Truck driving school??

[THEONE]

anyone on here drive a big truck or know anyone who does? i am lookin for a school that will guarentee job placement and flexible classes since i have job at the moment.i want to give driving a big rig a shot, my dad did it for a while when i was a kid i remeber its was a very good job for him , i have decided to do it since i wanna be a better provider for my son and my current job just isnt cutting it.....if anyone knows a decent school with payment plans let me know i would prefer a place that preps you for long distance i wanna travel all over the country....

[lanning]

it doesnt really help much, but i took a class here in tennessee and i really enjoyed it. it was a 6 week class and you could take a morning or night class or if you didnt mind if it took longer there is a weekend course. it was very easy to find a job once i finished and learned alot from it

[THEONE]

it doesnt really help much, but i took a class here in tennessee and i really enjoyed it. it was a 6 week class and you could take a morning or night class or if you didnt mind if it took longer there is a weekend course. it was very easy to find a job once i finished and learned alot from it

so you found work right out of school? how are you liking it? are you a local driver or do you travel long distance?

[lanning]

i actually finished the class early bc i found a job 2 weeks before it was done. i worked for star transportation for a little while out of nashville. when you start working for a company and you dont have driving experience you have to run with a trainer for the first month or so. the trainer i had was an asshole and eventually i just got tired of it and quit. alot of people love it but its just not for some people

[THEONE]

i actually finished the class early bc i found a job 2 weeks before it was done. i worked for star transportation for a little while out of nashville. when you start working for a company and you dont have driving experience you have to run with a trainer for the first month or so. the trainer i had was an asshole and eventually i just got tired of it and quit. alot of people love it but its just not for some people

so are you still driving?i can deal with a asshole trainer for a month lol

[lanning]

so are you still driving?

i dont drive 18 wheelers anymore but i was lucky enough to find a job with a local blood bank and i drive their buses and make sure everything is up to par on inspections and stuff like that

[lanning]

lol yeah i could have put up with him but i honestly got tired of being away from my family and friends, its lonely as fuck too

[THEONE]

lol yeah i could have put up with him but i honestly got tired of being away from my family and friends, its lonely as fuck too

i know it gets lonely,but i only plan on doing it for a few years and saving every penny and getting everything set for my sons future so its totally worth it in the end in my case. and i dont have to many friends i hang out with locally so it should be easy for me, im hoping to find a job with medical for myself and my son and decent pay and a good truck i know i can do the work and put in the time,thats how im built what ever job i have i give 100% and strive to be the best..call me a suck up its just the way i am,im a workaholic lol

[ludeguy420]

my ass hole of a dad drives a truck an when i was younger i never got to see him... an with you having a son you ave to look at it that way to

[lanning]

i can totally understand doing it for your family. i had just turned 21 when i started and didnt have anything to save for. you gotta do what you gotta do for your family tho. thats definatly the way to go tho by going to a school to get your license

[ludeguy420]

yeah i agree with you.. maybe he will be a father instead of a dad ( an there is a huge difference between a father an a dad).... an take his son with him some times...

[lanning]

yeah i agree with you.. maybe he will be a father instead of a dad ( an there is a huge difference between a father an a dad).... an take his son with him some times...

true that, alot of companys are pretty good about working with you and letting family ride with you

[ludeguy420]

yeah thats true... but i know you gotta do what you gotts do.. shit i work at mcdonalds these days just to pay bills.. but hey thats life its a bitch take what it gives you an roll with it

[THEONE]

my ass hole of a dad drives a truck an when i was younger i never got to see him... an with you having a son you ave to look at it that way to

i have spoke to my son about it and hes only 6 now but seems to get it and knows whatever free time i might get i will spend with him and he also knows that most of the pay will go to his account and is for him and he also knows that his daddy is broke now,he also knows that i have given 3 years of everything for him i have passed up jobs and friends and even relationships for him and now im a fri,sat and sunday daddy,trust me he knows its all for him and at anytime he says daddy i need you here im done and i will be there for him.

[ludeguy420]

i have spoke to my son about it and hes only 6 now but seems to get it and knows whatever free time i might get i will spend with him and he also knows that most of the pay will go to his account and is for him and he also knows that his daddy is broke now,he also knows that i have given 3 years of everything for him i have passed up jobs and friends and even relationships for him and now im a fri,sat and sunday daddy,trust me he knows its all for him and at anytime he says daddy i need you here im done and i will be there for him.

thats a father in my eyes reps to you my friend

[lanning]

you can find a company to work with you, the company i worked for would do their best to have you home atleast one night a week if not 2. we mainly ran east coast but i stayed northeast up around new jersey and that area. you can as many miles as you want, alot of people pass up miles

[ludeguy420]

yeah they do

[THEONE]

yeah thats true... but i know you gotta do what you gotts do.. shit i work at mcdonalds these days just to pay bills.. but hey thats life its a bitch take what it gives you an roll with it

yeah man i hear ya,but i will say right now im breakin free of the whole take what life gives and roll with it,im gonna be 32 next month and i kinda feel like a wasted so much time thinking that way,i have wasted most of my life just getting by and dealing with my current hand..its enough already before you know it your 10 years older and fuckin pissed about everthing.hmmm guess my recent accident knocked some courage in me hmmmm....

[ludeguy420]

yeah man i hear ya,but i will say right now im breakin free of the whole take what life gives and roll with it,im gonna be 32 next month and i kinda feel like a wasted so much time thinking that way,i have wasted most of my life just getting by and dealing with my current hand..its enough already before you know it your 10 years older and fuckin pissed about everthing.hmmm guess my recent accident knocked some courage in me hmmmm....

yeah some times it hits you hard like loosing a job or family member.. or what ever it may be.. but i agree with you 100%....but fir now.. im going with what life gives me iim young an dumb.. an i will admite it... but i cant bitch to much about life at the moment.. i happy with what i have right now except my car but atleast i have one

[THEONE]

yeah some times it hits you hard like loosing a job or family member.. or what ever it may be.. but i agree with you 100%....but fir now.. im going with what life gives me iim young an dumb.. an i will admite it... but i cant bitch to much about life at the moment.. i happy with what i have right now except my car but atleast i have one

enjoy your young and dumb phase man,dont piss it away like i did....have fun and keep a watchful eye out for great opportunities aswell....

[ludeguy420]

enjoy your young and dumb phase man,dont piss it away like i did....have fun and keep a watchful eye out for great opportunities aswell....

im trying not to piss it away.. every body goes throught there young an dumb stages.. some never get out of it.. but in mot as that dumb... i know a little bit about life.. at 16 i bought my first car an had to pay my own insurance an my phone bill... which isn't that bad.. ut atleats i bought my own shit unlike alot of people i know

[quickdodge®]

I've been driving a tractor trailer now for 4 years. Later, QD.

[cbr900rrguy]

there is middle georgia technical college in warner robins, georgia that offers a CDL program. my dad took the class a few years ago, got his license, and started driving long distances. he loved it and he would always send us postcards from different states. he actually wanted me to do it, but i ended up joining the navy. he has more respect now for 18-wheeler drivers now that he has been through it. it really opened up his mind and he said there's nothing like it. so i say go for it man and if you don't want to be far from your family i'm sure some companies allow you to just deliver places within state or find one that lets you come home every weekend. good luck man.

[quickdodge®]

i'm sure some companies allow you to just deliver places within state or find one that lets you come home every weekend. good luck man.

It's not that easy. Later, QD.

[THEONE]

i spoke to a instructor at a school in buford,they offer week end courses and job placement and otr and reigonal placement,the price is 4995.00 or 3500.00 paid in full. not sure if i will go there i would like to.

[Echonova]

i spoke to a instructor at a school in buford,they offer week end courses and job placement and otr and reigonal placement,the price is 4995.00 or 3500.00 paid in full. not sure if i will go there i would like to.

Daily's I'm guessing.?.?.? They don't guarantee job placement, but I don't think any school will.

[FAM0U5]

Ill give some insight to this since Im a son of a ex truck driver.


Being a truck driver is going to be a very stressful lifestyle, I know cause every summer I could I went with my dad it didn't matter since I was with him. But before summer I would see him only every 2 weekends out of the month and about 5 hr tops, and with these days are like with recession and all. You won't be getting good money cause most of the pay goes in the fule and depending what you carry makes a huge deal but since your new you wont be getting that higher pay loads. Also you don't own a truck or a trailer you be getting even less.. This kind of work is whole deal of stress but somewhat worth it, if you want more info PM me I would help you as much I can possibly can... hope I was any kind of help.

[Echonova]

I drive a truck, but I ain't like most on the road. I don't haul cargo and I rarely leave Georgia.

[quickdodge®]

You won't be getting good money cause most of the pay goes in the fule and depending what you carry makes a huge deal but since your new you wont be getting that higher pay loads.

I don't know whether or not your dad was a company driver or not (sounds like he was to me), but fuel has no bearing on your pay. Company drivers do NOT pay for fuel. The company does. Also, what you haul has no bearing on what you make either. Unless you're an independent O/O and you set your own price. So the above is not true at all.

Also you don't own a truck or a trailer you be getting even less..

In most cases, it doesn't matter if you're an O/O or a company driver. It would come out the same. I've had many O/O's find out how much I make and try to get rid of their trucks to get on the account I'm on. O/O's make more initially because they pay for everything; maintenance, repairs, fuel, etc. Company drivers don't pay for shit.

Later, QD.

[THEONE]

Daily's I'm guessing.?.?.? They don't guarantee job placement, but I don't think any school will.

well why did he say that? i remeber my dad got a job before he even finished school. how difficult is it to land a job after training?i dont want it to be like my ABC bartending school waste of time and money classes...

[quickdodge®]

A lot of schools do job placement. Several trucking companies have their own schools that you go to and they take the tuition out of your check. Takes one year to pay back and then you're done. Luckily I never went to any school. But in these days and times, I'd stick to being a company driver. Even during these days, my money soared to more than I've ever made. Last winter it wasn't uncommon for me to have multiple $400+/day several days a week. The account I'm on has been good enough to me to be able to afford being off for these four months as well. Later, QD.

[THEONE]

A lot of schools do job placement. Several trucking companies have their own schools that you go to and they take the tuition out of your check. Takes one year to pay back and then you're done. Luckily I never went to any school. But in these days and times, I'd stick to being a company driver. Even during these days, my money soared to more than I've ever made. Last winter it wasn't uncommon for me to have multiple $400+/day several days a week. The account I'm on has been good enough to me to be able to afford being off for these four months as well. Later, QD.

do you have and suggestions on schools or companies that will work with me?i need the schooling for a liscense and dont mind working off the schooling,but am really wanting to work for a company with medical for my son and my self.

[quickdodge®]

Like I said, I didn't go through a school, so I don't know of anything on that front. There are several companies that are known in the trucking world as "starter companies." These are companies that most truckers talk down on and new folks get on with them because they are easy to get on with. You drive a couple of years with them to get some miles under your belt and then you leave them for a better company. I am with one of those starter companies and plan on being there for as long as I can. They have really taken care of me and the money I'm at with them is cream of the crop. Starter companies include Schneider, Swift, JB Hunt, Werner. Next step would be the US Express, Knight Transportation, Roehl. To me it's all what you put into it. Later, QD.

[cbr900rrguy]

it's not that hard to find a job once you get done with school. my dad drove for swift and covenant. i don't know about everyone else, but this whole "your dad being gone puts a burden on the family blah blah blah" is BS. first of all most of you guys are older so it wouldn't affect you. now it's a different story if you have a child, but when he/she gets older they will understand why you did it for the sake of the family. i mean it would be just like getting deployed. my dad started driving when i was 17-18 and hell if anything it gave me more freedom. i could stay out with friends later and it did make me more responsible. if it's something your heart is set on go for it. don't let anyone tell you any different. if you want to go to school go to school. before i joined the navy i was thinking about going, but the school i was going to go to i couldn't get HOPE cause my HOPE grant from going to that school had ran out and it was going to cost me roughly $4,500.00 out of pocket to get my CDL.

[quickdodge®]

but this whole "your dad being gone puts a burden on the family blah blah blah" is BS.

It's not BS. It does put a personal burden on the family. Especially a young family. When I first started driving, I had a five year old and a one year old. You have no idea how hard it was to leave them not knowing when I would see them again. It may be two weeks, it may be four weeks or more. Typically the truck driver is home but four/five days a month. That's two months out of an entire year.

It is hard on the driver because he is out there driving half the day and the other half is spent resting/sleeping. In a truck. Without a wife/girlfriend and children. They're going on about their lives (as best they can) without you around. You're stuck.

It's hard on the wife (if she is also a mother) because she is at home with the husband to help take care of things. Children especially. She is having to raise them by herself. Not easy by any means. Emotions run rampant as well. It doesn't matter if your relationship is strong as an ox. Try going a month without seeing your significant other. The emotional support isn't there as well as physical support.

It's hard on the children just as bad. Mainly the younger ones. They practically grow up wondering who you are. You have to watch them grow up via photos. All kinds of missed events in their lives.

It's not an easy life to be a trucker. It's fun in that you get to see the open road and things you may have thought you'd never see. My first month I saw Niagra Falls, Canada, NYC, The entire new England area, walked up and down the beaches of the Great Lakes, shared roads with original Amish people and loads of other cool stuff.

But to say there is no burden in the family is completely crap. Later, QD.

[Echonova]

well why did he say that? i remeber my dad got a job before he even finished school. how difficult is it to land a job after training?i dont want it to be like my ABC bartending school waste of time and money classes...

do you have and suggestions on schools or companies that will work with me?i need the schooling for a liscense and dont mind working off the schooling,but am really wanting to work for a company with medical for my son and my self.

Like I said, I didn't go through a school, so I don't know of anything on that front. There are several companies that are known in the trucking world as "starter companies." These are companies that most truckers talk down on and new folks get on with them because they are easy to get on with. You drive a couple of years with them to get some miles under your belt and then you leave them for a better company. I am with one of those starter companies and plan on being there for as long as I can. They have really taken care of me and the money I'm at with them is cream of the crop. Starter companies include Schneider, Swift, JB Hunt, Werner. Next step would be the US Express, Knight Transportation, Roehl. To me it's all what you put into it. Later, QD.

^^^ w0rd. I went through Daily's, my company paid for my training and had a truck waiting for me to drive. Daily's will help fill out (and have on hand) apps from many large companys. That being said, Werner was the only company that actually sent a recruiter to our school to speak to the whole class. Years ago there would have been 15 companys there trying to get every warm body they could. In these hard times, a lot of people are going thinking it's easy money. They don't last.

I was approached by Werner, Fed Ex, and two local outfits offering me a job. They went to the instructors and asked who the best in the class were, and talked to us individually. I didn't think my boss would appreciated me taking another job after paying for my school. LOL.

BTW: A lot of the companies QD listed will pay for your schooling if you stay with them a year or two. You pay for school upfront, they reimburse you over time.

[cbr900rrguy]

first of all most of you guys are older so it wouldn't affect you. now it's a different story if you have a child, but when he/she gets older they will understand why you did it for the sake of the family.

QD, no offense, but you missed that part. mad respect to truckers though, but on the other hand the ones that don't go 65 like they're supposed to and haul ass behind cars and use the far left lane when they should stay in the first two suck.

[quickdodge®]

QD, no offense, but you missed that part.

I read it, but I believe I just misunderstood it. That's on me, man. Later, QD.

[cbr900rrguy]

naw it's straight man. no hard feelings haha

[Greddypacked]

anyone on here drive a big truck or know anyone who does? i am lookin for a school that will guarentee job placement and flexible classes since i have job at the moment.i want to give driving a big rig a shot, my dad did it for a while when i was a kid i remeber its was a very good job for him , i have decided to do it since i wanna be a better provider for my son and my current job just isnt cutting it.....if anyone knows a decent school with payment plans let me know i would prefer a place that preps you for long distance i wanna travel all over the country....

If you do it and get no accidents, no speeding tickets, get load there on time, and do it for a little over a year you can get PAID PAID PAID. Then you can actually do local, and make some mad money and get home every night to see your family even weekends off (a truck drivers dream lol)... BUT here's the catch. The really only way to get this you will have to work your arse off that 1 year to 2 years and prove to the trucking business you mean business. Then you get your local job your set. If you have no tickets, no accidents, a great driving reference, and a little over 1 year experience w/ a truck driving degree, should be no problem getting a local job that pays. Alot of drivers dont have what it takes to do that, and some get in an accidents, to many speeding tickets, left loads, abanondon a load or truck, so they miss that golden chance. If you do work your arse off and do it wisely you will get the better jobs. Dont expect it to be a walk in the park though. Since you have a son, you will need someone to babysit him and let him do his schooling. Never take your kid out of school, education is golden these days and w/out it is very bad. Goodluck to you w/ what ever you do.

Btw I have a little over 6 months OTR experience w/ only one speeding ticket that was in INDIANA and was BS lol. Story of ticket: I drove from S.C. up to Indiana in one haul and was only 10 miles away from my drop. I was excited making almost 200 dollars in one haul or so... im a bit jumpy and excited. This other truck driver gets behind me on a back road country road and he's really on my tail wanting to go faster. I dont see a speedlimit sign so I go eh must be 65 in these parts. I go up to 65 and pass this blue Mustang (new body style) driving on the other side. BAH he immediatley does a u-turn and puts on his blues. He pulls me over at the first speedlimit sign on that road. Its a 55 mph road and he's writing me a ticket for 65 in a 55 zone. Cops dont like speeding truck drivers which im not but I didnt know the speed and should of kept it lower. I plead and ask him to slap me on the wrist and let me out of this one. He says I feel bad but our Captain says we are being to easy on drivers and need to ticket them. So I get ticketed and was very upset but 10 mph on your driving record isnt bad. Anyways since I still have a good record and put in my 2 weeks when I was moving on (doing other profession atm), I can still get back in the business. If you have another profession you seek, or have family emergency while on the road, still leave in a good way so you can always go back to it if you want. Great business if you have what it takes though, and can be very fun.