Would Like To Get My CDL. Looking For A Good Company

I also considered swift.The way I understood the tuition plan was,for the first year or so they took a payment from each check to pay for the program.Then for the next year they would return your payment on each check.seemed like a pretty good program.My guess is that is what you read.So if you stay 2 years the program is 100 percent free.If you stay one year you just paid back the cost.Maybe they changed it but that's what I understood it to be.

I called Swift and you are correct. First year is $75 per week taken out and second year is $50 per week paid back. It isn't really a contract per se and you can technically leave at any time. If before the one year pay off then must pay the entire amount back. If a person leaves after the one year with the company, nothing is owed. However, if you stay then you get some of it back over the next year. So far everything looks really good. Will probably join their program if Knight doesn't get back to me. Thanks for the info again.

You are not required to do 34 hour breaks. I seldom do them anymore. Once you've developed yourself as a competent driver, you may find you prefer running re-caps.

Most rookies find it less complicated to run hard and then do a 34. You'll develop your own style and will discover the type of places you enjoy taking a 34 hour break.

Okay this makes sense. I've heard some seasoned driver's mention they drive 6 days a week 8 ish hour days and then take a day off and start all over. For some reason I thought it was driving 10 out of 14 hours, sleep 8 and then do it again until a forced reset. But I had thought it would be better to drive 8ish hours (planning around cities and rush hour for breaks) and just keep going only taking a day off here and there as needed. I'm sure it can change from week to week so being flexible is key.

I remember many many years ago, trucker's prefered to drive at night and sleep during the day (don't have to worry too much about traffic even in cities) but somewhere along the way this changed. I don't see too many trucks at night anymore, at least not like it used to be in the 80's. Someone mentioned it has to do with the hours allowed to drive in a certain period so if you show up at a shipper in the middle of the night that isn't 24/7 you have to sit until they open. But isn't it first come first serve? If you're at the gate first thing AM, won't you get in and out faster?

Some customers are first come first serve, some are strict on appointment times. If you go to the same locations over and over again, you start to learn how they operate.

I choose to drive nights. Less traffic on the roads, less truck traffic at customers, plenty of parking options when I shut down. My company has a lot of 24/7 customers and if I need to visit one that isn't, that's planned toward the end of my shift once they open.

SupermuttSadie, I'm enjoying having you in here. You seem very well informed. Some of your information is a little muddled, but it's obvious you've done a lot of research or had some exposure to trucking previously.

We would love you to stay active in our forum during your training and your rookie year. I'll bet you could make an awesome training diary for us, and you could even post about the traveling lifestyle with a pet. That's information that could be so helpful to others.

Hey, I thought of two things I know you'd learn a lot from. First, is our High Road CDL Training Program. It's absolutely free, and will put you way ahead of the class at school. Get started as soon as possible. It's a lot of really valuable information. Secondly, I know you would benefit greatly from my book, Hit The Road. It's available on Amazon as an e-book or a paperback. It's packed with information and tips I've learned from my years on the road. It's written especially for newcomers.

Stay in touch! We are happy to help you.

SupermuttSadie, I'm enjoying having you in here. You seem very well informed. Some of your information is a little muddled, but it's obvious you've done a lot of research or had some exposure to trucking previously.

We would love you to stay active in our forum during your training and your rookie year. I'll bet you could make an awesome training diary for us, and you could even post about the traveling lifestyle with a pet. That's information that could be so helpful to others.

Hey, I thought of two things I know you'd learn a lot from. First, is our High Road CDL Training Program. It's absolutely free, and will put you way ahead of the class at school. Get started as soon as possible. It's a lot of really valuable information. Secondly, I know you would benefit greatly from my book, Hit The Road. It's available on Amazon as an e-book or a paperback. It's packed with information and tips I've learned from my years on the road. It's written especially for newcomers.

Stay in touch! We are happy to help you.

I've already started on the High Road CDL. Just finished the first section with 100%.

It looks like I will go with SWIFT. They have a school in Memphis. I can wait to do the knowledge tests since I can drive over to W. Memphis to get them and I can do the classroom aspect there at the school. AR is $50 total for knowledge tests; general and endorsements AND the skills test AND the CDL license. One fee at the start. I may do a journal. I'm usually a private person, but if it really helps another. I would consider it.

Thanks Dave!