Comments By Trucker Chris (CK)

It's like I am here but not.

You are a figment of your own imagination.

Hello Everyone,

I am looking to relocate to Florida in the next couple of months. Can anybody refer me to a good trucking school that offers training and certification?

Thank You,

Florida generally limits your options significantly, due freight lanes alone. Just FYI.

In my opinion, I wouldn't dive straight into tanker. Some would disagree, but liquid surge and a brand new driver is just not a good combination. Prime Inc also offers a flatbed division. I've been with the company for coming up on three years in the reefer division, and they treat us really well. We offer company-sponsored CDL training, and paid on the job training following that. During the on-the-job training, what we refer to as TNT, trainees are paid a weekly guarantee of $900. I believe Prime also has a restricted hiring area when it comes to our tanker division, so your location may play into that.

Why pay for something you can get for free? Megas also provide paid on the job training after you obtain your CDL. Schools teach you to pass the test, but not to do the job. Prime Inc pays $900/wk during the on-the-job portion of training, which is typically 30,000 miles.

25 posts, no name, and no status....?

Glitch?

Welcome! You mentioned going to a local CDL school, but I have to ask, why would you pay for something you can get for free? There are many large companies that offer free CDL training and paid on-the-job training with a contracted term, usually about one year.

I drive for Prime Inc, we are a large refrigerated carrier, but also run flatbed and tanker divisions. I got my CDL through Prime in 3 weeks, drove team with a trainer for 30,000 miles, and have been driving solo and as a trainer since the end of May 2019. After you get your CDL and are officially hired, we pay our trainees and guaranteed $900 every week until they finish training and get their own truck.

1. Rest areas and truck stops. A bottle is a good idea as well, but be discreet when you dispose of it.

2. It takes practice, but it will get better and quicker.

3. Generally no, if you plan on running recaps.

VATSIM Air Traffic Control

I had something similar happen with my hazmat endorsement background check. The state of Utah "disqualified" my CDL because my background check expired. It happened about 6 months before I thought it was supposed to do I was caught completely by surprise, and the gentleman who called to inform me was rather terse. I never received a letter from the state.

Fortunately I had a trainee with me at the time who I had do the driving. I went to a universal enrollment office and resubmitted everything and the state told me it would be up to 90 days before they reinstated my cdl, and I would have to pay a fee at that time.

I got very lucky and everything was fixed in 48 hours.

One week training after getting your CDL and then straight up solo is a terrifying prospect. Who was the mega carrier? I really hope you'll let us know.

The good news is that they aren't all that way. After you obtain your CDL, Prime Inc requires you run team with a trainer for 30,000 miles. At that point, you should be comfortable with all aspects of the job and be fairly proficient on backing. Even if you obtained your CDL elsewhere, with the short time you have OTR Prime will still require training. If you're interested, driveforprime.com.