Newer Class A driver with a problem
 

Hello all

I’ve been reading these forums for sometime now, and have decided that driving full time is what I want to do. So here is my dilemma and question

I have had a Class B license for aprox 10 years (don’t ask me why I didn’t go ahead and get the A then, wish I had). Well I decided to take a look at driving full time so I went to the DMV took the a test passed set up my road test passed.

Well now im looking around a companies but no one will talk to me B/C I didn’t go to school to get my CDL, I don’t mind going to a school if that’s what it takes, it just really scares me to have to Quit the Job I have now to go to school with no guarantee that I will have a job with a decent company.

I was Hoping that someone here has been thru something similar and might be able to offer a suggestion on what companies to talk too that might be willing to help me out

Thanks

When you say that you want to drive full time are you talking about local work or OTR?

If you want to go OTR, there are plenty of companies that are hiring.

Do you have any issues like tickets, accidents, felonies, etc. that may prevent you from being hired?

You will find that virtually every major carrier is going to want you to have experience or have recently graduated from a driving school. It's a pretty standard requirement dictated by the insurance companies I believe.

You might have some luck if you look at an owner operator or small fleet. Often they will take a driver that the big carriers won't. Less technicalities and corporate mumbo jumbo involved when it's just you the driver talking direct to the owner. Often times, the pay is better too (though the benefits tend to be much worse.)

Im sorry for not being more speciffic, I meant OTR or Regional.
I have a clean driving record max positive points on my license and no criminal record at all.
I guess what im worried about is that the companies tell me
"Well without the at least 3-9 months (depends on who im talking to) OTR experience or a recent Driving School Grad We have nothing for you".

Now im not saying that no company has been willing to take me on but they are the three I have read the most Horror Stories on this and other sites about.

Going to school is going to be a must for you in order to get hired by a large company.

Have you applied at some of the better companies including:
CFI, MAVERICK, TMC, ROEHL?

Once you get several "pre-hires" you can then choose the one that fits your needs best when it comes to pay, home-time, etc.

Ive already tried TMC, among about 30 others

and acctually applied to CFI, MAVERICK, ROEHL in the last few days but havent heard anything back yet, Im Gonna keep trying cause i have this set in my mind as what i want to do.

was just hoping that someone might have something i havent tried yet or thought of.


and larry
thanks for the reply's

DesertRat
thanks for the reply

im talking to a couple of local guys now, some seem more intersted then others, but ill see what happens. keep letting then know how interested i am, never know might get some where

I don't drive yet, nor have I gone to school yet.
But in my surfing around looking at driving schools, I've found a few that did weekend classes and some that did night classes. These are not options for me in my case, but something for you to think about.... It will take longer, but it will get done. Also what I've found out ( and correct me if I'm wrong guys/gals ) the school should be at least 160 hours. I prefer longer, the school I'm looking at I think is 270+ hour course.

Those 160-270 courses have a lot of the time studying for the written test. It's not 160-270 driving. You should find out the breakdown.

more research on my part.... Unclear about what your saying..
Been reading most companies want "at least 160 hours" are you saying drive time should be 160?

I would think that any of the OTR companies that have their own schools could run you through their programs as a special case?

more research on my part.... Unclear about what your saying..
Been reading most companies want "at least 160 hours" are you saying drive time should be 160?[/quote]


What I'm saying is don't be suprised if you only drive 3-4 hours in a 160 hour class. Not all 160 classes are the same. I know of a 160 class that has you back up 5 times and drive around the block then they send you to DMV for the test.

Not all 160 hour schools are accepted by the major carriers.

Your best bet is to contact the company that you plan on working for and find out which schools they hire from.

As a general rule the longer the course the better it is for you. Most schools will send you out in a truck along with 3-4 other students. So out of your 8 hour class day you may only end up driving for 1-2 hours. They rest of the time you will be watching your classmates.

When i wanted to go OTR i had the same problem as you do. I got my cdl the same way. Look at smaller company's like less then 30 trucks. I was only 21 at the time and i had a job going OTR with a food grade company about 10mi. away from my house. But they only wanted to pay me .34 empty and .38 loaded. Once i added it all up am making more local so i never did it.
BTW i would never in a million years go to school for something i allready had.

mackman

thanks for the reply, ya i think I'm going to keep looking at both options local and larger companies and see what turns up.
I mean i really don't want to go unpaid for 4-6 weeks for school if i don't have to, but will if it is necessary.

fyafighter:

I would keep looking. I started out in a very similar situation to you. I had very little driving time, but a CDL-A.

I got hired on with a company and they sent me thru 6 weeks of their own training with one of their driver trainers. I work for MCS, a smaller company. I also could have worked for Swift or Schneider, who send you to training no matter what. A couple other companies wanted to hire me too, but they were small local companies.

I had many turn me down because of my lack of experience. I just got my CDL in the first place so I could drive trucks occasionally for the truck dealership I was working for-- as in test drives and delivery to customers. I got the license with no schooling, and borrowed a truck and trailer from the dealership to take the test. I had less then 10,000 miles when I got hired full time as an OTR driver.

Good luck!

Not sure where you're located, but Arrow would consider you as long as you've got your CDL. Hopefully we're not one of the ones you've heard horror stories about! :shock: :D if you have any questions you can ask here or PM me.

Call Magnum LTD in Fargo, ND. If they don't take you i'd be darn surprised really. They have like 14 trucks sitting empty right now. They bought like 60 2006's and 60 2007's They are a pete 387 fleet with generators on anything 05 and newer. Oldest OTR truck I think they are running right now is an 03 and I believe those are on their way to the LTL division of the company.

They are a lower paying company, and have a few kinks to work on, but overall they are a good company to work with. Safety office personal rock, dispatchers can be complete.... well, dispatchers.. but it'd be worth a try..

800-615-9398

I'd at least talk to them. Worst they can say is no. And if they take you even at a low pay rate, at least your getting paid to get experiance rather then paying to go through school.

BOL

Nendail

I've had my class A for 12 years, and had no formal schooling to get it. I've already been told by two companies that they would hire me.
Gordon Trucking, out of Pacific WA. May Trucking Co. out of Salem, OR.
Just keep looking.

Thanks all for so many helpful replies and pm's

currently I'm talking to Maverick and Crete and CFI well see what works out, locals are still saying "were still checking" insurance i guess.

I'm hoping on Maverick cause Flatbed is what i want to do.
I'm use to Lowboy and tilt top moving equipment so i don't think it will be that much of a switch

BTW due to the pm's I've gotten about location i am in southern Virginia.
If you know the area i am about 20 miles from the Martinsville Speedway
home of the Subway 500

toner & Nendail


Thanks for the replies

BTW Arrow & Magnum LTD are not even close to the ones I've heard horror stories about, you can take a guess heres a hint S,S,W are the ones i have heard nothing but bad about. (including a close friend who tried Sni, and another at Wer and had nothing but bad to say,,,(oops too much))

Ill Try giving Magnum and arrow a call

Haven't heard about magnum but have heard more good then bad about arrow

Post what you find out about Magnum. When I called them I found their health insurance premiums for family plan outrageous. Thats all it took for me to forget them. They seemed very friendly and easy to work with. They do have beautiful equipment.

Outta here

will do

I have one for you also. I spoke to ABF the other day. They will send you to their six week school in Arkansas. I told them I had a year OTR and thats what they wanted to do with me. Try them also. They wanted 2 years experience.

Woooot

Well As of about 30 sec ago i was told by Maverick that they wanted me to attend the next training time they could fit me in, could be approx 2-3 weeks, and that really doesn't bother me, cause Maverick and TMC were the top 2 on the Short list i made of who i wanted to work for..

Thanks all for the response's and The information you provided.

Wish me luck and ill keep you updated on this or a new thread

Jason W
AKA GRIZ

Their healh plan for family is in fact out of sight. What I did for my family is.. *sheepesh look* I have a family of four. My wife is a stay at home mother who homeschools our children. SOOO.. I'm a "low income family" we applied for state health insurance. It's called "MN Care" here. It's not the same as the welfair insurance which we have called "MA" Or Medical Assistance" it's actual insurance that you pay for. However since so many people in the state are in the plan, it's cheaper rates. I play 233.00 a month for medical dental and vission through this plan. I have 3.00 copays on my Dr visits, and perscriptions, and it's a "Health Partners" plan so I can go to any heal partners dr's.

I also have a 25.00 copay for vission. And 25.00 copays for dental. The only down side to this is that the dental is only good for 500.00 per year for my wife and I, but is unlimited for the kids.

Look around for options other then your company's insurance.. Trucking compay's insurance sucks anyways.. 80/20 coverage after insane deductables.


Oh yeah, the biggest reason we were aproved for this is because the company don't pay at LEAST HALF of the ins premiums.


Hope this strikes up some ideas for you and yours.

Nendail

Test
 

Hi all,
Just Failed Class A for third time here in U.k Going for retest in Jan 07
If I fail again Am thinking of packing in. So question for You all
Each and every one the good and bad driver out there what's the worst
no of test for failing anyone, befor passing for Class A?

Red