Knight Enterprises
Topic 9345 | Page 1
Hello to all. I haven't been on here for a while. I just wanted to let everyone know that as of 2 weeks ago, according to Knight Recruiter "Kristen Sayman", they are NO LONGER providing training for aspiring truck drivers like myself. She said a prospective driver needs to come to their "Squire" training program straight out of another accredited truck driving school.
This is what I do know: The Squire CDL training sites in Indianapolis, IN and Olive Branch MS have closed down. During the last legislative session in many neighboring states they are not allowing the training. Phoenix still has CDL Training because there is enough interest in the surrounding states and only CA, WA, and NM don't allow the training. From what I hear, these states have state sponsored or supplement CDL training and do not want competition.
How long Phoenix will be open? Hopefully until I get my CDL. This is a very recent development so I wouldn't expect the information to be updated yet. The other Company-Sponsored Training should be good though. You will want to talk to a recruiter and check the details. Some may have changed their structure.
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.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Phoenix will remain open and Indy might open back up once the new terminal is built since Indy is going to be the Midwest Hub for Knight. The Indy school officially closes on Friday and the new terminal is scheduled to open at the end of the year.
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.
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Hello to all. I haven't been on here for a while. I just wanted to let everyone know that as of 2 weeks ago, according to Knight Recruiter "Kristen Sayman", they are NO LONGER providing training for aspiring truck drivers like myself. She said a prospective driver needs to come to their "Squire" training program straight out of another accredited truck driving school. This news really deflated me. I'm having a hard time making truck driving happen for myself. I have a current CDL B with a HazMat endorsement, I have a CDL A permit, I have a current Medical Certificate, and I've passed the tests for Tankers and Combinations (Doubles/Triples). Florida won't put these last two endorsements on my physical license until I pass the skills and road tests in a Class A vehicle. It appears that an update of the information on this website is in order (no insult intended).
As far as what I need and am looking for in a trucking company and a school, is - I don't want to drive teams, I need to stay in Florida, I need transportation, lodging and meals to be paid for, and I need to be getting some type of pay while in school/training. I do not have problem with contractual commitments as it relates to "repaying" the cost of the school. So what companies are still providing company-sponsored training?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
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.