Started CDL School This Weekend!

Yay school started! It's a super small class (only 3 people) but I'm ok with that. The one guy is getting his CDL A and the girl is going for passenger bus. It's strange. The guy was asleep during most of the class and the girl is taking a taxi from 15 miles away so I'm so sure how long our class will be the same people. Time will tell.

So far the admin and instructors seem really nice. The previous class, who are now testing for their licenses, came in to the classroom during lunch break (where we can stay and eat) and we're super loud and foul mouthed, basically just being annoying. Glad they're not in my class. Displays of bravado among the guys is pretty high. I guess that comes with the territory. I made it pretty clear that my name wasn't "darling" or "boo". They left me alone after that.

I'm looking forward to the classes! It's every weekend until February 13. I need to do my DOT physical and get my permit so I get road time faster.

I'll keep you posted!

Good luck!

It's got to be great to have such a small class - almost one on one, especially if one student (not you) will be sleeping.

I laughed at this line:

The previous class, ... came in to the classroom during lunch break ... and we're super loud and foul mouthed, basically just being annoying.

I bet you were! (only I really bet this was actually your cell phone spell corrector).

Hahahaha! Oops! *were

We just had a We're representative come and talk with us. I really like how much more money I can make with Prime (from what I read) but he pitched a great sale for Werner. I think the smart thing will be not to develop tunnel vision about a company and keep my options open.

Stupid phone. We had a WERNER rep come in.

I think the smart thing will be not to develop tunnel vision about a company and keep my options open.

I can understand this myself. I had a list of 40 something companies that I've all narrowed down to maybe's to investigate further to develop a list of 20, than 10 w/ a top 5 to contact. Before all that happened I found Decker Truck Line out of Fort Dodge, IA. According to their Western Reefer division description, over 70% of their runs occur west of Ohio, and the main terminal for that division is in Missoula, MT. This is huge to me. I want to run the west more often than not, and I've been wanting to relocate to western Montana for a few years now. The only way I've seen to be able to run the west like I want is to get a western regional position, which while not impossible would probably be unlikely until such a time as I can relocate to a hiring area, which usually does not include Montana. The recruiter I've contacted also states that their rookie drivers avg 2700-3200 mi/wk. While that I think will be a bit much as I haven't driven in near a year and a half now, and I still don't have that much overall experience, it's nice to see that the miles should be there. They'll also send me out with a trainer since it's been so long since I drove big truck. I sent the recruiter an email with many of the questions that were advised in an old thread here, and I like most, if not all, of the answers. I'm super excited about Decker, but I'm nervous that I might be jumping the gun. So far they seem like a super good fit. Everyone else seems to run primarily east of the Mississippi, bleh. Now I just have to find my bunny a new home before I can apply.

Good luck Im in week 3 out of classroom on the range in tractor/trailer tomorrow Im in a 4 week class very fast tons to remember I didnt have the time or money for a longer class

steve j

Thanks! Good luck!