Well said. I hope others will see this and make the choice to finish what they start.
That was a well written entry, and I applaud you for taking responsibility and sprinkling your entry with the encouragement aspects of choosing the right company for each person.
For me, I am in the middle of making a career change decision that will impact my remaining workdays (five years until Social Security). I need to decide whether or not I will accept and work through my decision at either Swift, Prime, or Celadon.
Swift has more up front costs than either Prime or Celadon, but the terminal is only a few miles from where I live. All the company drivers I have spoken with at the Jonestown Terminal have been absolutely positive (including one from G-Town on this forum), but they haven't painted the picture entirely rosy: Their take on working for Swift is that it has its ups and downs, but what company doesn't? It's what a driver puts into it that s/he will get out of it (in most cases).
Prime is less expensive, but I'm not sure I am ready to spend up to three months away from home for training before I finally return with my assignment to the Pittston, Pennsylvania Terminal. On the positive side, I like the immediate OTR training and, when I get my CDL and become a company driver for Prime, I would be able to run all 48 -- if I wanted to run that many states.
As of this writing, I am still waiting to hear from Celadon and its driver recruiters. As I learned from Travelyon, the original poster for this thread, Celadon is having trouble finding driver trainers. So, it may be awhile before I hear from them.
Regardless of the company I choose, I am confident that I should be able to work with the Company and the Company, in turn, will work with me. It's all a matter of attitude, respect, dedication, confidence, inspiration, and work.
So, that's it from me for awhile.
Be safe Everyone!
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
LateForSupper thinks:
Swift has more up front costs than either Prime or Celadon,
Did I miss something?
I did Swift's school. Sure I signed the contract, but they never got a nickel from me "up front"!
In fact, if you work for them for a year, it only costs half the contacted tuition. Work two years, they get it all refunded to you.
Celadon has no upfront cost, but you pay for your permit, and license when you get them. And I just learned that since Celdon has no trainers available, I'm about to be bused from here in Indianapolis, to kernersville(idk, never heard of it) North Carolina, to be paid 7.25hr while doing local runs with a trainer there? Really starting to regret my decision...
Oh and he cost of celadons training is $7,200 which they say you won't owe if you drive 120,000 miles for them. But you still will have to drive 10,000 miles with a trainer which doesn't count toward your 120,000...
According to my recruiter at Swift (and I am in no way complaining), I need to either pay $58.00 for my DOT physical, or let Swift deduct it from my pay once I go solo.
Also, I need to pay $240.00 for my permit and the actual CDL Skills Test (Swift contracts the testing to an outside vendor), and that will be deducted from my pay -- once I go solo -- or I may pay it up front. I'd rather pay it up front.
Prime's total up front cost is $155.00 for the permit, and that's it.
So, we have $298.00 versus $155, but that's not the deciding factor.
Does that sound right? If it isn't, please let me know. I may have misunderstood the recruiter.
Errol V. wrote
LateForSupper thinks:
Swift has more up front costs than either Prime or Celadon,Did I miss something?
I did Swift's school. Sure I signed the contract, but they never got a nickel from me "up front"!
In fact, if you work for them for a year, it only costs half the contacted tuition. Work two years, they get it all refunded to you.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Stay the course, Travelyon. I am confident that it will all work out for you in the long run!
I'm not trying to get anyone to change schools. All the costs you mentioned are directly related to your CDL permit. That is up to the state you are from, and the doctor you choose (or the company Dr.)
The third party testing is not Swift's idea, that also is up to the state. Some states let contractors talk them into it, and that contractor gets a nice piece of YOUR change (so it's $200), not $55 if the state did it directly.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Celadon doesn't do their own testing either....we had to go to Schneider to get the testing done. So all in all this is what I paid: DOT physical: $75.00(kept my receipt and celadon gave it back to me via a comcheck) CDL permit: $45.00 Actual CDL license: $20.00. Of all these they gave me back via a comcheck(I kept all the receipts). Whatever school/training you choose just be safe out on the road.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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Well TT, I felt celadon was ripping me off with this contract and having to wait so long for this and that. I got fed up and left...worse mistake I've made(besides the failed drug screen months ago)(passed 3 more after that too). The video we watched in orientation says "people think the grass is greener on the other side and it isn't". It was right. After hearing opinions of so many frustrated drivers(former) I decided to talk to current ones. What I found out was mind blowing. Celadon isn't so bad at all, and it's like this at almost every other big trucking company that trains students to become drivers for them. I saw this attitude take off with some of my friends. I had the right attitude but felt a little like celadon owed me more. Talking to current drivers put it into perspective for me. It's like anything you want in life, if you want it, you gotta go grab it, and hold on. I thought long and hard about this choice I made, and about those that came before me. Who am I to think I could change how a company does their thing. I had to man up and finish what I signed up for. I'm truly humbled now. This is what I want and I been thru so much to finally say, I have my CDL and job, so there's no way I'd give it up(some of us men and out foolish pride). Im now back at celadon waiting to do my star run(a night time drive that actually doesn't take place at night,lol), and then wait for a trainer. Celadon is having a hard time finding OTR trainers so most students are doing local runs for training. As for me, I'm cool with however the wind blows. I just want to be a safe and efficient driver. So for all those with a chip on their shoulder about how some of these training schools/companies are, most of the people on this site have been thru it as well. And they stayed the course and it's become fruitful. I think I'll just stay where I am and water my grass where it's at, and watch it grow.... TreeBark over and out..
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated