Question:
I have been prehired by this outfit, contingent upon the DOT and drug test,as well as passing the CDL test and getting the "learner's permit".
Passed the DOT,etc and I'm now studying for the CDL.
The company has their own 2 week training school here and they pay 6.75 hour while attending. They have their own DMV approved people who will
administer the driving part and signoff for the CDL.
According to the mgr I interviewed with, there are no contracts to sign or obligation to payback the training.
I would be hauling sand,gravel,or powdered cement locally here in Socal,
no OTR, working 12 hr shifts(nights are where rookies start), mon-fri plus 2 saturday's amonth,sundays off. Pay starts at 23% of the load,also 1 week vacation 1st year,believe 2 weeks after that. Overtime,which I really didn't discuss,kicks in when 450$ in pay has accrued for the week.
While waiting for my interview in the driver's lounge, they seemed to be a happy bunch, didn't hear any grumbling at all, several were talking about a pay raise they'd received.
Don't know how it will work out, but I'm looking forward to going back out to the desert and driving,seems like night might be better to learn as there will be a lot less traffic jams on the freeway!
If anyone has any info good or otherwise or advise for a newbie, I'll listen!

Answer:

I would suggest another discussion with that manager concerning
the "pay" system.
Answer:
I drove for Robertsons Transport for about 6 months before I went back to working for SCE. They are good to work for, but as a new driver with no OTR exp. you might fail to appreciate it at first. I went there from OTR and loved it. They work 12 hour shifts, and you are assigned a truck that you share with another guy for the opposite 12. I drove powder trains, and that was more relaxing than the bottom dumps seemed to be. Those guys would do 10-14 loads a night, where powder does 3-5, the difference is in unloading times. They pay % like you said, and they do pay overtime. The $450 you referred to is a correlation to your percentage, and it works out to be about the 40 hour point of your week. Right now is a great time to be starting with them as its prime concrete time in SoCal, you will work 60-72 hours a week, and when I was there they had a sign-up list if you wanted Saturday off. Driving the night shift is the best, as there is way too much traffic during the daylight hours down there. A lot of the "old guys" will not work Saturdays, but I had a hard time not working at least every other one as it is OT. They pay every Friday, and I never had a problem with mine, and you will be shown how to figure it out and therefor know when you are on OT. Expect to work all the time, and expect to make $1000-$1500 each week after you have finished training. Good money, but no time to spend it!. The only trainer when I was there was named Jeff, he's very patient and not your typical truck-driver type. Enjoy, and if you have any more questions I will try to answer them for ya. Like I said earlier, I quit for a better job, not a better truck driving job. TTFN

Answer:
Well I made it through the 2 weeks with the big problem being the practice for the "skills test" on Saturday of the 2nd week.
I got about 20 minutes of instruction"I'm standing up,no seat,in passenger spot", on crosswalk,straight line backing,parallel dock,etc and then was told to practice.Man I was terrible,although I did nail a parallel docking without pulling up.
My trainer told me just park the rig and I'll see you Monday morning. Btw I drove about 200+ miles per day all that week except Saturday.
Monday am I and my trainer both drove a load of pea rock and then we went back to the shop and he told me to wipe down the truck and trailer and then we'd head out again. I was working on the trailer when he came out again and told me to get my stuff as I had to meet with the big boss.
At the meeting, I was informed that the trainer said that I lacked patience and the temperament to be a truck driver, and in an effort to soften the blow,the big boss said not everyone can be a truck driver. I said "I'm being terminated?",he said yes.
I then said you had your say,now can I say something? Ok was the reply.
I told him may I suggest he not put anymore 50 something's with this young trainer,why? I said because most older people can't tolerate rap and hiphop,wide open, coming 4 inches from their ears,in a Mack! That it would make anyone nervous. I also said even though I was a rookie, I knew the law,and that this trainer coasted in neutral to everystop while he harped on me not to do it. Also I pointed out the MANY times he drove with NO HANDS on the wheel. What I forgot to say was that he did this while he was on his Nextel,which was all the time! I did say he sure knew how to shift gears though.
I wish I'd remembered to point out that he got his best sleeping done while I was driving. But in the stress of the moment, I forgot.
You know I would have kept my mouth shut and not said a wors, if he had just had the cojones to tell me to my face, that it wasn't going to work out. Instead he had me do his chores, and then snuck off,way to go.
Of course,since I was terminated, I am now drawing the maximum unemployment in California, $450 a week and am about to ask to be retrained--------you guess in truck driving.
I enjoyed it after I quit grinding the gears so much, and got over the fear of driving something so huge, it grew on me.
Being single now,51,good health, with an urge to roam and armed with the knowledge gained in these forums but others who went before me, I think I'm
going to do fine.
Thanks for listening!