Comments By Lunchbox

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  • Lunchbox
  • Joined:
  • 7 years, 3 months ago
  • Comments:
  • 45

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Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Roll Call for Texas Drivers!?!?!?

Just a little exercise to see how many Texans we have here in the forum. I don't know if there are many, but I am one. I hail from the Northern side of the DFW Metroplex (Lewisville area).

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Guess I am one of the lucky ones!!!

Just a question, but won't a military waiver cover the skills test if he has that experience?

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Lunchbox's Little Adventure

After a 2 hour wait at the DMV, I now have my CLP in hand and ready to train. With the help of the High Road Training, I missed a total of 10 questions across all Four tests required to get my Class A CLP (in Texas you have to take Special Requirements test in addition to the GK, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles tests.) Roehl has gotten back to me and will set me up with another Physical on the 22nd of February so that I can get my 1 year card and attend their training on March 13th in Dallas, TX. Roehl was my first choice and I am glad to be moving forward with them and their program, but still have contingencies in place just in case. I hope this entry finds you all well and that through documenting this journey, others like myself can find some helpful information.

Until the next update...

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Good old truck music for all the trucking

I enjoy a bit of Johnny Horton on the road (not driving truck yet, but in my Personal Vehicle for sure)

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Burning bridges early?

Honestly, the way it seems to me, is they just move to the next phone call. Remember, it's their job to recruit people. They will be trying their hardest to get you in their door. It's exactly like high pressure sales for Recruiters, just make your intentions clear, ask your questions and if they are consistently dancing around points you feel are important to you then move on. Don't feel bad, and unless you give them your info/app I bet money they forget about you 10 minutes later.

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Lunchbox's Little Adventure

Sorry about the above running together, I thought I had it all formatted properly....Fail on my part.

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Lunchbox's Little Adventure

Emails from the recruiter:

Below is the information about the opportunity that we have available: The training is a four week course in Ft. Worth, M-F 7am – 5:30 pm. You are getting paid while you are going through the course. Week 1 is unpaid, Week 2 = $250, Week 3 = $350, Week 4 =$400. After the four week course, the student will be placed in a truck with a trainer for 28 total (not consecutive) days of paid training at .10 a mile. This is paid whether the student or trainer is driving. You average between 4000-5000 miles a week. After the 28 days of training, the student will then be placed into their own company truck at .30 per mile. There are three raises in the first year. At the end of year one your pay can get up to .38 per mile. You are on the road for 10-14 days, then back home for 2-3 days.

This next excerpt is a response to a few questions I had:

Just a few questions we didn't have time for on the phone: Should I obtain my CLP prior to attending? = No, that is what our instructors will take you to do the first week of school. What are the Costs associated with the training (I assume I am responsible for my own meals so that's not a problem). (Administration/testing/lodging, etc.) = It is entirely FREE! The only reason we would ever take any money out of your check was if you had to stay in the hotel. I know everything on your site says training is Free, but is it COMPLETELY free or is there a term contract, payroll deduction for training costs, etc. attached to going through the school? (Stevens says they offer free training for a year contract but deducts $25 a paycheck to cover the school costs, and the student is required to pay for licensing tests as well as administration fees) = We will never charge you anything for the FREE schooling!! No contracts either, this is a great company and you will see that when you go thru the training. We are upfront and honest about what we expect and what we provide. If we lie, you get in here and realize we lied…. That means we fail and you leave. I am not a failure and will not set up anyone to fail! Is there any way to get the benefits information as far as premium rates, deductibles, type of plans, and coverage amounts before arriving? (This is honestly the second biggest factor for me in choosing a school and I haven't had a company yet that would provide this information beforehand with the exception of Prime Inc. having the previous year's information on their website.) = Attached is a little information I got from our pay roll lady. What is your pet/rider policy? = We have 2013 and newer Volvos, no we have a no pet policy. However, we understand you have family and after 6 months, just to make sure you are driving the truck safely we do allow family members over the age of 12 to ride with you! When does your 90 days start? (For Example: I start school on March 6th, the four weeks ends on March 31st is April 1st my Hire date and July 1 considered eligible for Medical Insurance?) =You are correct, we do orientation on Tuesdays for the people that passed and got their CDL for the week prior. Your orientation date should be 4/4and it is 90 days from then. I did receive your email regarding accommodations at the Country Inn & Suites. (You had requested confirmation of reception in your email). I apologize if there are a lot of questions here, but I am trying to be sure my ducks are in a row and neither of us have any surprises down the road. = Please don’t be sorry, this is your new career and for someone that hasn’t been in this field there are a lot of questions, I would much rather talk/email you and answer everything I can so you want to grow old with my company. It really is a great place, I actually love my job and the work family I have here!

A Further question I had about accommodations as i live about an hour from the Facility:

If I stay at the hotel, what is the total amount that will be deducted through payroll? (total cost of lodging) I am trying to decide if it would be worth it to drive there every day or stay at the hotel and come home to my family on the weekends. = The hotel per night is right at $60 dollars. You can add together the nights that you stay for a total. Then all we do is deduct $50 a week once you go over the road with a trainer to pay the total amount back, until it is paid off. Some people if they are close, just not close enough stay in the hotel Monday night thru Thursday night.

Bear in mind this company only hires people who live in Texas so this information may not pertain to everyone.

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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Lunchbox's Little Adventure

Okay, so this will be the first official entry into my Training Journal here on TT. The field has been narrowed and a Starting Date for class has been assigned. I will start on March 6th, 2017 at Raider Express, if Roehl doesn't get back to me. Roehl is the the company I am gunning for as my First Choice, but they are held up at the moment and aren't getting back to me. I have put in my notice at my current job (more on that in the next post) and making all the necessary arrangements. I have spent many, many hours gleaning everything I could from this site and doing so much research that I have almost suffered from Information overload a couple of time, but I am happy with my decision thus far and noticed that there isn't much in the way of Raider Express information here so this may be an adventure for all of us to enjoy. Enough for now though, I will type out the backstory when I get some time at home this evening, as well as the information from the recruiter at Raider.

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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DOT Physical and Medical Card (an Honest Question)

Your State that issues your driver license should want to see your new physical report to keep your license valid. Then again, when you get an update, they just enter the new numbers.

Another thought: since you need to wait 30 days anyway, just go with the flow. Why go that second time, if you need to go later anyway?. Within its 3 months, your card is just as good. I think you have a condition called Tempest in a Teacup.

Not "Tempest in a Tea Cup" but the company that I am looking to start school with will not accept me with a 3 month card. They require a 1 year card. While I could drive with a different company on that 3 month card (they already said it wouldn't be an issue) I would prefer go with the the first company mentioned. I am working on a bit of a time crunch as my wife and have have a window of opportunity where the career transition will be the least stressful financially so I am trying to fit this into that time frame. I am just trying to "weigh the options" so that I am able to meet the timeline we have as well as be able to drive for the company that I believe to be the best for my situation.

Posted:  7 years, 2 months ago

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CLP Learner Permit Grading Or Grades: Do I need 100%

Congrats Mister,

I too am going to be driving for Roehl (same conditions) out of Dallas, TX in the Van-National Fleet. Good Luck and who knows, we may run into each other (even if the odds are a long shot).

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