And We're Off!! Just Applied To Knight Today & Swift

Howdy folks..

For those trying to decide on a training company..I thought I would post my experiences and decision making.

So far, I'm seeing it comes down to your IMMEDIATE situation, cash on hand, and timeframe.

Also, I'm learning not to focus so much on the training itself, per say but the end result.

For example, I'd like:

1. Pet policy ( This will probably have to wait, because it appears most training companies don't allow rookies to have pets. But after my initial commitment, this is a must for me)

2. APU / Inverters (I want to be comfortable, plus I think it says something about the employers who don't prioritize driver comfort. I read about a carrier recently who's trucks had APUs but were being removed because "they cost too much"

3. Built in navigation on board (like a Rand McNally truck GPS, this is important because all carries don't install them so it will come out my pocket, and I don't think Qualcomm has GPS)

4. Upfront cost (Swift does not pay for DOT physicals, Not sure about Knight because I just applied. But I read where Knight reimburses you somehow for that cost. Food isn't that big a deal ..I think that's why Celadon is so over crowded and the student ratio is so bad- the free food

5. No forced dispatch NYC

6. No teams

7 Can keep home state license ( no hassle studying for a drivers license all over again)

8. Best of all, it appears Knight considers you a paid employee from day one. Of course I will confirm this once I speak to a recruiter. And pay advances are available if needed.

That's it for now!

E.V.

Qualcomm:

Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

I am right there with you....just finished my application with Prime, Inc. Ready to get this rolling....

I am right there with you....just finished my application with Prime, Inc. Ready to get this rolling....

Cool...

What made you go with Prime?