Question:
going to a school not sponsored by any company? When do you leave for training and how do you feel about it? Nervous/anxious about being away from home/wife/kids/dog? Well we are here for ya.
Everyone has gone through it at one point or another, so lets hear it. Do you need to know what to bring your first trip out? Do you want to kow what to expect? There are people here willing to tell you what they think about that too!!!
We are here to help, and this is a service to you, dont be afraid to ask.
TJ----ready to answer some questions

Answer:
They're shy.
One thing to keep in mind, you won't know unless you ask!
Better to be as prepared as possible than to dive in head first and 'blind'.

Answer:
thats the point I was trying to get across.
We wont bite your head off. well at least not all of us
Ask away, your most valuable tool is right here and ITS ALL FREE!
How often do you get something for nothing?
TJ----Even Sam Walton dont sell it this cheap

Answer:
Well I guess I'll be the first newbie to chime in.
I'm going to be attending Bates Technical in Tacoma, WA. I should start sometime in January.
Bates come highly recommended by several friends of mine in the trucking industry.
After completing Bates I plan on trying to get hired on by Gordon or a few others. After a year or so I would like to get hired on by Interstate Distributors.
I have had many long talks with trucker friends of mine so I know a little of what to expect. I'm certainly not expecting that I'll get rich, but at this point anything would be better than the machining industry. The machining/manufacturing industry in this area is dying.

Answer:
I just started the process of getting both my financing and class date (5 February 03) here in rapid city south dakota, it looks like I qualify for a federal/state program workforce investment act (wia) which will pay for my school. I cannot use my GI bill for the local school because it is non-accredited. I just want to have my CDL before I start in june 03 so that I just have to do the company training without waiting to do the drivers DMV test with a company truck.
The family has already been used to me being gone a lot so the adjustment is not too bad and I'm not nervous except that I might have a mishap while driving the truck.

Answer:
How does your familly feel about it? Are you married? If so do you have kids?
I think you made the right moves in deciding on what school to attend, but might I make 1 suggestion to you? I know you trust your friends, as well you should. However, I must play the devils advocate here. If I where you, and I know I am not, I would call the company you are expecting to hire to, as you mentioned there was 1 for sure you wanted in to. Ask them what Qualifications they require, and does the school you are going to attend meet their requirements.
Once again I am not doggin on your friends, just make sure you know for sure. You cant plan enough.
Big Dan, why are you going to a school that isnt accredited? Do you mean they arent PTDI certified? Check around to make sure thats acceptable before you sign. Is it cost that swayed your decision do goto a non-accredited school? I do, however, agree with the fact you wanted to have your CDL before signing on. Better to learn some other things in the short time you will be out with a trainer.
Looks like you both have done some good research and planning, keep it up as you can never have too much info. There are a few calls I would make if I was you just to check and double check everything, Just like when youre in a truck, check, double check, and in some cases if it dont feel right, check it again.
Good work guys, keep it up. Dont forget to keep us posted and updated.
Thanks
TJ

Answer:
Thanks for your advice...I do appreciate it. I have made those calls already. If I graduate from Bates (it is PTDI certified) I will meet all of the requirements. Interstate will hire with 6 months accident free OTR or one year otherwise.
I am married with one kid but he his grown and bacically on his own. My family fully supports me in this.
Since I think it would be better to complete at least one year with the same company I plan on sticking with Gordon for the first year.
Thanks again for you advice!

Answer:
TJ, I am a recent graduated from the NTTS in BUFFALO,NY I started school back in August an did the extern program. It was a 10wk course. You do three weeks of classroom, prep for your CDL permit and then you learn map reading,trip planning,log books etc. Then three weeks of yard training and road rides.This includes Straight line backing ,seeside backing ,blindside,parallel,and offset backing. While you are doing this you choose a company that interest you and you talk to a recruiter and see if they will let you finish your training with them(4wks).They pay you and you get alot of experience at the same time. Well i chose to go with a company in WI. I started orientation on Tues Oct 8th. 2 days of review Haz-mat saftey plus a physical and drug screen. Then they took me and the rest of the guys there out to a obstacle course which the recruiter never bothered to tell me about. It was very different from anything i did at school and i was not able to get through it. I'm not making excuses, I'm just saying it was very different.I have thought about trying again with the same company and have also looked at many others, but i still have not decided what to do. For now i'm working a local CDL-B job just to pay the bills. I do hope someday to drive the otr and i know i will, just have to figure out when and with who. STILL SEARCHING. Jimmijam
[This message was edited by JimmiJam on December 13, 2002 at 18:52.]

Answer:
big dan...there is a company based in souix falls that has their own school...and it's free if you stay on for a year www.midwest-coast.com i don't know anything about them other than what i saw on their web site. but i figured i'd mention it as you are both in s. dakota.

Answer:
Tough break, stay at it and it'll happen.
I admire those of you on the road, but dont have the Cajones to do it.
Home is where the heart is, and I like being there. I guess I am just lucky that way
Considered doing overnights, that would be ok for me, as long as I dont miss my childrens activities.
It'll get better, dont wory, I have confidence in ya
TJ

Answer:
1: FFE; Want to try reefers and FFE looks like the best pay package as far as reefer companies. They won't require me to relocate to another part of Florida or else where.
2:Swift/Schneider; Should I decide dry van these will both take me from my area. As much as people whine and moan about these two I've talked to several drivers from each and they both said they rarely touch freight. they also said the absolutely do not sit.
Now if I moved around Tampa/Lakeland my options increase, but that is if nothing else works out.
Hey Stuffiu....those three trucks still siting in your bosses lot ?????

Answer:
I'm just counting the days...scheduled for school in Marshfield Wi. for Roehl on the 30th.
Been hanging out here a lot learning what I can. Between the folks here and my friends and family in the business I'm pretty much ready.
Only apprenhensive at the large change. I've been in the same career field for 16 years. So it's a DRASTIC change. I'm looking forward to it while trying not to look back. Kinda scary doing something totaly different.
I'm sure I'll do just fine I always have succeded in anything I've put my mind to.
I'll be sure to yell anytime I have a question..I've been known to be anything but shy. Thanks in advance for your help.
As the past becomes the future unfolds
Answer:
going to a school not sponsored by any company? I (wife and I)elected to go a private school so we would have a choice of who to work for.
When do you leave for training and how do you feel about it? Start training 5 Jan at National Truck School in Jacksonville Fl.
Nervous/anxious about being away from home/wife/kids/dog? Nervous about doing well. I am active duty Air Force, used to be gone for weeks to months on end. But this will be new, as the military has an excellent support network.
Well we are here for ya. Thanks for the support.
Everyone has gone through it at one point or another, so lets hear it.
Do you need to know what to bring your first trip out? Used this site, layover.com and newbiedriver.com to build a list.
Do you want to kow what to expect? Always easier to learn from someones experience than making my own mistakes.
There are people here willing to tell you what they think about that too!!! Will take all comments, have pretty thick skin after serving in the military.
Whistlepunk

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I was absent for a couple of months because I was going to school. Passed and I have my orentation tuesday the 2nd.
Life's a Journey, not a Destination.

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Oops. I'm still getting used to this laptop, accidently hit tab and then one of the four mouse buttons that are on it.
To get back to what I was saying, I'm starting with a small company (100 newer tractors ).
I have posted questions here before and most of the time I was told that I should have done a search. Not very friendly.
dave
Life's a Journey, not a Destination.