Comments By George Z.

Has anyone taken the Roadmaster training in Dunn NC? I was very close to going to them. However, I am getting mixed signals between the recruiter and the school, and my internet research has me worried. I made it clear to the recruiter I have no money for tuition or lodging, and she said no problem you are 100% approved. But all the documentation (school catalog) clearly states I have to pay for lodging and get a loan for tuition. I do not want a loan. So confused..

Just curious, does Roadmaster test and issue you out of state CDL's or do you go back to your home state DMV? The recruiter told me they test and issue the CDL A right at their location in NC.

Thank you Reyn

I was offered to be trained in an automatic truck at a school here in NYC with the condition that my license would have it as a restriction. I have a card in my car of someone that could help get you trained even with your financial issues. I’ll post his details tomorrow as my car is parked a few blocks away from my apt. Hopefully the sooner you act on this the sooner you can get on the road. There has to be a resource out there for veterans about to be homeless too. God bless & may He give you the strength & determination to see this through not just for you but for your family.

That's exactly what I did. Thanks G-Town, that would have been a costly mistake on my part.

George I think you are mixing attending Swift Academy with Employment. Not the same. While attending school you are not an employee. Once you graduate the academy, pass the CDL test and receive an invitation to attend orientation; at the point you are an employee and considered a trainee moving to the 200 hours of mentoring (road training).

Hi, I am a disabled Veteran with no money and at risk of becoming homeless if I do not find work, and I need to make a decision on my path to getting my CDL.

A string of bad luck over the past year brought me to this point. Savings is now all spent trying to stay afloat.

I chose trucking because I wanted to become a truck driver when I was a teen, but ended up doing other things instead.

Big mistake.

For the last few months I have spoken or chatted with many company's and schools. Unfortunately, I am still unclear what to do probably because I am not that familiar with the trucking Industry.

First off, because of my disability (wounded during Gulf War), I cannot drive a manual transmission in any vehicle car or truck etc.

I cannot bring my wife along do to her health reasons should we become homeless, and also have 2 children.

Our relatives are useless.

After much research, it seems although most carriers have automatic transmissions, most do not train on automatics in their company sponsored CDL training. The few that do offer it, such as CRST list an impairment that disqualifies me (I have a minor impairment of my R arm and L leg), but an automatic transmission would solve the issue (no clutch and no stick shift).

Private Schools do offer what I need, but I cannot use my G.I. Bill, and even if I do get financing with my now bad credit the interest rate is thru the roof.

I am now looking into state and federal programs that provide grants, but the state one requires you to be laid off, which I was not.

So frustrated..any advice would help.

I just noticed Roehl list this as one of their benefits, and I do not recall seeing this on the other company's reviews here on the website. Is this pretty common for company drivers? Exclusive?

"EZ Pass (for electronic tolling) and Pre-Pass (for bypassing weigh stations)."

Thanks in advance

I have noticed at least with the Several Companies I am considering as a New CDL driver that most health insurance is not available until at least 60 or 90 days being employed. Do any companies you know of provide Health Insurance within 30 days? Otherwise, if we get hurt in training or shortly thereafter before the Health Insurance is available at 60 to 90 days the hospital bill could be HUGE. I had this happen to me while waiting 30 days on my previous job for the Health insurance, and had to pay 100% of my hospital bill-$15000!

Interesting....thank you for the information.

I guess I am used to finding out everything up front when it comes to what I am getting paid for and not getting paid for and the conditions that apply to each, before I sign the dotted line. I would think this especially important for any company that requires a driver to pay the tuition back, if the driver does not complete the CDL school or meet the required 1 year employment etc. depending on the company. Impossible to know the future during that critical period.

In the past, I have always received an "offer letter" which states what my job is including benefits and pay as well as company policy, which are all required to be read and understand before accepting the position. Seems with trucking, it is done the opposite way, at least for inexperienced drivers, i.e. you sign and accept the offer, without knowing all the pay and benefits.

IMHO, it would be foolish to enter into any financial agreement without knowing all the terms, as this is not purely an employment agreement depending on the company, but a financial (debits and credits, penalties, etc.) and employment agreement.

It sounds like what you are saying is that anyone wanting to start a career in truck driving, must first abide by the first unwritten rule, i.e. as a complete "noob", be grateful they are even talking to me, don't ask questions, just read what the company's website and recruiter states, and don't worry about anything else or ask about anything else because as a noob, we are not entitled to ask such questions.

I guess what you are really saying is to find out everything I would like to know in private and not publicly, where it could hurt potential employment by looking bad in doing so.

Correct?

Like I said...interesting.

Hi, I was told by SWIFT that they pay $16-$17 an hour for any type of "detention" issue as long as its not the drivers fault. When I asked if I can get their complete pay policy and detention policy before I sign the bottom line to join them to go to their CDL school, they told me I can't because all that information is in their Drivers Manual, and you cannot get that until after you sign up etc. When I asked what the different types of detentions were he said its just "black and white", either its your fault or its not. He also told me in response to my question if drivers get paid if the truck breaks down or blows a tire, that such things never happen 95% of the time. I take that as a "NO"?