Finally made my decision

[bigpapa7272]

Finally Made my decision, after months of debate, talking with various companies, and advice from all of you(especially skywalker). I've made up my mind I want to pursue my trucking school and driving career with CFI. I had a pleasant conversation with Christine today, and I feel that CFI has a good program and a lot more to offer than some of the mega carriers that run "puppy mills" out there. Shes sending me an information packet in the mail and am currently on the list to go to school starting january 7th in missouri. I was advised she will be incontact with me a month before I am scheduled to go to school so that all paperwork is finalized.

Im soo excited I cant wait to go but because of personal obligations I cant start til the later part of december or january.

Anyone needing more info or wanting to give me some advice please let me know.

[double back]

hey there bigpapa, i too have been taking my time as to where and how to get training. i have no training driving t/t. drove box trucks years ago, that was befor cdl's tho. damn i'm getin old,lol I also am looking to get started next year, have to keep the bills paid while i get trained ya know. well best of luck man, let us know how it works out for you. Doubleback 8)

[cpmorpheous]

Congrats!

Seems like they are the best option out there; good training and NO CONTRACT!

[BiGG T33]

i like CFI but i can't get past the paid every 15 days thing...they do have a good rep...idk yet i will be making a decision this week...why are you waiting till jan..thats a ways off..

[bigpapa7272]

got a few personal things to take care of, my friend is getting married in december plus i need to save up for the upfront costs.($1740). Not only that most of the november classes had waiting lists.
So I figured instead of playing the waiting list game, considering I will eventually be needing to put in my notice with my current employer, It will be a heck of a lot easier to pick a date where i would definately have a spot in the class.

paid every 2 weeks doesnt bother me thats how i am paid at my current job.

sp33dbump have you talked to CFI? Which school would you be goin to? I told them I wanted to go to the missouri school, yeah I need to get my permit before I go but for the higher price it includes the meals.

[Orange Andy]

How far will the schooling be from your home? Or are you in Missouri?

Congrats on your decision, all the best.

[proffit]

congrads on makeing a decision, and your right its better to set a date then play a waiting game. and it gives u alot of time to get more and more excited....

some1 who is excited to learn new things are normally the fastest learners.

[bigpapa7272]

im in baltimore, all the schools are equally far for me. i got a friend who drives locally whos been driving a truck for 20 years who is going to help me out before i go to school and im gonna go on a few ride alongs with him. He wants to see me do well so he has volunteered all the help i want before i go to school.

Plus i need to get my permit before going to school so i got plenty of time to obtain it.

[BiGG T33]

thats good thinking on waiting with everything you mentioned...
I just graduated from a school near me ...it was partnerd with my community college so i got 8 college credits also (WooT!)

I will make my decision this week on which company i will go with...
I like CFI alot justs me and wife are going arnd about the every 2 weeks thing ...she works ,justs she's worried that i'll have a hard time with money till it starts rolling in and i can get straight after that...

I really want to try flatbed (Maverick) is justs double checking things and i'm ready to get going......so i'm delaying till wed/thru before i pick between Transport America or CFI...

[VitoCorleone99]

...I like CFI alot justs me and wife are going arnd about the every 2 weeks thing ...she works ,justs she's worried that i'll have a hard time with money till it starts rolling in and i can get straight after that...

You can take ten cents a mile as an advance on your fuel card as soon as you are dispatched. If your concern is living expenses on the road, that's more than enough to tide you over until the checks start coming in. We also don't wait for paperwork to be scanned or sent in, which expedites the money from the first week or so of dispatches. As soon as you get a dispatch, the money is on your check. That means that a dispatch for say 1,700 miles coming at 11:45pm on the 31st will be on your check on the 4th, whether or not the load has been delivered.

The twice a month pay thing is something that you get used to. In point of fact, it makes budgeting monthly expenses a no-brainer. The way I do it, the check on the 4th pays for A,B, and C. The check on the 19th pays for X, Y, and Z. Whatever is left pays for whiskey, football tickets, oriental massages, pizza at Clemente's (or maybe Vito's :wink: ) and so forth.

[Hogfun]

If you are going to Crowder College, one piece of advice.....DO NOT BE LATE FOR CLASS!!!!!

[VitoCorleone99]

If you are going to Crowder College, one piece of advice.....DO NOT BE LATE FOR CLASS!!!!!

Good advice there. Also, seeing that you got your CDL on your own, the week at Crowder will also put $400 cash in your pocket. That's good old, untaxed (treated as a reimbursement of expenses for those of you at the IRS), American greenbacks. They'll put $100 cash in your hand at the end of day one, feed you all week at the college, and put $300 on your company fuel/atm card at the end of the week. I blew my money on fireworks, but it was July so it's not my fault.

[bigpapa7272]

yeah it will be crowder college.

[trucker cuma]

I would like to become a pro truck driver.I dont have a cdl and I like to get one.
Should I get my cdl myself from any school then apply to some jobs?
or
I can start with a company who has cdl school?

I applied to some companies. cr england and crst responded me so far.
What do u think about these 2?
Are they any better one ?
I am 29 and live in NY.

[Skywalker]

i like CFI but i can't get past the paid every 15 days thing...they do have a good rep...idk yet i will be making a decision this week...why are you waiting till jan..thats a ways off..

As Vito said....it actually makes budgeting easier.... Considering, like he said, that all miles dispatched within a pay period are paid at the end of the pay period, you don't get jacked around while waiting for someone to process a trip pak....your pay stays current. It also smooths out the bumps, as in when one of the two weeks is shy of miles but the second is very good... the overall paycheck is good.

I remember back when I was in the Army...and we only got paid 1 time a month.... I got used to it quickly, and when they offered to pay us twice a month, I stayed with the once a month routine. The adjustment is not as difficult as it seems. And as Vito said, you can get a 10 cpm advance.... from company ATM's in their terminals, or small advances on your fuel card.

In the 7 years I drove for them.... I NEVER had an error or problem with my pay with CFI.

[Skywalker]

I applied to some companies. cr england and crst responded me so far.
What do u think about these 2?
Are they any better one ?
I am 29 and live in NY.

Before you throw yourself on either of those companies.....do a lot of research. It will pay off in the long run. Frankly.... I wouldn't give either of those companies the time of day.

[BiGG T33]

I Totally Agree with Skywalker...you can do bbetter then those 2 places....I would pay for school out of pocket just make sure its 160hr course ..if you go with company training you sign a 1 yr contact about $5,000 if you don;t do the yr.

[bigpapa7272]

I would like to become a pro truck driver.I dont have a cdl and I like to get one.
Should I get my cdl myself from any school then apply to some jobs?
or
I can start with a company who has cdl school?

I applied to some companies. cr england and crst responded me so far.
What do u think about these 2?
Are they any better one ?
I am 29 and live in NY.

Dude call christine at cfi get onboard with them the program is eons away from any other companies program.

Skywalker is a smart man listen to any advice he has to give

[trucker cuma]

thank you all for your comments.

bigpapa7272
I have no truck experience in usa.I see they require at least 3 months of trucking exp.But, i will contact them .