Comments By Buttercup

My questions are all answered, thanks again...

Lastly I'm just nervous about leaving my employer and getting to training/orientation and failing the physical. I know my blood pressure is fine. I'm a little on the chunky side. I don't take any medications. What's with the sleep apnea deal? Not worried about the drug test. What do they look for on the physical? Do they require your complete medical history?

You guys are so helpful. :) Thanks so much for answering all of these questions. My dog far exceeds the weight limit for all of these companies so...that's ok. I have a great vet friend who would board him for me (but keep him in her home and not a kennel) maybe after a year my situation would allow me to find a company for a dog but at the moment I am more focused on doing this right.

Would it be a good/bad idea to try to obtain my cdl permit prior to attending company sponsored training? I assume the cost to pay for my own physical and drug test is negligible compared to most things.

Thanks for the info, I hadn't really thought about swift, mostly because I hadn't seen anything advertised locally from them.

I still am wondering about how you actually "make it home" especially if you live a good distance away from your employers drop sites or terminals or whatever. Can someone explain that portion to me, please? lol

CRST is all team. Make sure you think this through because they are the most hardline company when it pertains to contract adherence. Search on on CRST topics by using the search bar in the upper left hand corner for additional information.

I also want to mention Swift. Not a plug, but information. I have been with them for almost 5 years running Walmart Dedicated. No interest in looking elsewhere, the job meets all of my needs. There are other Swifties on the forum as well.

The Swift contract is one year, they deduct $38 per week for 52 weeks, then at week 53 of employment, they will reimburse the same amount for each paycheck until the schooling cost is totally paid back to the driver. After two full years it's free.

Michelle, we typically suggest a new driver commit to their first company a minimum of one year. Most of the folks on this forum have accomplished that. Truth is, it will take you that long to really understand how to be a top performer and develop the driving skills necessary for safe and efficient operation.

Rookie drivers with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, work hard will likely be successful no matter what company they choose.

Good luck.

I think what's most important to me is the quality of training. My end goal isn't to have just a CDL. I am very good at my job now but in a declining field. I fought long and hard to get where I am because initially my training was subpar. There's nothing more frustrating than having to find your own way in any field. Learning by trial and error makes for great process retention, but that's not what anyone wants or needs when you're operating a massive vehicle.

The second most important thing would not so much be region, but the ease of getting home when it was my time to be home. Honestly, I have no idea how to even figure this out. HOW do y'all get home, anyway? I live in a rural region of NY. I have a great reliable vehicle but it's my impression that you aren't getting a trip back to the car to get you home.

As far as equipment goes, I'm not sure that I care. Be clean and comfortable and reliable? What matters when you're looking at equipment (I work at a blue oval dealership, and have worked for Honda, Mitsubishi and Fiat Chrysler, to me EVERYTHING is junk!)

Holy smokes. I have to take 8 hour training once every 3 years here. To ship the occasional safety device or used fuel tank or injector or whathave you. I guess it's only to my benefit in the end. Good to know though.

Getting a Hazmat endorsement has 2 parts. 1) passing the state approved endorsement test 2) a federal background check.

There is no formal training. By passing the written test you are demonstrating practical knowledge. The High Road Training program on this site includes training for endorsements.

thanks, I'm going to have to go with a Company Sponsored program. Which is fine. The appeal of CSRT is 10 month contract. Other items not so appealing though. Still Prime and Roehl are most appealing from my point of view. Can anyone clarify the Hazmat Endorsement? NY doesn't list any training requirements, just passing a test. Which I find a bit unbelievable as even for my job I have to take the basic 172.700 training. 181, 215, and 126. Is there more to it than what I'm reading on the DMV website?

As others stated if you do private school most (if not all) companies want 160+ hr certificate. Once you have your CDL and have finished orientation (officially an employee); your time with a trainer varies from company to company. Those who team train tend to have longer training. Those companies that run the truck as a solo truck tend to be shorter. Some of us ended up with very short training lengths. I did a private school (3 weeks), 1 week of orientation, 2 weeks with a trainer, 1 week testing out to upgrade to solo. My trainer actually tried to leave me at the terminal after 1 week. My poor trainer. He likes his beauty sleep and I don't sleep a lot, lol.

When my Aussie crosses the bridge to doggie heaven, I think I'm going to try a GSP or a Shiba. I love my herding breeds but mine is fairly shy. My uncles boxers are absolute clowns, I'll bet you'll love them.

I have a show dog and have friends that are pretty deep in the purebred dog and field trial business/hobby. Canada, from NY's border, from what I understand, rarely even checks Rabies certificates when crossing the border. Good idea to have when traveling. Requiring an dog to be altered to cross country borders would effectively kill the show industry.

PS - Oh, by the way, now I have considered a pair of boxers instead of a Shepherd. Smaller, compact, good-looking (maybe not as handsome as a Shepherd) they still make great little watchdogs. Strangers won't dare mess with a driver with a boxer or two for company. I have read they are a great breed choice chosen by many a driver.

Hi there, and thanks for the replies everyone. I am in the uppermost county of New York state (you know, where the prisoners escaped from...lol). I have looked at quite a few company sponsored programs, Prime being one, and Roehl being the other. And CRST, which has the highest number of ads locally looking for drivers. I actually Applied to Roehl and got a call Saturday but was moving horses from Watkins Glen this weekend so wasn't available for chatting. I would really, ideally, like to apply with a company that will eventually let me bring my dog. I am nervous about a 15 month commitment with no pro rating for training though. I am also wondering about how these companies get you home once you're out driving? Perhaps a naive question, but, if they are taking you by bus, plane or train to their facilities, and then you're in a truck...are you expected to get back home whatever way you can get for your time off? I'm not too worried about time off the first year but like most other people, I would like time to visit with family and friends now and then. I know I have more questions, but it's early yet and I haven't coffee'd for the day.

Hello Michelle B, and welcome aboard!

Yes 160 hours of training is the standard that most companies are looking for. You won't spend near that much time actually behind the wheel, but your school time should be that long. It will involve classroom, driving, and observation time, (standing around waiting for your turn) There are a good number of schools in the Northeast that are shorter, but I do not recommend going that way.

Have you considered the Paid CDL Training Programs? They are an excellent way to get started in this career without having to lay out a lot of your hard earned cash, and many of our members here have gone that route. There is usually a commitment required on your part, but we strongly recommend folks sticking with their first driving job for one year anyway.

Prime has a unique training program where you will get a ton of actual on the job training while getting paid a minimum of 700 dollars a week. Their first four weeks or so are unpaid, but they will advance you a couple of hundred a week during that time if you need it.

No definitely not. Just looking for a career change.

Are you on unemployment or have any type of programs to help out with the cost of the class?