Stuck In Training.... Now What

I will try to keep this as brief as I can but its a long story. I started the training program at Knight Transportation in Olive Branch MS on 2/3/14. Orientation goes fine, pass the physical and both drug tests and complete all the paperwork with no issues and get hired by the 4th day. Get assigned to an OTR trainer and scheduled to leave with the trainer on Wednesday of the second week after practice on the range.

Tuesday im told the trainer they assigned me isnt taking students out until the 2nd week of March so they will find me another trainer. Get assigned trainer number 2 on Friday and am told he will call me over the weekend to let me know when we leave. No call over the weekend so Monday morning, week 3 Im told that trainer is no longer training students at all so they will send me with local trainers during week 3 while they find me trainer number 3.

Friday of week 3 and im assigned the 3rd trainer who will call me and let me know when he is at the terminal sometime Sunday to pick me up. No call through the weekend. Monday of week 4 told my trainer was sent to Gulf Port terminal to pick up a student who has passed the CDL road test and is ready to complete his 4 week OTR training. Im sent back to the hotel because they have new students who are on the range and dont really have room in the trucks for me. Wednesday i get sent with a local trainer and the rest of the week i spend on the range helping new students with backing maneuvers and pre trip inspections.

Friday of week 4 im assigned a 4th trainer and im told I will be going out Monday with the first available trainer that gets to the terminal. Monday of week 5 i leave with a trainer , travel 23 miles to West Memphis AR and get stranded at the Petro for the ice storm that blocked I55 and we are stuck there for 3 days. Wednesday afternoon we finally get out,.go 23 miles back to the terminal and drop the load we had and spend the night in the truck at the terminal. Thursday Morning we finally get rolling and run until Monday when my trainer gets the call to bring me back to Olive Branch because he has to pick up another student. So after running 4 days OTR I get off the truck and check back in to the hotel.

Tuesday morning week 6 they ask me if im ready to test out on the range and go home to test. Im glad they asked before I had to speak up and most likely loose my cool because I was not happy at all with how this has gone. I have been very patient to this point, done everything asked of me without complaint. The local trainers as well as the OTR trainer were impressed with my driving and skills and all said I would have no trouble passing the road test.

I go home, pass the road test and get my CDL on Tuesday of week 7. Call them and let them know I passed and im ready to go with the 4 week trainer. Im told they will call me by the end of the day and let me know when I will head out. No call Monday or Tuesday. I call again Wednesday morning and let them know im ready and waiting. They will call me right back, no call Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Monday begins week 8 of my 4-6 week training. I still have the 4 week OTR portion to go before I get a truck. I have done everything I can short of losing my cool and giving them an ultimatum. I have no certificate of completion so if I go somewhere else i will have to start over from scratch is what I have been told from a couple recruiters I have called. At this point I really dont know what to do.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Sounds like a really bad deal there Doug. Maybe some of the more experienced guys on here can give you some advice. Are you under any kind of contract? I guess what I really want to know is what are the financial ramifications of giving them an ultimatum.

Doesn't Knight pay you while you are in training? If they do, I would call in each day and ask if they have a trainer for me. Call everyday! Then, just keep getting paid. If you are not getting paid, then you may have a choice to make. Either stick it out or call other recruiters. If you can stick it out, I think it would be better. Can you ask politely to have a chat with someone higher up. Be nice and respectful but keep calling and talking to as many people as you can.

I signed a contract but as far as Im concerned, they have failed to honor their end. If I withdraw voluntarily or am terminated before I complete the training program, I dont owe them anything above the 100 dollars I paid the first day for the drug testing and physical. Im not concerned about the contract even if I had to fight with them after the fact about the terms of the contract.

My issue is I have come this far with them and I dont really want to repeat this process again somewhere else. I planned financially to be making next to nothing for 3 months with the expectation that I would be in my own truck and getting miles after 2 months with a month of cash reserve for that first month solo. Now at best it will be 3 months before I get assigned a truck and my cash cushion is getting smaller.

I understand about the cash. But Knight does pay better than most in training. This is going to be a very personal decision for you. As I said, I would try calling every single day. Bug them politely! Ask to speak to someone higher up. Good luck.

Yes, im getting paid 400 dollars a week, not much but I planned for it. Getting paid isnt really the issue either. I could call everyday, go up the chain but should I have to at this point ? Im not a complainer, I applied for a job with them and I expect to go to work.

I guess im just venting my frustration. I know Im one of 100 new guys every month and I dont expect the seas to part for me. I just retired from a 20 year career in public utilities. I am 45 years old and I have never been unemployed, clean driving record, no criminal history. I dont think im special but im also not going to beg them to put me to work. I dont intend to be the sqeaky wheel and if thats what it takes then Im probably in the wrong place.

Doug...CALL every day.....and if the first person can't give you an answer, ask to speak to their supervisor...and walk up the line until you get heard by someone who will do something about it.....I agree. you should stick it out with Knight until you get your certification...thats the golden ring.. SO bow your neck, dig in your heels, and start buttin' heads. Be polite...be OVER polite....but be firm...they will get tired of hearing from you, and get you out on the road, just to shut you up.... Good Luck, and keep us posted...we recommend alot of companies, and we like to know when they drop the ball and leave someone stranded, like you....

Thanks for the response Starcar. Well i finally got a call returned yesterday, still no trainer but at least a return call which is progress. Obviously they have taken on more students than they have trainers, i was told they are working on getting us trainers which tells me im not the only one stuck. Maybe its time to stop taking new students until the ones already in the pipeline are finished. I will keep updating if anything changes.

Keep calling everyday. At least you are getting paid to do nothing. I know you want to be on the road. Just be patient. Keep calling. Be polite. It will work out. You will look back on this in a few years and realize it was not that big of a deal. Remember that in trucking just like other things in life, it never goes completely as planned. That's what makes life so fun right?