Question:
Hey everyone, been awhile since I have been here, hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
Hey I need to pick some brains here, my brother just moved up from a Class B to a Class A CDL and is looking to get behind the wheel of a rig.
He has lots of experience with busses, and other heavy trucks, but no tractor trailer, sooooooooo, he is having to look into companies that will take on no experience drivers.
He told me he is going Monday to Star trucking and go thru their 2 week course.
They are telling him he will have to pay $100.00 up front and then they will deduct the rest from his paycheck, but he has no idea what the total will be.
Seems he only asked just enough questions to find out he could drop the money in thier hand and go to class for 2 weeks and "Maybe", have a driving job?
My question is this, has anyone ever dealt with this company?
What kinds of questions SHOULD he be asking before commiting himself to this deal?
What kind of fine print or other hidden items should he watch out for?
I have never gone thru this type of thing, and have no idea how it is Supposed to work, but something just does not sit right with me for a company to make you pay them to go to work......know what I mean?
Any and all help, and responses would be greatly appreciated.
Best Regards
Paul

Answer:
There are two companies called Star. One is based in TN, and the other is based in IL. It would helpif we knew which one you are talking about.
Answer:
I have no idea which one it is, he got the number out of the paper and is going to St. Louis for the schooling.
Best Regards
Paul

Answer:
There are quite a few outfits under that name
13 STAR TRUCKING
4 STAR TRUCKING CO
3 STAR TRUCKING COMPANY
10 STAR TRUCKING INC
1 STAR TRUCKING PARTNERSHIP
Answer:
http://www.startransport.com/
http://www.startransportation.com/index.asp
Looks like it may be star transport if he is going to St. louis.
maybe he got suckered by the slow petes they run?

Answer:
Info from FMSCA records for that STAR TRANSPORT
975 Trucks , 1049 Drivers
24 Months prior to Jan 20/05
157 Vehicle out of services
135 Driver out of services
8 HAZMAT out of services
3 Fatal accidents
82 Accidents with injury
Answer:
Hey thanks for the responses, not much but every lil bit helps.
Now since we do not know for certain Exactly what company it is, (shaking head), based on your experiences, what are a list of questions he should ask them to make sure he covers all the bases and reduces the risk of getting screwed?
I have a good idea of the questions I would ask if it were me, but I would also be asking you folks this same question so I made sure I covered my backside.
I have never worked in this industry as in driving tractor trailers, or OTR, so I do not know all the ins and outs.
Best Regards
Paul

Answer:
Stingray asks:
I would ask them if they think I am crazy for complying with this:
And then tell them good bye.
If your brother wants a driving job; tell him to look elsewhere---they're out there---tell him to be patient.It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler