Am I Asking For Too Much???
Topic 3400 | Page 1
You might not find something that meets all your requests, but figure what is important and what you can bend on. Then just start calling recruiters and take notes on every company then make your choice. There are lots of options out there.
Thanks Chris L. Be safe out there!
Welcome aboard Attila the Hun!
Ok, for starters you have little or no money which will restrict you to a Company-Sponsored Training Program unless you can get financing of some sort (like a loan or a zero interest credit card) or a grant like those from WIA (Workforce Investment Act).
Let's say you can't come up with the money....then it's company-sponsored training. I'm not sure where you live but you said terminals between Kentucky and Atlanta so it sounds like you're in a great location to find company-sponsored programs that hire from your area. In fact, almost all of them will.
Now the first thing you want to decide is what type of freight you'd like to haul. You said "dry beds". I believe you mean "dry vans" as they're normally referred to. In that case you've narrowed down your search. But truth be told you could easily go with refrigerated also. There's not a huge difference between the two and it might open up your opportunities more.
Really, being limited on funds, what I would do if I were you is apply to all of the Company-Sponsored Training Programs and see which ones accept you. Then you'll know what your options are. There's no sense in trying to pin down a company until you know what companies will be willing to hire you on. Then get a dialogue going with the recruiters and get the answers you're looking for to your specific questions.
A few notes on your preferences:
1) Don't worry too much about terminal locations. It really doesn't matter where a company is located as long as they hire from your area
2) Don't worry about PTDI or any other type of certification. For one, the company-sponsored programs don't worry about that stuff. But even if you were going to a private school you're not worried about certifications. You're only worried about whether or not the companies you're interested in working for will hire students from a particular school and PTDI certification means next to nothing to them.
3) There is no such thing as paid home time
4) Almost all companies are forced dispatch
5) Very few companies allow pets, though some do.
6) Only flatbed jobs will require a lot of strength. The jobs you'll be looking for will require next to nothing as far as physical labor.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thank you Brett!!
I been lurking around for awhile trying to learn all I can. I rode in a semi cross country and back and fell in love with it.
You have simplified everything!
I figured I would have to do the company sponsored training. Sorry, I did mean 'dry vans' and reefers are ok as well.
I'll be doing some online apps and see what happens.
Thanks again for breaking it down for me and creating such a helpful and awesome site with such friendly folks.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Glad to help out. Don't be shy about asking questions. The more, the better.
Attila, I don't blame you for wanting a female trainer...lets just say it a "girl thing"...BUT...they are few and far between..Now a company may promise you a female trainer...but after you have completed cdl school, and are ready for a trainer, they may not have one,...and then you will be left witha choice of waiting for a female trainer to come up....and going with a male trainer. If the company offers female trainers, and they say they will give you a female trainer, get it in writing. because then, if they can't provide a female trainer, and they threaten to dump you, and sue you for the cost of the schooling, you will have proof that THEY broke the contract. There are companies the REQUIRE their female students to be trained only by females....Thats what I'd shoot for. Now if you aren't employed right now, you need to check into the WIA program...they will pay all, or most of your training...THEN you can go with any company for training...like Redgator's company...and she's a trainer !! So do some more research...you DO have options.... And be sure and stick around here...get thru the High Road...and ask all the questions you want. And cruise over and give a hollar in the Ladies of Trucking forum !!! We're kinda fun over there !!!!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Thank you Starcar for that great advice.
No need to get it in writing but you can. Either way. If you tell them you want a female trainer then they have to put you with one. Companies are scared of lawsuits concerning sexual harassment.
Not meaning to scare you but you will have to wait in line for a female trainer. You might get lucky and one needs a student the day you finish with school and go straight out to training. But on the other hand don't be surprised if your told it might be month or longer before a female trainer becomes available.
A few years ago there was a problem with female trainers at Prime I believe or may have been Swift. It was one of the two. They just went through a sexual harassment lawsuit and they stopped letting males train females. Then they were sued again because there was a 6 month waiting list for a female trainer. So they finally went with a compromise. You could have a male train you ONLY is you signed a Release From Liability form but if you didn't then they will honor your request and you wait for a female trainer.
Just remember though that companies can't make people become trainers so there might be a wait.
A dedicated route often requires some physical labor.
A lot of the time you will have multiple stops that require you to unload yourself and more than once a day. Be sure to get the details on that.
If you want long distance cross country runs with no touch freight you might have to go with over the road.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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Hello everyone,
I've wanted to drive a semi since I was a youngster, I've finally decided to just do it. I have been doing a lot of research and yet I still have a lot of questions. Here they are and am I asking too much??
I'm a small framed female, aprox. 120lbs, mid 50's, and looking to go fulfill my dream job, with little to no money and this is what I am looking for:
A trucking school that offers (below), because I will have to stay with a company for a year.
Reasonable amount of time in school * Reasonable amount of hours in school * Dedicated routes * No touch freight * Dry beds * Terminal locations between Kentucky and/or Atlanta * Paid home time if possible * Student teacher ratio reasonable * Possible female trainer * No forced dispatch if possible * PTDI certified * CPM amount for all loads or will there be a difference in $$ for empties, etc. * Will my training be considered training or actual experience with that company. * Pet friendly if possible * Decent (%)amount of grads from this school * Does it take a lot of strength to do this job (physical)? *
Does this even exists? Thanks for your advice, input and responses.
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.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.