Millis Diary

I am starting with Millis on July 5th. I realize it's a long way off but, I chose that date to time my paychecks in a beneficial manner to ease my transition from my current job. I will keep you all updated as I go through my training and the steps leading up to it. Based on all of the research I have done on this website and on my own, this is the best company out there that offers schooling. The starting pay is amazing but....the pay increases are small. Over time it all averages out. I gotta believe that they are trying to attract drivers that will decide they like the company and stay. I'm sold, can't see a reason why I would leave until I get my own truck. Unfortunately there is no lease option. Make sure you spend time talking to the recruiters. I'll be driving a stick at the school. I may have to wait for a trainer that drives a stick truck. This is very important. CDL licensing is changing. If you train and test on an automatic, you won't be able to drive a manual. Not all states do that yet but they soon will. Invest your time carefully. I am in a very fortunate position. When my CDL schooling is done I can go back to my current job and wait on a trainer. Already had that discussion with my boss. Millis is switching to all automatics. If you want manual, your looking at OTR. Fine by me, that's what I want anyhow. Eventually that's going to go away as well. Long live the 10 speeds and 13 speeds. I will provide updates as necessary. Peace y'all.

Hoping to hear from Millis by end of week. Good luck.

After speaking to a current student and a couple current drivers, I have discovered something unique about Millis. I could be completely wrong about my research, please correct me if I am. From what I am seeing/reading, almost all company-sponsored programs will have you test for your CDL before you hit the road with a trainer. Not the case here. You complete your schooling, and you are dispatched with a trainer as a solo driver. If this is correct, here's why that's a real big plus for choosing Millis. If you are dispatched with a trainer as a solo truck, that trainer will be sitting with you all the time. That means that your permit makes you valid in any situation, because you have a licensed driver right there next to you. Just like having your temps for a car. Here's why that's awesome. You'll get to have real life experience BEFORE you have to test for your CDL. It doesn't last long, but gaining extra experience behind the wheel is a good thing before you have to test. Again, I will confirm this tomorrow when I talk to my recruiter to make sure this information is correct. After your training is completed, you will have to obtain your CDL and then continue on as a solo driver. None of this will make sense or seem beneficial to you if you haven't dug really deep on common practices for company schools. I will update this blog later this week after speaking to my recruiter. Do your research. Seems to me that the hardest part of this job is picking the correct path FOR YOU. This one is mine, and I'm not looking back. But everyone is different, every avenue of life is subjective.

Confirmed. You have the option to test immediately after schooling, or do it after you've been on the road with a trainer. I'll be choosing option 2. The pay is the same, irregardless. 25cpm whether you are driving, or whether your trainer is. All miles go towards your check. Per my previous post, I may have to wait a bit before there is a trainer available with a stick truck. For me, there are no repercussions, I can go back to my old job while I wait. Also....with Millis I don't need any endorsements. If I need them later, I'll get them. No TWIC , no passport. See ya soon, Millis :)

Most likely going to Millis in Eden June 27.

Awesome man! Hopefully we'll run into each other out there some day :)

So, I applied online to Millis and emailed all the required information. I was approved to start MTI in Trenton on 9MAY. Great, can't wait. Ok been studying for my Indiana CDL permit. I held an Indiana CDL permit in 2013, but never did anything with it. I make an appointment to get my CDL physical completed prior to going to the BMV. The nurse practitioner tells me that since I had a heart attack 2 years ago, that I have to have stress test done by my cardiologist before she will give me my medical card. I do not have the $2500.00 for the stress test, so I guess I am not going to Millis, nor am I going to ever going to hold a CDL or drive a truck.

Anybody on here have, or know of any options to my conundrum?

Yup, try another doctor. I found a chiropractor, believe it or not, that does DOT physicals. I have the same issue, had a heart attack in 2010. I am not getting the impression from that office that it's gonna be as demanding as yours. I also have well controlled high blood pressure, but my numbers are good, so I'm not sweating it. As chance would have it, I already have an appointment with my cardiologist next month. I will let them know what's going on with my upcoming DOT exam. It's a guarantee that he'd waive that stress test for me. For some reason I don't understand, it's a fairly common thing for chiropractors to do DOT physicals. Find someone like that. It'll be a guarantee that if you are on blood pressure meds, you're only gonna get a 1 year card. But it's better than the spot you're in now.

Thanks Tim Y, very good information. My BP is controlled by medication. I guess I do need to find a Dr. that will waive the need for a stress test. I would be ok with the 1 year card, because I know that is sort of a norm for BP patients and especially since I had a mild heart attack. I will search other doctors and hopefully and get the stress test waived. Again, thanks Tim Y.

Don, I have done some research for you, and here's what I've found. I'm doing this for both of us because I have cardiac issues as well, and I have not yet gone for my DOT physical. First, lemme give you a little background info on me. I had a heart attack young, 36. 42 now. Cardiac issues are unfortunately hereditary in my dad's side of the family. I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that I'm fit as a fiddle, but....if you saw me in person your jaw would drop. 5'10", 135 pounds. Skinny by anyone's standards. I have a fairly active job, I'm a carpenter. Not sure how your cardiologist operates, but mine is very strict. I have to get an exam from him every 6 months or he will not issue meds. So personally, I am not worried about my DOT exam. Truth be told, my BP isn't perfect but I'm going to see him before my DOT exam anyhow. If he needs to tweak my meds, he will. Here is what I have discovered, and I will pass this on to you. I have a great relationship with my doc. If he felt that I needed a stress test, for anything that was setting off an alarm, he'd let me know. He works for the Cleveland Clinic, which is ranked very highly worldwide for cardiac care. Among cardiac physicians within the Cleveland Clinic, he's on of the best. I got him by chance, kind of an unlucky/lucky lottery. So, with all of that being said, let me ask you this. What else could possibly have triggered that request for a stress test? Was your BP at the time on the high end? If you are on meds to control your BP and it's still higher than it should be, that's probably a flag. If it's been a while since you've seen a cardiologist, that's a flag. In the end, your cardiologist will steer your ship forward for you. Hence the reason I am going to him before the DOT exam. I know for sure that you can get hosed based on people I know that drive trucks have had bad experiences with DOT exams because of several factors. 1) The examiner is jumping to unnecessary conclusions that cost you a ton of money and/or delay your career, and in the end they are being overzealous. 2) The examiner that just passes you through and doesn't care. Be assured, they're out there and that can hurt you too. If anyone does any digging (for whatever reason) your card can be called into question. So I'm shooting for the middle. I found a place that does the exams, won't rake you over the coals for non-trigger issues. If anything gets called into question, my cardiologist will back me up. I would recommend a non-physician for your next exam. They ask the same questions, but they won't have knee-jerk reactions.Sounds like that's what happened to you. Also, there are different levels of stress tests. Some are more involved than others, and that will affect the cost. In the end they all show the same result. Either your heart is good or it isn't. There are hospital satellite hospital facilities and urgent care facilities that offer stress tests as an a la carte outpatient service. 1 doc and a treadmill. $500 bucks. Alright man, hope all this helped. Let me know how it goes.