Quote:
Originally Posted by tndieselgrl
I'd still recommend a community college over anywhere like Roadmaster. When I was doing orientation and training with new students, even Roadmaster campuses were hit or miss when it comes down to the quality of driver. Take the longest course you possibly can - it will pay for itself in the end! Also take time in comparing companies once you're in school - start looking at them now. First year is always hard, but making an informed decision can help make it less so.
Haha. As a Roadmaster graduate myself (Tampa campus) I'd have to agree with Ms. tndieselgrl, even if she probably is a Vol's fan. :nana:
Roadmaster, and other "be on the road in 3 weeks" schools basically teach the minimum to pass the CDL test. When I got to my trainer with my first company I was nervous as hell but in 10 days he signed me off to get my own truck and then I was off to the races. I'll tell you that in my opinion the real learning comes once you're on your own out there. You have to figure everything out on your own, even though you've probalby been told 100 times by your trainer. There's just no better teacher than practical experience and that's probably why I was so nervous when I got on the truck with my trainer, I got very little time behind the wheel while in school. Sure, during weeks 2 and 3 we were "on the road" most of the time but there were 4 of us on the truck and we each got about an hour during the morning and another hour after lunch. Grand total behind the wheel while otr - right at 8 hours.
As far as finding a company, head down to the local truck stops: Pilot, Flying J, T/A, Petro, Loves, etc and ask around to the drivers coming in to fuel up. Look around the entrance to the store for a ben of small recruiting magazines and grab some of them. They may give you some ideas.
Here's a few companies that you haven't mentioned and you don't see thrown around much on the boards: May Trucking, US Express, Celedon, Martin, Melton (flat bed). Don't know if all them are taking CDL graduates or not, I think at one time they all did. I got my start with May Trucking.
The point is - there's about 17 gazillion trucking companies out there, don't just settle on what your CDL school, whereever that may be, tells you. The job placement folks there are in the job of "placing you" and they are only human and tend to take the path of least resistance. (CR England, Swift, Werner, etc)
Good luck and I hope this info was helpful.