Comments By Grandma Day

Reading over several training diaries. Can you list a few specifically to read? The good, bad and ugly. A female experience as well.

I will just state that I am a permitted CDL holder. I say HOLDER. I have never been inside a truck, cranked a truck or drove a truck. Your question has a lot of open ends to it.

But seriously, I would not want me rolling in the road.

I have no real answer. I grew up in Raleigh and live near by now. I am just beginning my adventure and start school Oct 23. So wanted to shout out a say I hi neighbor. What area do you live?There are a tremendous amount of industrial parks in the area, maybe reach out to them.

First time I had a chance to get on today. I see I got this post fired up a bit.

Thank you all for the replies. I am not looking to be a free agent by any means. And some of the comments I know to skim by. I think some people can get blinded by a free education and can't appreciate or may not have worked on the management side of any business; therefore, may not understand the reasoning behind offering a free education. It is just good work ethic to stay at least a year in any respectable industry. Newbie or not.

I am hoping to find a good established company that I can not only learn from but also I can also call home.

I guess my ultimate first failure is not knowing enough to make a decision on companies to go through. The community college is close to home and has an outstanding reputation around here. I did have orientation today and classes start Oct 23. 8 weeks, 5 days a week and 11 hours a day.

I literally didn't know Swift, Prime, Ect.. from mom and pop. So ultimately did not know a good company from a bad. I was serious when I said I am an idiot to the ins and outs of the industry. I do know I can learn, take it seriously and excel all without the illusion that I will be anything when receiving that CDL A.

Thanks to this site I am learning a ton. I am a free spirit. Used to working with little to no supervision and excelling at it. I tried transitioning into hospital settings then to office settings. No thank you. I can't stand to be stuck inside a building. I have been lost trying to find my retirement job/ second career. If I take on an endeavor I take it seriously, even if I ultimately fail.

So I guess my next question will be: will these companies hire people who did not initially go through their school? Obviously, they would want one to learn their way of doing things.

Again, thanks for any and all advice.

Thank you,

I didn't not use the word "free agent" slo-boy did. But I understand how you came to that idea based on my response. I was referring to sign on bonuses in healthcare they do it just to get you in the door, that's fishy to me because they are not offering "compensation for anything, ie TDT" sorry for the mis understanding. I have worked no less than 2-3 years at one place and did 23 years as a Paramedic.

I am going into this industry dumb as dirt. Literally!!! I am looking at this as I did with my degree in Emergency Medical Services. It will give you enough information to pass your test and basics but the real learning doesn't really start until you hit the rig (ambulance or trucking). That was why I was questioning the CC route. I want the best basics and foundation to start my new adventure. I am sure I will suck @&& at it for a while. 😂😂. My training will be 5 days a week for 8 weeks 11 hours a day.

I want a strong company that will bring me in the industry. I fully and expect no less than being to runt in the industry.

Trust me I am actually scared to death but excited taking this step into a totally unknown industry.

As I said I am an idiot to this industry but pumped to learn it.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

Personally, I think the whole idea of being a "free agent" when you're an entry level, rookie driver is a joke. It's not like being a rookie athlete just entering the profession. They are already proficient at their game, they've just managed to get on at a place where they can get paid for it.

Being free to pick your own company sounds nice, but it doesn't give one much advantage. You're still a beginner and only a limited number of companies hire beginners. Trust me when I say you will be surprised how ill equipped you will be for the job once you finish your schooling.

The community college programs are good, usually very good, but nothing will prepare you like sticking it out for one year at your first company. The beauty of the Paid CDL Training Programs is that they have an investment in you from the get go. They not only want you to succeed, they are invested in helping make sure you do. You are not the only party making a commitment - they are committed to your success in a way that no "free agent" will ever experience from their employer.

I'm not knocking your decision. Some of our members went the same route and were quite happy with their decision. I just wanted to clarify that though we all hear about the great demand for drivers, that demand also weeds them out very quickly. No one gets a trucking job in a more precarious position than the rookie driver. "Free Agent" or not, that first year is no walk in the park, and a commitment can only help you get through it.

You'll need to provide that level of commitment on your own if the company you go to work for doesn't insist on you signing a contract. Don't count on your "free agent" status to be of any assistance in the actual arena, where only results matter.

Terri, I'm in no way saying you've made a wrong choice. I'm just hoping to help you focus on the big reality that's going to hit you at some point in this journey. The commitment will not only be necessary, but vital, whether you pay your own way or not.

Sno-Boy that was one if the strongest reasons why I wanted to do it this way. I have worked in health care for a long time. My coworkers never understood why I would not accept sign on bonuses. To me it has never made sense to accept an offer for a company to "buy" me. I always stayed many years it just seemed fishy to me.

At the same timyI do understand many trucking companies may still require s contract.

As I read more and more on this site I am realizing that most everyone is going through a company sponsored training. Am I making the wrong decision to goto a community college? I already have medical card, and learners permit. Orientation is tomorrow with drug testing. Then class starts mid to late October.

I chose this route honestly because I am not sure the direction I want to go with trucking.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

So I just passed my CDL A permit with tankers, passenger, and double/triples. However, the double/triples could not be added even though they allowed me to test for it but if I get my CDL with in 3 months I will get that. Also, going to get HazMat but going to wait for that but should not be a problem with my Paramedic/Firefighter experience. Have my medical card (1 year but hey) and drivers records. I goto orientation on the 25th and class begins in October. I am finally getting excited about something after 10 years.

Absolutely there are companies who will. Swift is a great company and they have many thousands of drivers who are obviously quite content there. The plus for them is their company sponsored schools. I love my company, but they don't have a school so to come here, one has to either be experienced or go to a private school. I attended a school that's contracted to a community college near my home. They don't do tuition reimbursement either. Mine (except for $200) was paid for by a scholarship program so the reimbursement (or lack thereof) wasn't a consideration for me.

Does your company have anything near Raleigh area in NC?

Thank you so much for the replies. I would not mind a couple weeks at a time. Time will tell what route I will take. I have a lot of learning to do on how pay works, type of routes and advantages vs disadvantages. As I said I have no mentors so doing as much research as possible. Thanks for any and all advice.