Comments By Gary E.

I'm starting school tomorrow morning!

All the things I've learned from this site and its contributors have helped sooooooo much, I feel like I have a bit of insight into this new world, and that's a big confidence booster!

Good luck to you Deb

Hi Lain and welcome. I came over from the UK last June and pretty much instantly decided on a trucking career. I had to get my car license first though. Even though I had been driving for 20 yrs in the UK I still had to sit written test and skills test. Same for Commercial Driving Licence. Now, you can get your CDL A at anytime actually, you do not need to wait for 12 months to get that, (trucking schools are happy to take your money if you are willing to pay it in full), however, you will then find it impossible to get employment until after you have held your driving license for 12 months, something to do with insurance conditions for the trucking companies. I have recently completed all my permits for my CDL A and am now waiting until Aug 30 for my 12 months waiting time to gain employment in the industry. Over here there are 100's of trucking schools starting new recruits every week. Some of the trucking companies over here will even pay for your tuition if you commit to their company for 12 months. You can pay for it yourself for around $3500 and have no contractual obligation but I would only recommend this route with an offer of employment letter first. As for a company sponsoring you to come over here and drive for them, I have never heard of that. It would cost them around $10000 just to do that and they have a huge pool of potential recruits over here on a constant rolling basis. I was lucky enough to meet my wife online but even then it took 12 months to go through all the red tape. Anyway hope this helps.

Here is an update for anyone heading in this direction. I've already left the course!!. I will not slander the actual course because I was not on it long enough to be able to make a solid opinion on course content and structure. The reason I left was because the Doc in the physical gave me the hard sell on a sleep apnea study with a "friend of his just down the road who can do it for only $650 instead of me paying $2000 at the hospital".

Medical results

1)Do I snore - No

2)Do I have problems sleeping - No

3)Which side do I sleep on - All sides

4)Do I wake up with dry mouth - No

5)How often do I pee during the night - before I go to bed and when I wake 7-9 hours later

Epworth Sleepiness test. I scored 2 points. Yes that's a 2 not a 20.

BP 135/100. A bit of white coat syndrome but under control under usual conditions

Neck size - 16 inches

BMI - 29

He couldn't fully see my uvula.

So based on the White Coat Syndrome and my uvula I need a study? I think someone was trying to take me for a ride and it wasn't in a semi!! I posted this as I can see it becoming a greater issue looking forward and want others to be prepared for this second hand car salesman method he tried with me.

Disappointed

Gary E

Is anyone going to be in Springfield on Sunday? Or starting with Prime on Monday?

I should be arriving to Springfield on Saturday night/Sunday morning and I'll be there until probably Tuesday.

I have nothing to do so if I'm too bored I can show you the pretrip inspection and give you some backing lessons. And believe me, you REALLY want those lessons. I made an absolutely monster, backing-God out of Ken. Admit it Ken! Haha!

But seriously, if anyone wants a giant boost in their trucking career give me a shout if you'll be in Springfield.

Hi Daniel, I will be in Springfield MO on Sunday and starting my schooling on Monday at 7am. I would appreciate anything you have to offer before my classes start. My name is Gary and you may use my email if you like ' garyelliott@usa.com'. Thank you in advance and I look forward to meeting you if we go ahead. Thanks

Hi guys. Has anyone on here recently been through C1 in Springfield, MO with Driver Solutions. I am particularly interested in how the training was?, if you passed did you have to wait long before setting off on your paid training?. In fact any recent good or bad experiences would be helpful. They have offered me a spot starting Monday. I have done homework on this but most of the information was not recent and a lot of it was negative.

Thanks in advance

Gary

The High Road Training Program is the best way to learn what you'll need to know so you can pass your Class A Permit Test.

Totally agree, that's what I have been using. There is nothing better out there. As has been discussed on here in the past, I would pay for that kind of study guide. Thank you Brett

Thanks Brett, no DOT physical required ( Missouri ). Sitting them all at once seems a little daunting to me. Is that normal, do most people do it that way?. There is a lot of information in just the permit study alone. By the time I add on ALL the other endorsements for study in one sitting I would have to keep going back to the beginning again to revise what I learned the week before. I will need to break them up but I wait until July before I sit them, that way they will be fresher in my mind.

Thanks once again for the replies, that clears up the 'what to study for just the permit. I spoke with a Prime recruiter last November who told me to apply once I had held my US driving for 12 month. I can't apply for company sponsored training until August but seeing as Prime (closest and what seems best choice for me) requires you to have your permit prior to start, I thought I would get it in May and then add on all the endorsements over the following months before school. By the the time I start I should be fully loaded with everything. Does this seem like a good plan?

Hi again guys, I am pretty confident on 'Rules & Regs.', 'Driving Safely', ' Transporting Cargo', 'Air Brakes' & ' Combination Vehicles'. Will I also need to learn ' Pre-Trip' & 'Log Books' for my permit?

Thanks in advance once again

Gary

Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate that

Gary