lance
New Member
Posts: 3
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Pam
Jul 22, 2005 13:43:11 GMT -5
Post by lance on Jul 22, 2005 13:43:11 GMT -5
I just decided to forget the PITA at the other place i was considering and amd set to train with driversolutions and drive for PAM Transport. The financial deal isnt the greatest but when you work it all out its really no worse than the others.
The thing im concerned abut now is the training. It is indeed a cdl mill (I cant see how you could both learn to pass the cdl and drive even marginally in three weeks). Also wondering how they treat their drivers (they pay higher than most sponsored training jobs).
Has anyone trained with them, worked for them? Have friends who do? What kidn of rep?
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Pam
Jul 24, 2005 17:22:43 GMT -5
Post by truckertom on Jul 24, 2005 17:22:43 GMT -5
I can give you the quick rundown on CDL mills.......Don't let them push you around! You are still the customer and their paycheck comes from you. If you sit in a truckstop for anything more than a bathroom break, you are being used. If you sit in a cafe for two hours every morning, you are being used. If the school is state certified, you have a minimum ammount of hours required to satisfy the state. If they do not give you the hours the state requires, they need reported!
You have some rights! Make the school do you right.
On the other hand, don't be one of these students who want to spend the day listening to the headphones, sleeping in the back. Don't be one of these students that wont study the written materals only to gripe at the school when they can't pass a written test. Don't be one of those that shows up to class at whatever time they want to (late) then gripe about the school after they graduate.
I have one right now that is about 24 years old, and knows everything. He shot his mouth off all through the classroom telling everyone else what a "supertrucker" he was. Saturday, his first day in the truck, he was scraping gears and cussing himself. Seems his mouth overloaded his ass, so now I have to go out and scare the hell out of him to humiliate him into listening to me.
When I get that done, that is when he will begin to learn to drive. Until then, he already knows it all. This is one part of my job as a trainer I enjoy. Scaring the piss out of a young "know it all" is one way to teach him respect for others on the road. Until he learns that safety is more important that watching "Smokey and the Bandit", he isn't a trucker.
No one starts at the top. You will have to pay your dues just like everyone else does. If PAM is a company you can live with for a year, then do it. After a years experience, you can nearly pick your company (except for gigs like Mary K or Yellow Freight and others) but you will have alot more choices after a year. And one starting off place is about a good (bad) as the other.
Good luck, and keep it between the lines.
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Pam
Jul 24, 2005 18:35:20 GMT -5
Post by Fozzy on Jul 24, 2005 18:35:20 GMT -5
The best cure to shut up male wannabe supertruckers? A darn good Female Instructor that makes everything look SOOOOO easy! They not only feel really silly, they learn a little respect too!
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Pam
Jul 25, 2005 13:03:06 GMT -5
Post by truckertom on Jul 25, 2005 13:03:06 GMT -5
I know one like that, she is one great instructor. But alas, she is no longer in the school biz anymore..
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lance
New Member
Posts: 3
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Pam
Aug 3, 2005 14:31:11 GMT -5
Post by lance on Aug 3, 2005 14:31:11 GMT -5
Thanks Truckertom. I'm intimidated a bit by learning to drive so no worries about me being a know it all. In fact ive stressed more over this than anything ive ever done (and ive done quite a lot of very different and very challenging things).
My strongest desires are to learn to be a Good driver and a Safe driver before i get out there alone. And to not wreck or get lost! I have a feeling my first trip to NYC is going to scare the bejeezus out of me.
I just hope i get a trainer who takes his job seriously like you do, whom i get along with, and who wants to teach.. not run team and live in truck stops.
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Pam
Aug 3, 2005 18:10:02 GMT -5
Post by truckertom on Aug 3, 2005 18:10:02 GMT -5
"My strongest desires are to learn to be a Good driver and a Safe driver before i get out there alone."
Great attitude. You will do fine.
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