That's so exciting!! CONGRATS!
Keep us in the loop on your journey - All the best! 
Congrats Marc.
I strongly suggest if at all possible to use. Google Maps Satellite view to familiarize yourself with each Target store and the surrounding area before arriving. Have at least a basic plan, some may be inforgivingly tight, others will have lots of space.
Good luck with the training.
Good luck Marc. Let us know how it's going.
Good luck man, you got this!
Congratulations Marc! Keep us posted. A diary is the preferred method. But you decide.
Thanks JoAnne EC, G-Town, Turtle, Michael S., Robert D. (Raptor)...
I'm pretty psyched!
G-Town, that's great advice.
Diary... hmm... tried that early in classroom... didn't see any replies. Perhaps I didn't subscribe and missed 'em! Opted to just share progress on FB.
Guess I can try again.
So the good (from my perspective)... not sleeping tandem in a cab. I know there are several schools of thought on training and I know nothing first hand but my take from CDL training is it is stressful enough without adding living and sleeping in the truck with your instructor. Also prefer my trainer be awake in front seat while I am driving or watching BUT THAT IS JUST ME!
Home every night / sleep in my truck option... I think is kinda cool. At least I will have the ability to keep more of my stuff in my truck and more time to get her set up!
The Target account is not where I wanted to start my career but this is just for training. (I just want to be able to cover a larger area). I think it works.
Also having done most of my Onboarding / Classroom Training online... 1 day "inhouse" then onto an account for training and being assigned my own truck (at least for sleeping - not sure beyond that) is pretty cool.
Is it OK to type "my truck" again???
😀
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Thanks JoAnne EC, G-Town, Turtle, Michael S., Robert D. (Raptor)...
I'm pretty psyched!
G-Town, that's great advice.
Diary... hmm... tried that early in classroom... didn't see any replies. Perhaps I didn't subscribe and missed 'em! Opted to just share progress on FB.
Guess I can try again.
So the good (from my perspective)... not sleeping tandem in a cab. I know there are several schools of thought on training and I know nothing first hand but my take from CDL training is it is stressful enough without adding living and sleeping in the truck with your instructor. Also prefer my trainer be awake in front seat while I am driving or watching BUT THAT IS JUST ME!
Home every night / sleep in my truck option... I think is kinda cool. At least I will have the ability to keep more of my stuff in my truck and more time to get her set up!
The Target account is not where I wanted to start my career but this is just for training. (I just want to be able to cover a larger area). I think it works.
Also having done most of my Onboarding / Classroom Training online... 1 day "inhouse" then onto an account for training and being assigned my own truck (at least for sleeping - not sure beyond that) is pretty cool.
Is it OK to type "my truck" again???
😀
BIG PLUS! I will not be "coffee challenged" (unable to make my favorite morning cup o' Joe in a trainers truck)!
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
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Finally cleared to start, finally got a plan!
I go to Chicago Sunday night for more paperwork, tests, etc. Monday. Muster @ Hotel at 5:30 AM for 6:30 start at Chicago terminal. I will be released about 2:30 - 3 PM.
My training will be done at Target in Oconomowoc, WI daily (about 30ish minutes from home). I will be given "my" truck in a few days with the option to sleep in it or commute home. I will probably do a bit of both!
After 4 weeks of training in WI and IL I will be dispatched to Amazon in Kenosha, WI for the 7-State Regional position!
Wish me luck!
Thanks!
Terminal:
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.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.