Question:
Just a hello from a newbie contemplating a switch to Class A driving. Im currently driving on a Class B CDL with Hazmat as part of my duties as a professional pyrotechncian. We(my crew and I) do about 30 shows a year usually a day or less drive to and from. So my experience is pretty limited.
Years ago I drove Air Freight PU and delivery in the NYC North Jersey area.
I live in GA now about 15 mins off I85 an about an hour from Atlanta(north of it).
Im looking for a company that will send me to a school or school me in house. Sill iffy on it but the info here had been a real help...You guys are performing a good service to the industry, drivers and potential drivers

Answer:

Everyone i ever heard of wants you to sign up for 1 year with the company or you will have to pay them for the training.In effect that makes you a indentured servant to be kicked around as much as they want
post something about yourself so people can at least see your situation
wife,kids,mortgage,single,no bills
whats the deal??
hard to suggest what somebody should do knowing nothing about their situation
Answer:
Thanks for the reply, but as I said in the post "just a hello." There seems to be plenty of suggestions and advice in the archives.
Yep.. seems to be universal that if they're going to train me they want a 1 year contract. I can see their point.. dont want to invest a couple of grand in someone who is gone tomorrow... and I sure see yours.. they own you for a year!
As for MY situation. I have a wife.. kid is grown . out of the house and has a family of his own. House is paid for wife has a FT job with very good benefits.
Ideally like to do the year and then switch to regional or even local driving. In any event Im looking at 3-5 max running hard to make as much as I can.. and then out....
I've been looking pretty hard at PAM and a few other co's (Star, Roehl and THINK I have a pretty clear pic of the situation but I would certainly welcome some experienced insight.
I was a shot manager at a TSA unit in New Mexico for a few years so Im not completely out of touch with the realities of OTR trucking. But like I said..any insights are welcome

Answer:

If that's your goal, don't waste your time screwing around with OTR companies just to save yourself a few bucks.
Hit the bricks/yellow pages and talk to the companies in your area that use local and regional drivers to FIRST determine how they do their hiring.
Then look for a source of schooling (community college, trucking driving school) or other means of obtaining your CDL - some small companies may provide training at no cost.
Driving a truck for a living is a job. Do your research and explore your options before you jump into the fire. BOL

Answer:
how many of you guys live in Sparta..I know Ive seen 3 names.. My brother lives near there.. Wantage....

Answer:
Welcome from TX. Used to live in Ga. myself. east of I-85 about 20 minutes from S.C. line.
Good luck to you sir.

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sinse you seem to have no major money problems,you can afford to take the risk and if your set on doing it your way go with Roehl,other people that have posted here have gone to work for them as new drivers and no real horror stories have been posted about them.
a community college would be a better thing in my opinion
In trucking your better off in most case working for a company that has terminals and uses non sleeper trucks,but if you want to give the sleeper truck thing a shot,go for it.
whats plan B,i don't need to know,but you need to think about what if you wash out,bomb out or want to bail out
a lot of people get into a truck with a trainer and quickly see they made a big mistake,will you be able to just say ok bad move it ain't for you and go on with life no problem or will you be getting yourself locked into something you might really hate.
Talk it over with the wife and make sure she will be ok with you making a major financial blunder if it don't work out,this trucking crap ain't worth blowing a marriage over.
Answer:
zigzag
thanks for the advice. Roehl did look pretty good on paper. There is one college in GA that offers CDL training but its at the other end of the state.
Ive been married for over 30 yrs and if I havent blown it by now I dont think screwing up driving a semi will.. but ya never know. We've talked about it and she seems ok.
Tombstone
I think you were pretty close to where I live..sounds like you were around Danielsville/Royston? Im in Athens

Answer:

Ah Athens, what a beautiful little town. And the scenery is nice this time of year over around the UGA campus.
I was in Royston (Ty Cobbs home town) for awhile and also Hartwell. Still have family there in fact. I miss that whole part of the country.
Good luck with the trucking and congrats on the 30 yr marriage, thats pretty cool.

Answer:
well I think the long marriage is more a credit to her than to me and yeah Athens is very scenic this time of year but with the new semester system right now town is pretty deserted.. under the old system they would be around for a few more weeks.
That are around Royston/Hartwell is nice. Got pretty close on that guess. Thanks for the tips