West Side Transport

I got my CDL about 2 months ago and think I'm ready to get started driving. I have a app in with West Side Transport and will probably be doing their Midwest Dedicated as I live about 35 miles outside Chicago and I like the idea of being home weekends as my father needs someone to fish with lol. I have heard pretty much all good things about them, and was wondering if anyone could shed some more light on their orientation do they do a physical agility test? Would it be possible to train in a automatic as not having to shift would be a big load off my shoulders. I heard they have a couple customers that make up most of their freight what kind of freight do they typically haul? Any other advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry if I'm asking too many or stupid question one of instructors at CDL school called me the great thinker cause my mind is going 240 mph.

Susan D works for them, hopefully she will chime in soon. Don't be afraid to learn the shifting everyone does it. It's just a matter of getting the rhythm down. Also, taking your test in an automatic puts a restriction on your CDL thus limiting your job opportunities in the future. Good luck

Welcome Bobcat Bob!

Sorry if I'm asking too many or stupid question one of instructors at CDL school called me the great thinker cause my mind is going 240 mph.

That's a great thing, as long as it doesn't lead to "paralysis by analysis". There is certainly such a thing as over thinking things. I can't help but wonder if this had anything to do with why it took you two months to be ready to start driving after school was finished? Most people have a job lined up before their schooling is even complete. I did my "job interview", if you could call it that, during our graduation pizza party at school. I had my physical and drug screen completed that same day and was waiting on a trainer to become available before dinnertime.

So keep your brain moving, but keep your feet moving too, you know what I mean? This is a fast paced industry and the easiest part is behind you. The harder part is about to begin. Ask a lot of questions, try your best to understand it all as it comes piling in, and listen closely to what you're being taught. And by all means please come by here as often as possible to ask us anything you have on your mind. That's what we do - we love to help out any way we can.

Would it be possible to train in a automatic as not having to shift would be a big load off my shoulders.

I don't know how West Side operates in that regard but you wouldn't want to train in an automatic if you had the choice. You'd want a chance to hone your shifting skills. Don't shy away from the challenges. Toughen your mind now and prepare to feel overwhelmed most of the time for the next few months. You'll have to learn how to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, especially in the beginning when it's all brand new to you. It's going to feel like a whirlwind sometimes. It does for everyone. Just keep thinking positive, keep your confidence up, and roll with it. You'll figure it all out if you just keep working at it and asking a lot of questions.

We have a couple of chapters in our truck driver's career guide, and a category of articles that will help you out tremendously:

• Chapter 8: Orientation And Training With Your First Company
• Chapter 9: Surviving The First Year Of Your Trucking Career
• Article Category: The Trainer's Viewpoint

Read through those links and you'll learn a lot about what to expect in the coming months and how to handle it.

That's a great thing, as long as it doesn't lead to "paralysis by analysis". There is certainly such a thing as over thinking things. I can't help but wonder if this had anything to do with why it took you two months to be ready to start driving after school was finished?

That was part of it but I also wanted to wait till after my grandfathers funeral, he drove a dump truck in Chicago area for 40 years accident free so I wanted to be able to make that with out having to interrupt training.

I don't know how West Side operates in that regard but you wouldn't want to train in an automatic if you had the choice. You'd want a chance to hone your shifting skills. Don't shy away from the challenges. Toughen your mind now and prepare to feel overwhelmed most of the time for the next few months. You'll have to learn how to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, especially in the beginning when it's all brand new to you. It's going to feel like a whirlwind sometimes. It does for everyone. Just keep thinking positive, keep your confidence up, and roll with it. You'll figure it all out if you just keep working at it and asking a lot of questions.

I guess since I impressed the state examiner enough with my shifting for him to pass me, I must not be as bad as I think I am. But once I miss a gear I usually fall apart and miss many more.

Thanks for the good advice.

Ok so they don't do any special agility tests.. just the basic DOT stuff, touch your toes, duck walk. During orientation they'll show you and have you demonstrate how to climb in and out of a trailer.

Most training is done in a 10sp manual, but there may be one or two trainer's that have autoshifts. My other half did for a short while but when he took another driver to rescue an abandoned truck, upon getting there, discovered it was a manual and the other driver didn't feel comfortable with it, do he gave him his autoshift and kept the rescue. After training, chances are you'll be assigned an autoshift, but on rare occasions you'll be issued a manual. You need to be able to drive both.

Is there some particular reason you'd prefer to train in a manual? All our trainer's (including me) are pretty good about helping you with shifting and learning to float gears. We're a pretty patient bunch as long as you're motivated and actually want to learn.

We're a small company that specializes mostly in short haul Regional , primarily in the Midwest. Our average length of haul is about 350 miles, we do a lot of drop and hooks. Despite the shorter runs, they keep us moving and we're always pre planned in advance.

We haul a lot of tall paper rolls, and food grade dry van loads which could be dry goods or beverages. Heavy loads. I also haul what many would consider flatbed freight. Forklifts, custom shingles, metal bar stock, scrap metal and paper bales.

I've been there 15 months and really​ like the company. The people in Cedar Rapids are genuinely nice. We're treated like family and known by name. When I call in, they already know who I am.. I don't have to tell them, as they recognize my phone number. If you have any questions at all, please let me know.

Thanks for the reply and info.

Is there some particular reason you'd prefer to train in a manual? All our trainer's (including me) are pretty good about helping you with shifting and learning to float gears. We're a pretty patient bunch as long as you're motivated and actually want to learn.

Just that in school it was the first time driving a manual out side of when my dad had me drive one around the yard at the company he worked for about 10 years ago. That combined with all the other stuff that comes first time on the road was a little over whelming. As long as who ever draws the short straw to train me is patient Ill be OK. My instructors said my on the road skills like turning, stopping, following distance ect was good. In fact they had to tell me to speed up a couple times.

Everything I hear about West Side has been positive so far hopefully they will hire me.

Relax and have fun with it. It'll all be okay. We really have some great trainer's and our student coordinator has a real gift for matching people up with a compatible trainer based on personality. We don't choose our students nor do they choose us. The coordinator will get to know you and match you up with a compatible personality.