Sage Montana
 

I wanted to post about some of my experiences earlier but the events of recent days have kicked my butt :roll:

First, a little background my wife and I have been searching for real change in the direction of our lives for some time. For 16 years, until April of 2004, I had been an investment broker, since my clients were scattered from Fla. to Ca., I relocated my home to NW Montana in Dec 1999. It was a dream come true we did, and still do, love our 20 acres of paradise in the Flathead National Forest.

Frankly, being an investment adviser has not been much fun. Sept 11, 2001 was a real blow to the entire industry and to me especially on a professional and personal basis. To make a long story much shorter, the small broker dealer I worked for decided to close up its retail operations in early 2004. I was forced to leave the investment industry since we did not want to leave Montana. I worked for several years with a local business. I made decent money for the area but nothing like what I used to make.

My wife and I have always loved road trips and she has always had a "thing" about large trucks and truckers. So we have decided to take the plunge and go the team route.

After much deliberation and investigation, including here, we decided on Sage Technical Services, Missoula Montana. I talked with approximately 20 recruiters, including some companies with better reputations on this site. All would accept Sage grads. The old "Chief" Devil Dice's stories helped make up our minds.

We arrived bright and early Monday, Sept 10 at 8:00AM having in our possession, our DOT Med Cards and drug screen results. Per Sage, our Montana CDL Manuals were already dogeared. Neither my wife or myself have any experience with the trucking industry. My closest encounter with trucking was acting as a convoy commander in SE Asia many many years ago My unit provided armed security to convoys of trucks resupplying bases in the boonies. We both have much to learn about trucks, airbrakes etc.

My first impression of Sage, Montana was a bit disappointing. Sage consists of a modular building fronting a dirt 5 acre "range". Two nondescript trucks and old Jim Palmer Freightliner, still painted black, attached to a van, and a red Kenworth pulling a flatbed with blocks of weights simulating cargo were parked in front. Orange Cones were scattered about. We had reservations at the DayInn Hwy 93 and I-90.

Today marked the completion of our 3rd day. We have already taken most of our CDL tests and go back to the DMV tomorrow for Hazmat. So far, both of us have been highly impressed with Sage's faculty and staff. They are genuinely interested in their student's progress and are highly flexible with their course schedule. This allows the slower students to progress at their own rate. I've done a little teaching and know its not easy working with students with great differences in social background and educational achievements. The staff a Sage makes it look easy.

We get to drive for the first time Saturday and Sunday. Yep, the school goes 7 days a week. This includes some 12 hour days. Both of us are "bushed" but we have study a bit more for tomorrow.- Hazmat looms. :shock:

Rick

You'll be fine with Haz Mat. It is not that hard. Just go with your gut. :wink:

BOL

So how long is the Sage program for in Missoula? 3 or 4 weeks? What are they charging and does that include your hotel?

It's interesting how a smaller town can have so many training resources. I think there are 3 different schools there. Yet in Austin, TX with a population of 700,000 there is 1 school and it's only been there a little over a year.

I passed Hazmat Friday morning with one missed. :lol: :lol: :lol:
I tend to make things more complicated than they are. The CDL manual does the same thing.

Sage's workbook cut out the BS. It's one of their better CDL resources as much of their CDL material is very dated- very 80s disco if you know what I mean. My only quibble with their program so far.

Watkins Shepard has a school here. There may be something a the local tech school- I don't know. There are students here from Idaho, Montana right now. My class has only myself and my wife. The class just finishing up has 5 and the class starting in a week has 6. They limit their classes to 8 max. Watkins Shepard, just down the road, has 6 in class right now.

My program is 160 hours. Tuition plus fees, DOT and drug screen run about $4200. The program guarantees over 40 hours drive time alone in the truck with an instructor- you don't share the truck with another student. My wife and I thought this route best since she thinks she will need every minute in the truck.

Finally, nope the hotel is extra. Watkins Shepard does provide a dorm room included in their fee of $4000- also all testing DMV fees and supplies.

Sage does give us the max. flexibility and individual attention but if I was doing this alone I might opt for a company program.

rjallen,

I am looking at going to the Watkins/Shepard school. How do their facilities look and what have you heard about the training.

I have driven by Watkins Shepard several times but not gone inside. The rep appears good. I believe they will not hold your hand and if you are a slow learner you MAY not pass. I believe you will spend time observing and driving in the truck. They are a good company and do give you a dorm room and there is a company car to share with the other students- re is no fast food nearby. The cost is LESS than Sage as the $4000 includes the dorm and your books and fees.

Like every company around here, their terminal has dirt parking. Admin. buildings looked good- they are not shacks. Things look in order and professional.

I think you will be a good driver after you go through the school. W&S is a good company for solos. Not for teams in my opinion.

Good Luck
Rick 8) 8) 8)

rjallen,

You mentioned that you don't feel that Watkins/Shepard is good for teams. I just read on another site that a team for W/S said that for teams it is a "gravy train". They are doing very well.

Brad

Remember I'm a newbie too :D When I talked with their recruiter, she told me my wife and I would go to a 10 day orientation then each of us would have to go alone for a month or two. Then we could team up and make a whopping .28 cpm for 6 months. After that, it would go up to the low 30s. My wife does not want to go out alone and Werner and US Xpress will start us out much higher than that.

Someone else told me teams did not get paid very well at W&S.

Please let me know what they told you. I have found the recruiters sometimes don't know what they're talking about.

Rick

Brad

I've talked with several folks around here. Seems like there are two standards for W&S trainees depending on which school. Since Sage and W&S are both in Missoula, there is some competition for students. Hires from outside schools are treated differently from grads of there own school. Just double check everything and try to get it in writing.

If you are serious I could snap a couple of shots of their terminal and dorm. and send them to you.

Rick

Its now been 1 and 1/2 weeks since we started. The previous class graduated today. All have jobs- most local and thats what they wanted. These fellows all laid off lumber mill workers. Sage was instrumental with their job shopping in all but one case. I am quite impressed at the assistance Sage provides.

We have been going every day now ten days straight and are looking forward to having the next Saturday and Sunday off :party: Our home is 150 miles away and we hope its still in one piece :roll:

Friday marks our first road instruction.

As mentioned my only quibble with Sage has been the somewhat outdated audio visual materials and, to lesser extent, outdated CDL materials. For example, there was no mention in the Sage materials concerning ABS requirements for trucks, tractors and trailers. The quality of our instructors more than makes up for this short-coming but never-the-less. Updating materials would make this a better program.

Rick

Rick how in your opinion would W/S treat the grads from their own school differently that from another school.

Thanks again,

Brad

I THINK they give a better deal to their school grads. You might be able to go out with your wife without going solo for a month if you both grad. from W&S's school as opposed to coming to the 10 day orientation from an outside school. I did talk with someone who claimed they went to the W&S school for several weeks and left by mutual consent- don't know the details. Now W&S is trying to collect additional fees. He has to start over and was at our school talking with the administrator about enrolling. Cannot give you an opinion on this person's truthfulness.

I believe the Sage route may be more forgiving for someone like my wife. More able to give her individual attention she will need in training. W&S may be the best choice for you or others. But not for us.

In any case, if I can help get more information on the school since I'm here, let me know.

Rick

PS I still think they are a straight forward company

Rick,

If I decided to go to the W/S school in late October and graduated in late November do you think that the weather would be ok for training, as in not having snow to contend with immediately when you are a new driver.

Thats great :lol: :lol: :lol: !!!!

The weather just turned towards fall yesterday. High today 63 f. We will have some more teeshirt temps. next week. Its possible you might get snow in late Oct-Nov but not usual. Mostly highs in the low 60s to mid 50s. You will have a little more rain than now.

Snow usually starts in Dec. so it will start soon after you grad.

Keep us posted on your experience and best of luck. 8)

Rick,

How is the training going at Sage?