Graduated truck school but can't get a break!

[Scottt]

Reminds me of a conversation 2 drivers were having on the CB.

The one told the other his heating bill for his house went up 50% last winter. Said he paid $250 a month the year before and this year it was $500.

I asked him he had trouble adding his hours up in his logbook. He said No, why would I?

[IndianG]

I find this converstion interesting since i just received my CDL permit with 3 Endorsements and i'm about ready to hand over my money to a truck driving school ( DOOTSON ) in Southern California.
I was actually pretty happy after i passed all the tests at the DMV but now im wondering if I SHOULD HAND OVER MY MONEY to learn how to drive a truck.
Ive been reading the posts at trucking sites and its been mixed reviews, even the job i have now is up and down with work and 40 hrs a week... i figured i'd get a back up plan just in case i get layed off or my hours get cut ( its happened a few times already less than 40hrs ).
So my great back up plan isn't so great after all,.. so whats a man to do?...... At 49 years old its not like it was when i was 20 and you could get a job anywhere....i figured i could drive a truck and be a happy camper but it appears storm clouds are on the horizon and its gonna rain on my little parade.
Wonder if i should just finish the trucking school and see what happens.

[SickRick]

I find this converstion interesting since i just received my CDL permit with 3 Endorsements and i'm about ready to hand over my money to a truck driving school ( DOOTSON ) in Southern California.
I was actually pretty happy after i passed all the tests at the DMV but now im wondering if I SHOULD HAND OVER MY MONEY to learn how to drive a truck.
Ive been reading the posts at trucking sites and its been mixed reviews, even the job i have now is up and down with work and 40 hrs a week... i figured i'd get a back up plan just in case i get layed off or my hours get cut ( its happened a few times already less than 40hrs ).
So my great back up plan isn't so great after all,.. so whats a man to do?...... At 49 years old its not like it was when i was 20 and you could get a job anywhere....i figured i could drive a truck and be a happy camper but it appears storm clouds are on the horizon and its gonna rain on my little parade.
Wonder if i should just finish the trucking school and see what happens.

Depends on HOW MUCH you "hand over" to the trucking school. Nothing wrong with learning a new trade. Like the original poster - IF you're "handing over" $5K, with NO HINT OF PLACEMENT - then you're likely better off looking at PLAN C. If you're doing a COUNTY VO-TECH (like I did) - then even though I put $1,800 into it - and even though it's difficult to find work right not (ESPECIALLY WITH A FLORIDA ZIP CODE) - to me it was still $$ well spent, and I feel MUCH BETTER about spending $1,800, than I would have by spending FIVE GRAND...

Rick

[Kevin0915]

Reminds me of a conversation 2 drivers were having on the CB.

The one told the other his heating bill for his house went up 50% last winter. Said he paid $250 a month the year before and this year it was $500.

I asked him he had trouble adding his hours up in his logbook. He said No, why would I?

typical dumb truck driver. I bet he is the same kind of guy who spouts Obama crap every half mile.

As far as IndianG, ask whatever school you go to if they require a permit or not. Depends on the school if they'll recognize your permit (they would if it was in state, naturally), but dont get upset if you've spent $$$ on getting your permit, and go to a school where it would be useless.

[Phreddo]

I got my CDL through a school, and then I went to Schneider, and they dropped me right back into their training program at no cost to me. Also, since I was within 90 days of graduating from a qualified program, they actually reimbursed me the cost of my training.

Anyhow, what I learned was that, I may have had the technical CDL, but I was -not- ready to drive a truck. I probably could have gotten into SNI without my CDL, but I'm not sure if I would have passed their program with no prior experience.

I've been driving for 3 years now, and so far I say it's working out pretty well for me.

So, the moral is you would probably be best served by a company that has training. It sounds a little backwards, but my school actually advised the same thing. They were pushing for Swift, but for some reason I went to Schneider instead. I don't regret the decision at all.

The point is that, if you are willing to work at it, you can make it work for you. But if you are expecting a great job out of the chute, you are probably going to be bitterly disappointed.

[IndianG]

Thanks to all the people who replied to my post, ...I've been on the fence the last week after reading comments on trucker sites about jobs and newbies but i've come this far so i might as well go for it.
The school cost is around $1,200 + CDL permit $64.00 + Drug test $35.00 + DOT physical $35.00 and since i passed the Hazmat endorsement + Tanker & Air Brakes i believe this is a good investment besides i like to travel and work hard ....... There are a lot of opportunities with a CLASS A besides 18 wheelers ...... Cement trucks, Water Trucks, and a lot more in construction field so i believe there are many open doors with a class A .... so if i get layed off from my current 2 axial delivery job i'm sure the class A will help me find something.
Thanks again for your input and be safe out there.

[Orangetxguy]

It doesn't look like the OP wants to discuss his problem.

[Kevin0915]

It doesn't look like the OP wants to discuss his problem.

That is just the thing, one thing that really irks me, are drivers who blow 4g's on schooling, then get all butt-hurt because the school didnt follow thru, or they cannot find a job. When experienced drivers are jumping ship from one company to another, and the marketplace is FLOODED with experienced drivers (i.e. more than a year experience) then fresh fish just out of school are mad because they cannot find a job.

Don't get all upset cause thats the way things SHOULD be. If i were applying for a job (with my 9 mo. experience) and there are 12 other drivers with a range of experience from 1 year to 5 years, and there are only 5 spots open, i would not be upset if i didnt get the position. it would be expected.

One should have done their homework on the school before jumping into the street without looking both ways. AND, should have gone to a school thru a company, AND should have done it no later than September of last year.

The poor economy and this depression wasnt something that happened overnight.....we've been going in the tank since the latter half of 2007.

[rapatorr]

Same here dude, I graduated 2 months ago, have all my endorsements and I still can get a job, at this point I'm willing to just forget about the whole trucking deal and just get a job doing whatever, I know man, it's really hard.

[Windwalker]

That is just the thing, one thing that really irks me, are drivers who blow 4g's on schooling, then get all butt-hurt because the school didnt follow thru, or they cannot find a job. When experienced drivers are jumping ship from one company to another, and the marketplace is FLOODED with experienced drivers (i.e. more than a year experience) then fresh fish just out of school are mad because they cannot find a job.

Don't get all upset cause thats the way things SHOULD be. If i were applying for a job (with my 9 mo. experience) and there are 12 other drivers with a range of experience from 1 year to 5 years, and there are only 5 spots open, i would not be upset if i didnt get the position. it would be expected.

One should have done their homework on the school before jumping into the street without looking both ways. AND, should have gone to a school thru a company, AND should have done it no later than September of last year.

The poor economy and this depression wasnt something that happened overnight.....we've been going in the tank since the latter half of 2007.

It really began to excellerate in '06 and '07, but the simple fact is that it has been going this way for the last thirty years. You just didn't get to see it as well before '07. The housing foreclosures started increasing in '05 and '06.

And, to make matters even worse, every time I go out, I see more and more business's being boarded up. It means even more and more people out of work. It means the economy is going to go down even more. Truck driving is not going to pick up until the economy does. You might try moving to NE. On national news, last week, they have the lowest unemployment rate in the entire country. Unfortunately, that does not mean that trucking companies based in NE will be more likely to hire new drivers.

There are a number of sites where you can get a line on companies that... MIGHT... be interested. I did a WEB search and came up with a dozen pages of sites.

Bubbajunk
careersingear
rigmeup
drivers4hire

Last I heard, Roehl was still doing new drivers. Don't know if they've changed the way they treat drivers now or not.

[dobry4u]

Last I heard, Roehl was still doing new drivers. Don't know if they've changed the way they treat drivers now or not.

I know a community college CDL graduate from Michigan that Prime hired... so there are companies... not much room for "picking and choosing" though

[SirCronus]

Thank you everyone for the information. (Bad & hopeful) I just wanted to say that the school told me that helping me get a job was going to be no problem! They have job placement at least so I was told. But it seems that just handing your grads apps to fill out isnt a whole lot of help. Now looking back its 20/20 seeing that they are just salesman trying to make a sale for the school and will say anything to make that "sale." Yet I will keep pounding the payment and hope for the best!

The one the that really "IRKS" me are the people that cant understand what they just read!

That is just the thing, one thing that really irks me, are drivers who blow 4g's on schooling, then get all butt-hurt because the school didnt follow thru, or they cannot find a job. When experienced drivers are jumping ship from one company to another, and the marketplace is FLOODED with experienced drivers (i.e. more than a year experience) then fresh fish just out of school are mad because they cannot find a job.

Don't get all upset cause thats the way things SHOULD be. If i were applying for a job (with my 9 mo. experience) and there are 12 other drivers with a range of experience from 1 year to 5 years, and there are only 5 spots open, i would not be upset if i didnt get the position. it would be expected.

One should have done their homework on the school before jumping into the street without looking both ways. AND, should have gone to a school thru a company, AND should have done it no later than September of last year.

The poor economy and this depression wasnt something that happened overnight.....we've been going in the tank since the latter half of 2007.

Depends on HOW MUCH you "hand over" to the trucking school. Nothing wrong with learning a new trade. Like the original poster - IF you're "handing over" $5K, with NO HINT OF PLACEMENT - then you're likely better off looking at PLAN C. If you're doing a COUNTY VO-TECH (like I did) - then even though I put $1,800 into it - and even though it's difficult to find work right not (ESPECIALLY WITH A FLORIDA ZIP CODE) - to me it was still $$ well spent, and I feel MUCH BETTER about spending $1,800, than I would have by spending FIVE GRAND...

Rick

[Orangetxguy]

Thank you everyone for the information. (Bad & hopeful) I just wanted to say that the school told me that helping me get a job was going to be no problem! They have job placement at least so I was told. But it seems that just handing your grads apps to fill out isnt a whole lot of help. Now looking back its 20/20 seeing that they are just salesman trying to make a sale for the school and will say anything to make that "sale." Yet I will keep pounding the payment and hope for the best!

The one the that really "IRKS" me are the people that cant understand what they just read!

I can't read where it is you live.

That is what irks me. How does anyone, whom may or maynot have a reasonable company to suggest, do so, without knowing where you live?? Are you only interested in the "Mega Carriers" whom seem to be turning you down??

[Hawkjr]

Orange i think he was responding to Kevin's arrogant post about spending money on schooling...

but yeah dude, if you want help you at least has to give us the nearest major city or something..

If you are in the West look at this Company...

Truck Driving Training, Careers, Best Pay, Most Terminals

i don't hear alot of bad about them nor good either so that might be the good thing lol but nice trucks and they hiring graduates...

[SickRick]

Thank you everyone for the information. (Bad & hopeful) I just wanted to say that the school told me that helping me get a job was going to be no problem! They have job placement at least so I was told. But it seems that just handing your grads apps to fill out isnt a whole lot of help. Now looking back its 20/20 seeing that they are just salesman trying to make a sale for the school and will say anything to make that "sale." Yet I will keep pounding the payment and hope for the best!

The one the that really "IRKS" me are the people that cant understand what they just read!

Hate to start sounding like Kevin here - but MIGHTY DAMN GLAD to have irked you. You MADE MY DAY. It's really great to be able to "reach out and irk someone", from the comforts of ones home - and without even INTENDING TO. I hope to be able to irk you again in the future.

Meanwhile, best of luck with your $5K CDL. It seems to be about as worthless as my $1,800 one in the current employment market. OTOH - I knew GOING IN that my school didn't do job placement and made a BUSINESS DECISION not to go to the more expensive (less classroom/road hours school) or a Company School (again, usually in the $5K range) - opting to DO MY OWN LEGWORK when I graduate...


Bzzzzzz, bzzzzzzzzzz.....

Is there a FLY IN HERE? Oh, it's just KEVIN. Buzzz off little boy. You and your slide-rule and college education just head on down the road. Taunting me with your (supposed) "math skills" - in light of some of the incredible yarns I've seen you spew out here, further re-enforces that ANYONE can get a college degree. Couldn't handle autocad, so you're driving a truck. SO GLAD you don't care what other people think about you - it'd be REALLY DEPRESSING when you know the entire board finds you PATHETIC...

Rick

[Orangetxguy]

Orange i think he was responding to Kevin's arrogant post about spending money on schooling...

but yeah dude, if you want help you at least has to give us the nearest major city or something..

If you are in the West look at this Company...

Truck Driving Training, Careers, Best Pay, Most Terminals

i don't hear alot of bad about them nor good either so that might be the good thing lol but nice trucks and they hiring graduates...

Ohhh...I understood what was "irking" him, Hawk.

I just wanted him to understand that nobody can suggest a company that "might" hire him, without knowing where the heck it is that "he" lives. Everybody knows where to find a "McMega" Carrier. But how can anyone recommend or suggest a small company...when those smaller companies are so widely scattered?

Everyone needs help from time to time...but you have to first be willing to help yourself. Knowing your location is one of those "self-help" deals.

[Windwalker]

There are a number of small companies that will hire along their normal routes. A few in WI tend to use the left turn signal when they get to Chicago, so if you live in Northern Indiana, or northern ohio... PA, along I-80, they'll take you on. Even upstate NY. But, it's pretty hard to recomend any of them if you don't live along the routes they normally run.

[SirCronus]

I live in Sacramento, CA. I guess I need to pay better attention myself to what I read. Dam I guess I really "IRK " myself now!

[Bigmon]

Get in touch with Floored. She's in Sacto and has a lot of contacts.

[Orangetxguy]

I live in Sacramento, CA. I guess I need to pay better attention myself to what I read. Dam I guess I really "IRK " myself now!

Ok...Sac-town. Have you tried Bettendorf?? They may well offer you that "chance" you need to gain experience. http://www.bettendorftrucking.com/2164.html

How about Sitton Motor Lines? They have a terminal in Yreka...but they do a lot around Sac-town. Welcome to Sitton Motor Lines They may also offer you a "chance".

I am assuming you already tried Gordon Trucking...but if you haven't (Western Truck School was helped to get started by them), Gordon Trucking Inc. - Pacific, Washington

Did you try Royal Express? They offer one thing important to you...driving experience. RoyalExp.com

How about Market Transport? Again...driving experience.

West Coast Transportation & Trucking Company - Market Transport

How about Ruan? They may...or not..give you a chance. Ruan Transportation - Jobs

Your not going to get any where knocking on "Internet" doors. Go to each of these operation's facility that is close to you. KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS!!!