Wilson Logistics Training For A New Driver

Hey everybody! Love the site and the forum. Wanted to let you all know about myself and my journey as I go through CDL training at Wilson in Springfield, MO.

My name is Tim and I'm 44 years old. I am married to my beautiful wife of 14 years. We have 3 children and one son-in-law (so 4 lol), 2 dogs, 2 cats. Ok where to start... I've never had much of a career per se. I was a pharmacy tech for 13 years in Texas. Spent 3 years at Bible College in Pensacola, FL before that. Been a worship leader in numerous youth groups at churches around East TX. Got an AA in web programming and tried to do that on the side for several years and couldn't get it to take off. Met my wife and was leading worship with the adults on Sundays and pastoring the kids with her after the music was over. My father in law is a pastor. We followed him to Arizona after he took a church and stayed there for 7 years. Tried to be a programmer on the side but it was a grueling schedule and I wasn't progressing very quickly or making much money so I quit it. I left pharmacy and was a correctional officer with the state of Arizona for 4 years but wasn't crazy about it.. working with people that hate you regardless of how well you do your job can be tough. They think we're out to get them but we mostly just wanna get through the day like anybody else.

My father and mother in law ended up taking a church in Tennessee and soon after lost his youth pastor and asked us if we wanted it. This would be our first paid position. Everything we had ever done before in church had been as volunteers. We took over the youth group and did the best we could to love and disciple these teenagers the best we could but the leadership thought we were too soft. These kids have lived through abuse and trauma like rescue dogs and cats and anybody that has ever worked with rescue animals know they take special care to learn to trust you. These kids were no different. Nevertheless the leadership didn't like it and fired us after only 8 months even though we had moved our entire family across country to be here.

There are a couple truckers in the church and my granddad and uncle had been truckers of different sorts for most of their lives. My granddad had drove hot shot with a dually and a flatbed and my uncle drove a rose colored Pete with a flatbed for a while. My first trip to California was with him hauling generators to a movie lot. I've toyed with the idea of trucking but didn't want to be away from my family that long. After losing our position at the church I quickly found a job in Gatlinburg doing maintenance work on cabins. The first day we had a delivery and I got to talking with the driver. He told me he was on track to make 200k this year.. I don't know if he meant net or gross but either way its way more than I'm making and it piqued my interest.

I got on the CDL training program here and got a couple apps and the driver manual and started studying. It took me a month to feel confident enough bit I spent every waking hour that I wasn't busy with my nose to the grind. I took the permit test Tuesday and passed! I only got 5 questions wrong 😎😎

When I started the search for a company I didn't know anything and did a Google search. I immediately found Roehl and liked what they had to say. I got on the blog here and found out mega carriers can be cdl mills so it kinda turned me off on Roehl... plus the recruiter was distracted every time I talked to her and didn't answer my questions very well. I got the Driver Pulse and got a few hits from CRST and a few others, one of which was Wilson which I had never heard of. A recruiter named Bradley called me and has been a pretty genuine guy. I'm not naive, I know recruiters are salesmen from my experience as a programmer but he does seem like a real and genuine guy and has a good demeanor and is good at answering questions. He has made Wilson seem like a good company so I'm in.

I'm no spring chicken and I know this could be a tough few months ahead so I'm excited and optimistic but realistic as well. I've learned if you expect the worst it can only go up from there!

Hello Tim, it's great to have you in here! You are trying to learn a lot right now and I completely understand how it can be confusing and overwhelming at times. I just don't understand how you came up with this conclusion from reading here at our website...

I got on the blog here and found out mega carriers can be cdl mills so it kinda turned me off on Roehl

We don't even use the term CDL mills around here. It is a bogus claim mostly insinuated by malcontents and trucking failures. We find the mega carriers to be great places to start a trucking career and even better places to continue your trucking career. I've been with one of the largest trucking companies in the country for more than seven years now. Their pay is excellent and I am treated with respect and confidence every day.

You've made a great choice in Wilson. They run a great operation and have excellent training. We look forward to hearing of your progress. Keep in mind that we are here to help if you need us. Everybody has some sort of issues getting started in this career. It doesn't come easy. When you feel the need to quit or give up, I hope you will quickly look to us for some advice. We have been there and faced the problems. We love to help new drivers navigate the path to success as new truckers.

Welcome to our forum, and we really appreciate you documenting your training experiences with us!

Thanks for sharing your story, Tim. I'm exactly your age and hoping to make a similar jump soon. Heck, I was even an associate pastor way back in the day (about 16 years ago now). Sounds like you have had some rough treatment from the recent church and life experience in general, so that tenacity should pay off. Wilson is definitely one of the companies I'm looking closely at, with their company-paid training, so good luck to you, and I look forward to reading about your journey!

Matt

Ahh well my bad then. It is a lot of information to process! I do think I'll like Wilson. I'm excited to start the process. Just waiting on employment history and background checks to clear then well talk transportation to Springfield.

Thanks Old School!

Thanks Mountain Matt!! I loved pastoring while I had the opportunity. We've been a little bitter since we were let go but we're getting over that. God allowed it to happen so there must be purpose in it. They are having a hard time finding a replacement because apparently the same kind of thing is happening to other student pastors across the country and a lot of guys are getting out entirely. Sucks for them but I'm glad I'm on a new journey right now. I'm hoping to get the green light from Wilson this week and be in Springfield next Monday *fingers crossed* 🤣🤣

That may be the reason. One door opens following a door that has closed. All things are according to His plan, not ours.

Alright. Quick update. Quick because I have been under the weather all week and I'm headed to bed 🤣🤣

Headed out on a bus from Greeneville TN to Springfield MO last weekend. Lots of delays, spent 10 hours in the St Louis terminal , it was a brutal experience. But I made it and have been learning a ton my first week. Had some trouble with straight line backing the second day (first day driving) and got really frustrated because I expected it to be easier than it was. One of the other students is best friends with his trainer and got us a truck to practice on which has helped us all a lot. Learning a lot of the pre trip and some backing maneuvers and will leave out with my trainer tomorrow. Will update from the road.

All in all a very good experience this week though challenging. Driving is a huge responsibility but it's fun!

P.S. Wilson seems like it's going to be a good company. I'm excited about this new adventure!

I'm no spring chicken and I know this could be a tough few months ahead so I'm excited and optimistic but realistic as well. I've learned if you expect the worst it can only go up from there!

Our head trainer here at Knight didn't start driving until he was 42, and he retired with over 3 million miles. I'm 39 myself, and I've read about plenty of people "much older" than you and I starting their driving careers as well. Never too late.

Met my OTR trainer yesterday. The instructor pulled us both aside to go over disclaimers and stuff and was telling him how well I've been doing. I couldn't believe it! I didn't know they felt that way!

Absolutely love my trainer. I am learning so much already! Spent last night on the Prime yard and drove from Springfield MO to Wichita Falls. I did most of the driving and he said I'm doing really well. Driving is a lot of fun and I'm excited at what looks to be a long and fulfilling career!

Boy do I have a lot to update!

Spent 2 weeks with my trainer. Great guy. Fellow Texan. Great golfer! Taught me quite a bit then rerouted to MO for a few days to practice backing before my test. After much stress, worry and prayers I passed! My trainer and I are headed back to TN to the dmv to get my new cdl then two months or 30,000 miles otr 👍👍