Should I be concerned?

[bigpapa7272]

Hello All

should I be concerned about the fact that the company I picked to go to school with(millis) sent their most recent class that sarted last monday 12/3 home on 12/4. Saying that there were no jobs available for then due to the "economy" but they are scheduling classes in 08. I am not scheduled to go til febuary 4th 2008, in georgia. The funny thing is that I scheduled my class on the same day that a class was sent home. I'm gonna call them in the morning and find out whats going on as far as 2008. Im anxious to finish saving up money and go to school and get out on the road, but I dont want to commit to leaving my job to go to school and all and get there and have a similar situation happen to me. I have a good driving record (no tickets in last 5 years) and 1 accident in the last 5. So Im pretty much hireable by anyone(except schneider and roehl wont take me). If it turns out they are cancelling classes for an extended period what do you guys suggest? What are Your thoughts?
What companies would you suggest?

private schooling is out the window for me as I do not have "fantastic credit " for a loan.
Your input is much appreciated!

[Uturn2001]

While freight has been slow for some time, if Millis is canceling classes it tells me a few things.

1: They are having a lot of trouble getting loads and may end up in real trouble.

2: They have been overloading their training classes which is also a troublesome management issue.

IMHO with the exception of Prime and CR England which are the real bottom feeders in the industry that hire students, most of the rest of the companies are pretty much the same. (Unless you want to talk Werner which is one of the lowest paying) Just pick your logo.

As far as funding goes have you talked to your state's employment office to see if you would qualify for job training?

While I am no big fan of Swift, many of their schools are now PTDI certified. At the very least it would be a starting point.

[bigpapa7272]

if im correct 12/3 was the last class they had scheduled for the year in ohio because of the holidays and such. And if they knew they werent gonna have jobs for people, why would they be scheduling people for 08 and taking applications for students? It just doesnt add up and from what I heard only the class in Ohio was cancelled no word on the other 2 schools that they run in wisconsin and georgia. so maybe there is hope at the end of the tunnel. If things dont work out with millis(I really want them to) my next choice was prime or pam.

[Twilight Flyer]

A lot of companies have cancelled classes and orientation. Heard JB cut out 2 weeks of classes here just recently.

[bigpapa7272]

fyi 08 classes are on as scheduled

[Jimbpard]

Can you stand staying at your current job until Feb 08'?

Can you afford to pay your bills and generally 'make it' if you wait that long?

How does it really sound that the company you want to go with is cancelling class's because of "the economy?"

Remember, even if you would go in Feb with them, it'll probably be around April or early may before your really on your own...Thats like 6 months from now.. :shock:

Do what your happy with, and Millis does seem to have a good training program, but looking at all that, I'd have to go with someone else who can get things rolling sooner.

[Twilight Flyer]

Something to think about.

If a company is cutting classes and no longer hiring, why is that? It's because freight is at an all-time low, industry-wide. We are at the tail-end of one of the toughest years in the industry, both for drivers and companies. While freight is generally slow this time of year, it has never gotten to the point where companies have shut off their hiring, at least not any time recent. Keep in mind that the number of drivers they have has not leveled off and maintain at a certain level...it is falling fast. Their terms/quits are probably at an all-time high, so they are thinning their driving force fairly drastically.

In addition, everything from tags to permits to payments will be coming due at the first of the year. With low freight, declining revenues, and higher-than-ever fuel costs, how badly do you think a lot of companies (some quite large) will be hurting worse than they ever have?

Lots.

I'd do some serious research and I would ALSO hold tight until mid to end of January to see how things shake out. You're going to see a lot of companies going under next month. Most of those will be small to mid-size, but you might see a big shocker or two.

[Fozzy]

Cutting classes during this time of year is pretty common for the schools. They look at everything from instructor vacations, attendees and even the trainer availability. If there are going to be problems getting student's and or staffing problems and then of course poor trainer availability, the schools will sometimes shut down for the holidays and open with full classes after the first of the year.

[bigpapa7272]

Can you stand staying at your current job until Feb 08'?

Can you afford to pay your bills and generally 'make it' if you wait that long?

How does it really sound that the company you want to go with is cancelling class's because of "the economy?"

Remember, even if you would go in Feb with them, it'll probably be around April or early may before your really on your own...Thats like 6 months from now.. :shock:

Do what your happy with, and Millis does seem to have a good training program, but looking at all that, I'd have to go with someone else who can get things rolling sooner.

the whole reason im going in feburary was to help save money up., and because of the fact that it was either go right after the holiday first monday in january or go the first week in feb. going the first weeek in feb also give me time to get my taxes done so i can go to school with the usual 8-900 refund i get from the gov in my pocket.

I would have been gone trucking back in october or early november before I found out about Millis, but the one thing holding me back was a wedding(thats this weekend) that my family would be absolutely pissed if i didnt go to and didnt want to take the chance of pissing them off and not being home for it but come february im gone to school and to training. I'll be glad to get away from the house for a few weeks.

Rushing into things usually has a bad end result Im happy with the fact that I have waited and discovered Millis. I could have been gone to school back in august with swift or england but good things come to those who wait.

[Jimbpard]

Doesnt sound like theres much of a question of what you wanna do then :wink:

[hitman]

I'm also considering Millis, but not until sometime in the fall of '08. What has me scratching my head, is that there were only 3 people in that particular class. I could understand the "no jobs because of the economy" excuse, if there was a large class. Sounds like there is more to the story then what is being told.

[bigpapa7272]

I'm also considering Millis, but not until sometime in the fall of '08. What has me scratching my head, is that there were only 3 people in that particular class. I could understand the "no jobs because of the economy" excuse, if there was a large class. Sounds like there is more to the story then what is being told.

the other side of the coin is that we dont know what the gerogia and wisconsin schools had for enrollment.

[truckingtiger]

Maybe it was BECAUSE there were only 3 people in that class. :?

After reading this post I called a couple buddies of mine at Millis if you drive for them GET THE HELL OUT NOW. From what my friends in the shop tell me they are on the edge of FOLDING. Turns out one of their largest accounts did not have a FSC figured into the rate and they have been losing their shirts this year on it. Also they got nailed by the DOT for having trainers logging time in the sleeper yet their trainees did not have a CDL yet. Basically a company with 82 years in the industry is going under simply do to bad mangement. I knew they were in trouble when today I saw one of their newest trucks pulling a 95 trailer and it had so many holes in it no way would Miller load the dang thing. Also they lost 3 contracts in the last 2 years that were crtical to them.

[bigpapa7272]

after hearing that what you think i should do?

i would go to cfi but I dont have 1700 to shovel out to go through their program.

shold I explore PAM or USA? Or give Millis the chance I wanted to give them?

All your thoughts are appreciated

[headborg]

after hearing that what you think i should do?

i would go to cfi but I dont have 1700 to shovel out to go through their program.

shold I explore PAM or USA? Or give Millis the chance I wanted to give them?

All your thoughts are appreciated

are you still/currently in WI? Roehl is there in Wisconsin and has a school---it would be a short bus ride/quick to jump --if they are having classes and you just go to get going NOW- with bills and such piling up( which
I can understand---) having to go back home, then set until the 1st--then school--before you start to see any $$$$.
Sometimes, fast is all you can do.

[bigpapa7272]

im was scheduled to go to school in feb with millis. Im still at my current job but am ready to leave there. I was looking at pam or usa truck as a backup and have also looked at roehl(who wont take me because of 1 minor accident in 5 years 1200 dollars damage to my vehicle none to the other) pumpkin company wont take me either. Drivers solutions(not the greatest) said that I was an easy hire and they could get me on with any of their network companies(pam usa averitt or star). I also know swift would take me along with crst and england and stevens. If i got schooling on my own transport america will take me also

at this point I dont know what to do with Millis, I want to go there but I dont want to go to class for a day and half and have the class "get cancelled because of the economy"

im at a cross roads

[headborg]

im was scheduled to go to school in feb with millis. Im still at my current job but am ready to leave there. I was looking at pam or usa truck as a backup and have also looked at roehl(who wont take me because of 1 minor accident in 5 years 1200 dollars damage to my vehicle none to the other) pumpkin company wont take me either. Drivers solutions(not the greatest) said that I was an easy hire and they could get me on with any of their network companies(pam usa averitt or star). I also know swift would take me along with crst and england and stevens. If i got schooling on my own transport america will take me also

at this point I dont know what to do with Millis, I want to go there but I dont want to go to class for a day and half and have the class "get cancelled because of the economy"

im at a cross roads

well where do you Live/ where are you now? I know you stated earlier--but I forgot( you can go to Profile at the top of the page and add that to your Profile--then others will know.
If you're working right now, getting your bills paid...the kids fed, etc----just
enjoy the Holidays and get your vacation pay( if you got that coming) tie up the loose ends in Jan and get ready for FEB- trust me Millis shouldn't be going out of business by March--you class won't get cancelled because of the economy/////besides How Long is School? a month?

Feb is the hardest month to be TRUCKING--winter + no freight/// especially for a newbie.

March is start of spring.

Do you really want to be out with a trainer in FEB, or later in March?

So if nothing's gonna get repo'ed or rent behind or foreclosed on.. I'd be enjoying this time with family & friends---soon you'll be away for awhile.

[bigpapa7272]

im in baltimore.

i dont have many bills, dont have kids or gfriend. I really dont enjoy holidays much.

Im asking about backup's to the plan because as the ol saying goes
You know plan for the worst hope for the best.

Headborg do you work for Millis?

[headborg]

im in baltimore.

i dont have many bills, dont have kids or gfriend. I really dont enjoy holidays much.

Im asking about backup's to the plan because as the ol saying goes
You know plan for the worst hope for the best.

Headborg do you work for Millis?

no, I drive for Shaffer.

living in Baltimore--looking at schools? well, lets see...you said Schnieder is out? Roehl is out?---
Does Knight have a school/training program?( Carlisle, Pa is close)
have you looked into Gordon Trucking? (do they have a school?)
how about USexpress?