Comments By TexanTwoStep

Congratulations! How did this develop?

I called the school and let them know about my last day of work, so he wants to start me a week early!

I'm now starting school on Feb 25th instead of March 4!

I drove out to Cuba and passed the agility test last week, and they are sending me to a (very local) CDL school! I'm really excited to start with them!

Agility test is mainly some balancing test standing on one leg, walking a 2x4 etc. then you’ll do some drills to simulate squatting and checking under a trailer and folding a tarp. On those just remember breathe slowly and maintain your heart rate. You’ll probably have to lift tarps of various sizes and place them on a shelf or trailer. That’s about it unless they’ve changed it up recently.

Appreciate the reply!

I passed, signed a student contract with them, and they're sending me to Career Trucking School in Tyler starting March 4th. I see you're from Tyler as well? If you're a driver trainer I'm hoping that I end up on your truck seeing as I'm 10 miles away from you!

That was a great description of the physical/agility test. Good luck!

Thank you sir! I'm going to try my best to keep notes and update with the current info for McElroy. They are a great company but don't have as much coverage as the bigger companies on the internet. The only way I heard about them was through a CDL school I had requested info on and he told me to reach out to them.

That's a great report - lots of details. There will definitely be people who appreciate you posting this.

I saw on another thread that you were from Chireno, TX. Welcome to trucking, neighbor!

Yessir! I live in Lindale now, but I was born and raised on the Attoyac :)

Thank you! Looking forward to starting!

Yeah, that's definitely not true anymore.

You're from Nacogdoches? I was born and raised in Chireno.

Small world.

Hey everyone,

This past week I have obtained my Texas CLP and signed on with McElroy Truck Lines with their Student Contract Program. They will be sending me to a private CDL school in Tyler, Texas, which is conveniently approx 10 minutes from my house!

The process of getting this offer has been a lengthy one, but I'll try to describe it as best I can:

I first reached out to a recruiter, which was very nice and explained to me everything I needed to know. I probably have called her 10+ times during this whole thing. I've never driven/did not have my CDL, so she told me to put in an app. I did, and they called me back the next week to ask if I could drive to Cuba, AL to get my medical card, take a drug test, and take an agility test.

They put me up in an AMAZING hotel room (seriously, it was bigger than my apartment when I lived in NYC) the night before, and I arrived at the terminal the next morning not sure of what exactly to expect. We were taken to Meridian, MS (there were about 15 - 20 of us) to the hospital to get our medical clearance.

After that (it took about 2.5-3 hours for all of us), we drove back to the terminal, where they requested a urine and hair sample for the urine and drug test. They are serious about this, so if you've done anything illegal in the past 90-120 days, don't waste your time or theirs. Due to a "snow storm" that day (lol, there was a dusting of snow), there was a lot of down time while we waited for the people who performed the agility test. During this time, we were provided a hot lunch and had the opportunity to ask questions of some of the driver mentors that were at the terminal that day. All were very knowledgeable about their jobs and happy to answer any questions that I had.

After lunch, we went and took the agility test, four at a time. Now, I'm not in the best shape (I'm 6'1, approx 250 pounds), but this test isn't for the feint of heart. I was told that if my heart rate rose above 200 or my blood pressure was above 180/90, the test would immediately cease and I would not be eligible for hire.

For the agility test, the doc checks your joints for proper movement and range of motion first, takes your blood pressure and heart rate at rest. Then, you perform a "step-up" test for three minutes at a set tempo. After the three minutes, they take your HR again, and you do this two more times.

Then, you walk around the area for a minute for a cooldown, and your HR is taken again. Then you move on to the next station where you are required to lift boxes of varying weight chest high (25/50/75 pounds, if I recall correctly). You are required to lift them the correct way, and they demonstrate how to do this.

After you passed that, you are required to climb onto the trailer from the rear three times, using three points of contact at all time getting on and off the trailer. Then, for two minutes, you sort nuts and bolts on the back of the trailer while you stand on the ground, then do the same thing while kneeling on the ground for two minutes.

Finally, you are required to lift a rolled tarp from the ground, onto your shoulder, and onto the back of the trailer, then let it fall and do it again. These tarps weigh over 100 pounds and do not have handles, so this is pretty hard if you do not work out/have the right form. Finally, they take your HR and BP again, and you either pass or fail.

After your agility test, the "contract" applicants were taken with the recruiters and given our contracts to sign. For a one year contract, they will pay for my CDL school and I will become a McElroy employee after I complete school and the first week of orientation.

Hope this helps someone!

Talked to the recruiter today and she said that they did away with that portion of the test. Proceeding forward with orientation starting Monday! Wish me luck

Hi Mark,

How did it go? I'm on my way to Cuba for testing on Tuesday.

Hey all,

I'm going to Alabama on Tuesday to do my paperwork/agility test/DOT testing for McElroy. I had a few questions for you veterans/people that work for McElroy.

What does the agility test include? I'm not too worried about it, I just like to be prepared.

Have any of you been a part of their student driver training program? My recruiter told me that I would be in Tucsaloosa for school for approximately 3 weeks, then onto a driver mentor for another 6 weeks. I have no experience driving trucks, but I'm willing to learn and excited about the opportunity.

Thanks in advance for all the help!