Looking At Different Companies

I'm looking to start a true career in trucking. Not just some job, not just a try it out and see what happens. I want a true career to get ahead because where I live that just isn't feasible without spending tons of money on a degree that may not pan out. So far Roehl is my top choice, and they have a training center about an hour away from my home. Being paid during training is very desirable for me since my bills will not wait on me, being single has some downsides like that, nobody to help cover while getting trained. I tried looking through the topics, but have not seen any recent topics for Roehl. Are they a good company to start with, and how do they do the training? I've seen the paid CDL page, but I'd like to hear from other's experience with them, good or bad so I know what I am getting into with them should they be who I go with.

Prime seems like a decent choice, but the time spent training and not getting paid is off putting for me.

CRST also seems good, and being mostly teams from what I have read is definitely a nice way to keep learning from someone with more experience.

Where are you from? Millis is great company as well as Roehl. Millis pays while you train also. I am sure Scott from CFI will chime in also. A little more info about your location etc will result in more folks chiming in.

James, I started out in 9/19 @ CRST, it wasn't all bad, it's just a pain finding a co-driver you can tolerate, and get along with for weeks at a time lol. It took me my 2nd year to find my 4th partner, and we fit well as a team. Both being on the same page, and same goals, BUT, after around the 3rd week, we needed a couple days off!! lol

Started at 0.31 cpm , 1 cent raises a month til 47 cents. Got big driver retention raises, to 60 cpm....You CAN do a LOT of miles per week, 6000-7000 "runnin' wild".....CRST Now does hair follicle testing also,and I been told using tablets now as well.......We have a couple Roehl drivers here I think? so they'll be chimin' in @ some point

Stevo

Is it a realistic expectation that co-driving with a more experienced driver at CRST will offer more learning opportunities?

CRST also seems good, and being mostly teams from what I have read is definitely a nice way to keep learning from someone with more experience.

I just went through 7 weeks of team driving at Prime Inc with a very experienced driver who was being paid extra to train me. This meant that he had to wake up at times during his sleeper berth time to help me with new experiences. We would typically sit together up front for an hour after our driving shift change. This provided opportunities for me to ask questions.

However, in a true team driving situation your co-driver is not your trainer. He is not being paid extra to help you.

I’ve heard from several drivers at Prime Inc and Wilson Logistics (trains similar to Prime) that the real learning starts when you go solo because you have to solve problems on your own without the crutch of a trainer on the truck. There are people you can reach out to for advice.

Where are you from? Millis is great company as well as Roehl. Millis pays while you train also. I am sure Scott from CFI will chime in also. A little more info about your location etc will result in more folks chiming in.

I’m pretty close to Rome, little town called Rockmart. Millis is also a good choice, but they haven’t gotten back to me yet on some questions. Millis website seems more tailored to experienced drivers, so I was unsure if they took in new drivers. My understanding is that they have a center less than 30 miles from me in Cartersville.

In response Dennis L. well,my experience back in the beginning, what I seen , was pretty much 2 newbies joined on a truck as a team a LOT. Unless you were lucky enough, to meet a more seasoned driver looking for a co-driver, and you decided to team up and try it. Not all teams lasted, because a lot of the newbies, just weren't cut out to drive period....My 1st co driver was in my class, we teamed up, but 2 weeks in, I wasn't cool with his driving habits, or lack of.

He wouldn't sleep much, and when it was his shift, he wouldn't drive but a couple 100 miles, and then need to sleep....I took a break from him, seeking a new 1. He blew up our DMs phone, begging to get back with me.....I tried again, and it lasted 3 weeks, then he bailed to go elsewhere for 1099 gig. Fine ! lol I just went out with him for a week, to run his route while his partner was on vacation in mexico, and for the $1400 cash paid for 5 days.....He asked if I would do it again the end of May, for 2 weeks, whilst his partner goes to Peru for another vacation.....I can always use a tax free $2,800 , but NAW !! He still drives sketchy, fidgetty, BUT he does do a full shift, stops a lot, and has anger issues at other trucks on the road. So nope my life n safety are worth more than a few extra bucks.......He is the ONLY guy I drove with, that I actually used the safety bunk net for !

Team driving works for some, but I liked solo more, a LOT more.

James I went through Roehl many years ago. Back then they only had 1 school site up in Marshfield. The Atlanta school was not even thought of then. They moved into the old central refrigerated site after swift bought them out and didn’t need the facility.

They are good at training. I still after 9 years stay in touch with my road trainer. It is fast paced. As long as you have a good attitude, listen and follow their directions you can do just fine. They want people to succeed. I’m sure the others do also, but I don’t have experience with them.

They have grown over the years. I run across their trucks often. I have referred several folks to them in the past. Call the recruiting number and ask for Kim Calhoun. She is great and will be straight up with you.

I’m not sure anymore but Atlanta used to have more flatbed freight than van freight. You just have to ask. Customers come and go in this industry all the time.

I wish you the best in your future.

Just for the record, I know where Rockmart is, lol. I live about 30 minutes the other side of Athens.

James, I’m also a Wisconsin native and my first job was with Schneider in Green Bay. Excellent training program. There is also HOW, now a part of Bison. I’ve never heard anything negative about Roehl, so you really can’t go wrong them as with the others.

Where are you from? Millis is great company as well as Roehl. Millis pays while you train also. I am sure Scott from CFI will chime in also. A little more info about your location etc will result in more folks chiming in.

Where are you from? Millis is great company as well as Roehl. Millis pays while you train also. I am sure Scott from CFI will chime in also. A little more info about your location etc will result in more folks chiming in.

I’m pretty close to Rome, little town called Rockmart. Millis is also a good choice, but they haven’t gotten back to me yet on some questions. Millis website seems more tailored to experienced drivers, so I was unsure if they took in new drivers. My understanding is that they have a center less than 30 miles from me in Cartersville.

Howdy, James!

I doubt Big Scott will be chiming in anytime soon (but could be wrong;) he's gotten 'spanked' about suggesting CFI a few too many times. They would be a good choice to look into; not sure if you should call CFI or TFI anymore. TFI is the 'new' branding; after acquisition of Transport America, and portions of LTL UPS. My husband drove for them, (T/A) happily, back in the 20 'somethings.

A company's 'proximity' to home, matters not. Noob Driver and Pete E. Pothole did really well starting with Millis, though! Look at their diaries. PackRat drove for them a bit as well, IIRC.

A few MORE training companies to look into, are: Pride Transport, Raider Express, Witte Bros., and Dutch Maid Logistics. You could also try MAST Trucking. They are here in Ohio; may indeed go down that far, however.

Best wishes, good sir.

~ Anne ~

ps: My sister lived in (and LOVED) Rome, GA. She moved back to Florida to be with her kids & grandkids, however.

Yeah we have a terminal in cartersville that has a school. If memory serves class is 3 weeks long, after which you test out on site at the school for the state of georgia. After that its 15k miles with a trainer then you get your solo truck. I'm not sure on all the training details but I did do a whole diary on my class experience. Also pete e pothole is a trainer with millis now he might chime in.