Comments By JoJack

Thanks, Rob D....it's looking like a balls to the wall beginning for sure.

I'm heading to Brooks, Oregon to May Trucking's main terminal for their Pilot Training Program, as in brand new, never been done before.I passed my CDL test on May 30th and haven't been in a Semi since and have to pass the backing maneuvers again this Monday, 3 1/2 weeks later. Therefore I am nervous. Now, get this...training to go solo is one week. I am not kidding you. None of this training is over the road. They have set it up to where it all takes place at their Brooks, Oregon terminal. Zero over the road experience with a mentor, no getting to back up with the instant relief of knowing there's a pro in the seat next to me. Nobody telling me how to handle truck stop traffic and parking and where to park in general etc. If I pass my backing and my drive then they give me a truck and I hit the road, Friday, with no experience at all. Therefore, I am nervous. Before pulling the trigger on becoming a trucker, like many, I read about it online for a few years with a large portion of what I know coming from TruckingTruth. I want to be as mentally prepared as possible, ya know, get the romance part out of my head and truly come to understand that this is a hard working job that isn't for everybody. I've looked at a hundred companies at least and somehow found the one that is unlike all the rest. I've heard about 3 weeks training, I've heard about 8 weeks training, but I've never heard about 1 week training and again they just started doing this, perhaps this is related to the virus and not having any trainers available but what do I know? Has anybody experienced such short training? Will I get by by watching videos online when I find myself in trouble due to my lack of experience? How in the world will I find the parking spots to sleep at night? Will I be ok learning this job on my own? I can't lie about it, I was looking forward to getting some experience with a pro but now that I know that's not happening I'm slightly concerned but I'm going for it. Thanks for reading. Jojack

Thanks, PJ Sounds like I'm in for a very interesting first year. The recruiter said things have changed because they are low on mentors... My guess is that it's virus related. But she said one week at their Brooks, Oregon terminal and that they've set it up to be all on site. I have to pass my CDL test first, anyway lol... And that's in 5 hours.

I've been told by a recruiter that they are now doing a one week mentorship in Brooks, Oregon for May Trucking... Recent CDL grads. If that's true then I can't help but to be nervous about it. At CDL school I'm only learning how to pass a test. Then at May Trucking for 1 week and off on my own? Sounds crazy and slightly dangerous. What will I have learned in a week? If somebody has some insight I'd appreciate it very much, thank you

Ohhh I did indeed get a W-2 for that one day.

Thanks, Laura...I wasn't going to put it down as a job but I don't know how recruiters find things out about work history. I didn't want to get caught up in a lie by omission. I really didn't "work" there. I'm was going to go to school in Spokane at Drive509 but it's closed because of the China Virus. So I called them for a rescheduling but instead they set me up at North Idaho community college, or technical college, in Hayden, Idaho. Apparently they work together. I'm beyond excited to start. Anyway, it's Drive509 Trucking School.

I passed my permit and endorsement tests thanks to the training on Trucking Truth... Thanks y'all. I'm about to start trucking school this Monday in Idaho and will begin applying for jobs. I waited tables for the past 8 or 9 years and a couple years ago I bought a condo in Dallas. Bad move as a waiter to have purchased my own place and I went down for the count. My awesome credit destroyed, and fast, as I had to file bankruptcy and lost everything... Everything. So, as I list my 3 year job history, the first couple years is a couple jobs and the next year I started job hopping. I was in a panic to save my house, car and pride so I kept hoping to find the gig that would get me outta my mess. At one point, a former coworker that became a manager at another restaurant invited me to check her place out to see if I was interested. On my day off I went in for a day and they showed me around, showed me the whole operation in and out. I didn't like it and didn't take the job but they ended up paying me for the day, damn it. Do I have to list that one day on my job history? Please tell me no. That will put me at a point where companies are going to start shaking their heads about my job hopping. It was really all about a panic to save my place and not file bankruptcy. Thanks for your time.

I will check them out for sure...

Did you check out CFI? Shameless plug!

It's funny how a "denied" can effect a guy so I really appreciate the advice and encouragement. I'll get there and hopefully see you out the road sooner than later...This calls for some peach cobbler ala mode.

They just told me they were moving forward with other candidates...I was stunned and couldn't think to speak so I didn't even ask why. I was a waiter for the past 9 years and before I went bankrupt and foreclosed I was desperately seeking more money to pay off a mortgage so I hopped around from restaurant to restaurant. But I'm a worker. I'm 50 and have had a job since 16 so I'm perplexed.

I am from Spokane as well. I am a week away from getting my own truck with Wilson Logistics. Great training program. Did they give you a reason for denying you? I know they have a tuff driving record policy. Also getting trained during the winter is a great time because winter driving can be tricky.