I REALLY Need Some Help Now As Time Running Out.

[wsclinger9869]

Seems as each day goes by I find out more and more as to when my government job will be coming to an end and it's looking like it's going to be sooner than later. That said, I need input as to the best company training schools out there with the best finishing and newbie jobs. I read where alot of you wouldn't suggest becoming a driver at this time and I appreciate your honesty. I though have wanted to drive for years and just didn't have the opportunity to make the career change with life's other responsibilities to deal with. Now at age 52, I find myself getting the chance to make the change, having the support to make the change, and of course still having the DESIRE to make the change.

With my current employer cutting my position I don't really want to spend my own cash reserves to get my own training and then have it trickle back to me in tuition reimbursement. That is why I am seeking your advise as to which companies do the best job of training, which ones are the best economical ones to become involved with, and which ones won't hang my ***** out on the road and forget about me for 5-6 weeks and then say, "oh, you've not gotten home lately have you.".....

I've done some research and have done alot of reading also. With Schneider not training new drivers right now, I think they would have been my first choice with all I've ever heard and read about them, I'm basically being left with Roehl, Swift, and Millis as the only other schooling companies that I know of. Please get back with me as I am hopeing to find a good transition for myself and my family and to keep both the income and benefits flowing somewhat regularly.

Thanks to any of you who take the time to read this and give me some good sound advise...

[Mystikal]

I know Conway Truckload has a training program but it may be hold for the moment for better times. Around the Denver area I have seen Stevens transport training trucks on the highways... I haven't checked out Stevens yet in reviews but something to think about.

My wife and I both made a change to the field 7 months ago and love it. we make way better money than we were in our previous professions... if this is what you want to do, don't let others discourage you.

[usair]

check with your state unemployment office on job training..they may have alotments for truck driver training...Pa when i got laid off from my job they offered driver training for free, at a credited school

[Hawkjr]

I don't think Roehl has an Driving School.. I Think Mills does.. I'll go with them if i was you but odds are you have to do a contract... Roehl, Mills and Swift (long as your not overweight) are decent choices.. Just say no to Werner!!!

[SickRick]

I don't think Roehl has an Driving School.. I Think Mills does.. I'll go with them if i was you but odds are you have to do a contract... Roehl, Mills and Swift (long as your not overweight) are decent choices.. Just say no to Werner!!!

I didn't think Swift had a BMI (weight) limit. I KNOW Prime DOES. Still have another 35 lbs. to lose before I could even APPLY at Prime.

Rick

[wsclinger9869]

Fortunately....I am in pretty good shape for being 52. I am 6-1, about 207, so I don't think I would have a problem with any of the height/weight tables. I didn't know that Conway had a training program and will look into that. Conway has alot of freight running here in the Delaware, OH area for PPG, and depending on how it turns out, Swift has a terminal on the westside of Columbus, Hilliard, OH actually. Millis is probably my #1 choice, but I've not heard back from them on the freight lanes that they have in my area, which if they don't have many, would make Swift my best choice with their local, big, terminal...

I just want to make the best decision I can under the circumstances of my current job coming to an end and making the career change to what I probably should have been doing all along...driving a rig and seeing the country......it's just something that is in my blood, if that makes any sense....

[ronjon619]

I didn't think Swift had a BMI (weight) limit. I KNOW Prime DOES. Still have another 35 lbs. to lose before I could even APPLY at Prime.

Rick

really? What happens when you lose the 35, apply, get accepted and then regain the weight?

[rapatorr]

I got school funding through this program from the unemployment office in California,I don't know where you're from but In California one of the guys that was working at the trucking school i went to ask questions about how much it was gonna cost sent me to this office that helps people learn a new trade as long as it's not to expensive,It's called WIA (Workforce Investment Act) and they help you as long as you didn't quit or got fired, it has to be a layoff,
ask around no charge to you if you qualify BOL

[Hawkjr]

I didn't think Swift had a BMI (weight) limit. I KNOW Prime DOES. Still have another 35 lbs. to lose before I could even APPLY at Prime.

Rick

With Swift you can't even use your current Medical Card... you have to go thru their doctors to get your Medical Card.. and i was told since i was overweight according the BMI, i had to get a sleep study test before i could go out on the road with a trainer.. yes this was after i left my current job and lost my insurance so i basically had to pay 3000 to train with swift if i wanted to drive for them!!

[Kevin0915]

With Swift you can't even use your current Medical Card... you have to go thru their doctors to get your Medical Card.. and i was told since i was overweight according the BMI, i had to get a sleep study test before i could go out on the road with a trainer.. yes this was after i left my current job and lost my insurance so i basically had to pay 3000 to train with swift if i wanted to drive for them!!

You must be like that 555lb 12 year old kid then. I know i'm technically 'overweight', and i passed the wellness tests and the like. sounds like they're using that as an excuse to not take you on.

[Hawkjr]

You must be like that 555lb 12 year old kid then. I know i'm technically 'overweight', and i passed the wellness tests and the like. sounds like they're using that as an excuse to not take you on.

LMAO!! Trust me i think it was kind of a blessing in disguise if anything...so i think them for it lol, and i passed all the wellness tests also so if that was an excuse hey thanks!!

and no, i'm not 555lb i'm 6'2 330 (not a sloppy S.O.B. more than welcome to check out the myspace if you like) and 22!!

[Syncrosonix]

LMAO!! Trust me i think it was kind of a blessing in disguise if anything...so i think them for it lol, and i passed all the wellness tests also so if that was an excuse hey thanks!!

and no, i'm not 555lb i'm 6'2 330 (not a sloppy S.O.B. more than welcome to check out the myspace if you like) and 22!!

requesting a link to your myspace page.

[Hawkjr]

Check your PM Sycro

[Old Salt_19]

wsclinger9869

My experience with Roehl and Millis. I attended Roehl's (RDTC) driver training back in 06 over in Marshfield, WI. I was with them just over 2 yrs before going to a local position and my opinion was that the training was real good. Class sizes range from 5 to 7 students per class, you will get alot of one-on-one drive time with the instructors and the same goes for the classroom.

The evolution 1 & 2 with the trainers was a great was all the behind the wheel time I could handle, and my trainers remained in the 2nd seat matching logbooks with me, not this team driving so many others talk about.

As for your location, Roehl has yards in Dayton, Mogadore, and Cinci.

Now as for Millis, my experience may have been unique. When I contacted their recruiters, I couldn't get them to answer any of my questions without first providing them with an application, earning statements (W-2's) and MVR. I don't know if this was standard procedure, but it turned me off right away as I wasn't ready to apply at the time.

[SickRick]

really? What happens when you lose the 35, apply, get accepted and then regain the weight?

I dunno. They re-check you when your med-card expires I suppose. That gives you 2 years to gain/lost as much as you want to - if yer still there after 2 years.

I'm 5'5"/270 - DON'T have sleep apnea, and ain't hurtin' no one but myself.

Lot's of folks (the FMCSA medical advisory board for example) think overweight folks PLANNED IT, or we somehow LIKE BEING overweight. My "optimum weight" is like 155. I haven't seen THAT, since I stopped smoking crack over 20 years ago. I'm happy to break 200, when I can get down that low - lately I'm happy to get below 250. And I'm not some gluttonous pig either. It's called METABOLICALLY CHALLENGED.

No biggie. If the FMCSA gets their way, everyone with a BMI over 35 gets to walk home.

http://www.med.uvm.edu/AHEC/download...sedBMI3-07.pdf

Where do YOU fall in?

Rick

[Windwalker]

Back when I first went into the Navy, they were on an "over-weight kick" too. Eat and sleep in the hospital, and spend the day exercising. (I got to spend the whole day swimming in the pool) On their program, I went from 195 to 190, to 195, to 200, and they took me off the program. Then, for me, their "sink and swim survival" was either swim or walk on the bottom. This year, I've finally been able to hold a deep breath, and stay near the surface of the water... After 45 years of being right at 200 pounds. They had said I shouldn't weigh more than 185.

Oh, yeah... I'm an even 6 foot.

[zipy46]

That BMI deal is gonna put alot of drivers out of work.

At least 80 percent of the drivers where I work will be out....and thats not an exaggeration

[Hawkjr]

If the FMCSA gets their way, everyone with a BMI over 35 gets to walk home.

What i read was if your over a certain BMI you just have to get a Sleep Study in order to be cleared to drive!! I don't think there going to make anyone who has an Certain BMI ineligible to drive.. if that so your talking about 3/4 of the industry drivers!! Hell that will put Certain Truck Stops out of business!!

[rigidsporty]

I don't really want to spend my own cash reserves to get my own training

You'd be better off if you did. You'll have more choices in who you want to drive for and best of all.... no contracts. A CDL school will only teach you enough to get your license, the company you choose to drive for will send you with a trainer to teach you the job.

As far as I know Conway does not offer traing to get your CDL. They have a school you'll have to go through if your a recent graduate from a CDL school. You'll have to already have your license through an approved school before they with hire you... at least thats the way it was when I drove for them (it was CFI then though, so things may have changed).