) its slim picking. I was contacted by Stevens transport and told i was pre hired and could attend a school 36 miles away for cdl training. Here's the dilemma, im a single father of a wonderful 7 year old boy, my ex wife is ok with me being gone 4-5 weeks at a time in order to start a career and watch him for me on my days (we have 50/50 custody). Im doing this to provide for him and hopefully land a local job after a year that has longtime job security. I never see a single Stevens transport truck in my area. I only see swift,knight and averitt. Anyone else from Florida that drive for Stevens? I contacted swift and go a pre hire but they dont do company sponsored in my area, Knight wont pick up the phone and Averitt hires rookies but you have to pay your way. Any imput will be greatly appreciated.

Flew down to Tampa and enrolled in Tampa Truck Driving School. In order for the school to take me I had to have a prehire from one of the affiliated companies that they work with.

Since I have a squeaky clean backround and driving history my recruiter told me that I qualify for Stevens. I got on the phone with Stevens while they ran my criminal and driving record and was told that i was all clear and "Welcome Aboard".

I have to go in to get my physical and drug test and so long as all is clear I start school on 1/9. School is 3 weeks and upon graduation I go out to Dallas Texas for orientation at Stevens.

If anyone has any knowledge or feedback on the company I'd greatly appreciate it.

Who did you end up signing with?

I also got approved by Stevens and they say their is a opening to start school next monday. I never seen them in the Tampa Florida area so hometime concerns me. I also have been researching like crazy to find good reviews but everything is years old.