Comments By Michael H.

I started cdl school yesterday only go on weekends 10 weekends but really am not pleased with the school the teacher to student ratio is 1 teacher to around 20 students today got to school at 8 in morning did 1/2 hour of going over pre trip then the 4 of us that had our permits went on truck out on road not much traffic on road but we each got about 20 minutes trying to drive I find I can not shift the gears after coming back from truck on road it was lunch time till 1 went outside there is 3 trucks running for 3 class rooms of students and lots of students that have graduated and are practicing for there cdl class it is students teaching students really it is instructors are quite frequently going to there cars going to bathroom going anywhere but in trucks with students but all day long 8 to 4 with hour off lunch I was trying to drive for about 15 minutes and I was able to get in truck to do 4 straight backs I do not think I can learn here I told one instructor today I was not born driving a truck and yesterday was my first day in one I really want to do this but I do not think I can get the shifting down I want to ask if there are any schools that train on automatics I see a lot of companies are using them and I am confident I can do them I did 4 straight backs today without hitting any cones and only 1 or 2 pullups yesterday I got a chance to get in and do 2 straight backs there is no order here at this school it is just whoever can get in truck gets in I hate to complain but I think I need to cancel I can by tomorrow and pay a cancellation fee and get some money knocked off my bill I will only owe like 500 for quitting after the keep my downpayment

No I live in bracey va it is close to Henderson nc and Richmond at lake gaston exit 4 on 85 last exit in va im going to school in chester va it is shippers choice thank you guys for the replies

I have a rear end collision at fault but no citation less then a year old and Ive still managed to find a reputable company willing to hire/accept me for paid cdl training. Its tougher yes to find companies that will accept you when your driving record/criminal record is anything other then perfect, but the point is to not let it eat you up. theres hundreds of companies out there, and i guarantee you at least 10% of them would give you a chance, especially if your charges are as old as you say they are.

thanks I hope so im starting school on the first

I am starting school on the first of sept and knight has a route in charlotte nc the recruiter said I can get on with 14 on road and 7 off or 7 on 7 off I know I wil not make a lot of money but I like being home I have work I can work when I want to make up for money has anyone done this with knight slip seating and if so would you recommend or find someone where I can be home on weekends

Thanks for the advice I have been telling companies and only 1 said it was a problem since duis are so old I also understand about going to a company to go through there training school and that would be great but I am unable to go for weeks without any income that is why I am going to go on the weekends so I can keep money coming in with the 7 on 7 off I know I will not get paid while I am off but I work out off my house now and I can work on commission when I want at home m-f so I am thinking I can drive 7 or 14 days on for year get some experience nd still get home on weekends is ok cargo transporters said they will take a chance with me so i get my own truck and be home on weekends I might do that so I do not have to share truck I just am scared I will be on hook for money then not get job

Thanks for that info I was going to go to a company training but I can not be out of income for that long I know that I do not get paid when off for 7 days but I want to do that or I have talked to a few companies that say I can be home on weekends but for me I like the 7 on 7 off except I hope whoever else is in the truck while I am off is not nasty person that is what I think could be bad also I do n not smoke so I will not want to be smelling smoke nothing against smokers at all I just choose not to but if that's what I have to do i will beggers cant be chooer I guess thank you I have seen the training page on this website but I can not be without income for weeks on end

I am planning on starting driving school where I live in Virginia I will be going for 10 weekends starting sept 1 I have with help from the study materials already passed and received my cdl permit. I have spoken with several companies that says they will hire me after being honest with them about my past but I have read and watched a lot of you tube videos that say recruiters will tell you anything I really want to drive. my concern is school will finance me for 7500 with 500 down but I do not want to be on the hook for that if I get my license but cannot get hired here is my situation with my record I have 2 felonies both white collar crimes wire fraud first one was in mid 90s I served 18 months of a 21 month sentence at a ffed camp finished probation all that second one was 2004 served 24 months of a 36 months at a low fed prison I got a year knocked off my sentence for going through a 9 month drug and alcohol program it was a great program I learned so much I have not drank since 2006 I have no desire to what so ever I am really thankful I got into trouble and got locked up to go through the program it sounds crazy but my life was in complete shambles if I had not quit drinking I believe I would be dead or in prison for killing some one but got out finished probation but I also have had duis but they are so old they do not show up on my driving record I got copy off it from dmv I asked them about them and was told they are to old I have told recruiter all this at a lot of companies and only roel said it was a disqualifier with them I have been speaking with knight and love there 7 on 7 off 14 on 7 off but once again I do not want to get stuck with school bill if I will not get hire any advice giving I will greatly appreciate it and do not worry bout hurting my feelings thanks

Thank you for your insight I thank you but I am willing to stay out for a year on the road if I can get home sometimes more than a day or 2 at a time in a month I have been reading the articles on here and it does not seem like much home time at all I myself would rather stay gone for maybe 5 or 6 weeks straight and be off for a week something like that I'm thinking if you come home for 2 days after every 2 weeks there is no time to get to enjoy life what is in your opinion the company to go with the best home time for no experience brand new never drove before

Thank you very much for the info you are quite right about not wanting the physical work but im hoping if I can stick it out with a big company I see the us express has lots of local routes or even dedicated if I can get home for weekends the first year if not at least every other weekend I went to dmv today and took my general knowledge part of cdl learners and passed with flying colors have been checking out info on here was going go tomorrow and take air brakes part but the lady said ny and nj have something on the national drivers record I contacted ny dmv after being on hold I talked to a guy he says it happens a lot so I have to fax him the front and back of my va license and say I am requesting a its not me letter and the will disassociate me with this guy so I guess I will have to start calling nj dmv first thing in morning I was thinking of going to local driving school but I read that its better to go to big companies that offer cdl training any thoughts any way I tank you for comments and appreciate any input thoughts you guys might have number 1 question is it realistic to think that after a year or so I can bring home at a minum of 1000 per week and get a local route being home daily or at least more than 2 days a week thanks again

I thank all of you for your responses I think I need to be clearer I have totally lost my motivation to sell anymore I really do want to do this I live in Bracey VA and we have lots of trucking companies very close Richmond Danville I have talked to a few truck drivers and have talked to the cdl school am supposed to start 3rd week in august I went in and talked to a local company in Richmond I want to do this but I want to know if after I stay on road for 6 months to a year driving local is it realist to take home 1000 per week I have been studying the cdl book I'm planning to take my cdl learners permit Monday or Tuesday im very excited about driving my wife tells me she tired of hearing about it because I talk of it quite often for the past month or so but I do not want to go out and not make money I can from what I know which is not anything but I think I can say I would be willing to do a year otr if I could get home ive read where some companies work 3 to 4 weeks and off a week I think I would love that also I want to make money but I also want to have time to spend it but anyways I thank you all for your comments and am going now to check out the truck driving starter kit