Today I ran out to get my physical done, it was at an urgent care style location, so it was no appointments needed, first come, first served. Which of course means I sat around for around 90 minutes before they got to me. Since a drug test was a part of this, and I drank an extra bottle of water on the way there, by the time they got to me, I was more than ready to give them a sample.
The physical done, it was off to get fingerprinted for my background check. This process actually started last night with an online form and credit card payment. Today it was just a quick visit, but I was a bit hard to find the place since it was in suite 250, and the doors started out at 2A on the second floor.
That knocked out, all I have to do is wait for the results. Class will start at 8AM Monday morning, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Paying for it
Today I went over to talk to the head of the school, WW, I was impressed with his get it done attitude and with what the program was like. He recommended picking back up my haz-mat (hazardous materials) endorsement, not just because it is a good extra to have, but because it includes a Federal background check. So basically it is saying that the federal government feels I am not a threat. I will also need to get a DOT physical to start driving again, so a bit more money out the door.
After talking, it was over to the office to pay for the tuition, then home to relax.
After talking, it was over to the office to pay for the tuition, then home to relax.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A Look at the Schools
The first school that I looked at was the one I originally got my CDL from. Back in 2000, it cost me $4365 to take the classes at Roadmaster in Columbus. Calling them up today I found that it would cost me $4995 if I paid with cash or cash or credit card, or $6495 if I financed it through them. They had a similiar price difference back then and I still feel that it is just a way to milk a student for more money when they can't pay for it on their own. I did try for a discount since I had been a student there before, but the answer was no to that. So at that cost, plus lodging and food for the 3-4 weeks of training just makes it a bit expensive this time around.
Looking closer to home I found a company that back in 2000 looked a little too unrespected at the time. Today Trainco is no small operation, they have a fairly large operation in Perrysburg Township, and have quite a few companies recruiting from them. So checking out their program it would take me four weeks to get through it. It would also be a lot cheaper than down at Roadmaster, $3995 if I charged it and $3395 if I paid with a cash or a check. I have at least one friend that went to Trainco and then went on to drive for Werner, and she seems to have liked it so it is definitly a possibility.
I then remembered that there was a truck driving program at Owens Community College. Looking at their program it is only three weeks long, and after calling, the cost is $3395 even if I charge it, but will be going up to $3995 after the end of June. After calling the Werner reruiting department to make sure that the Owens program was approved, I decided that it was the way to go.
Looking closer to home I found a company that back in 2000 looked a little too unrespected at the time. Today Trainco is no small operation, they have a fairly large operation in Perrysburg Township, and have quite a few companies recruiting from them. So checking out their program it would take me four weeks to get through it. It would also be a lot cheaper than down at Roadmaster, $3995 if I charged it and $3395 if I paid with a cash or a check. I have at least one friend that went to Trainco and then went on to drive for Werner, and she seems to have liked it so it is definitly a possibility.
I then remembered that there was a truck driving program at Owens Community College. Looking at their program it is only three weeks long, and after calling, the cost is $3395 even if I charge it, but will be going up to $3995 after the end of June. After calling the Werner reruiting department to make sure that the Owens program was approved, I decided that it was the way to go.
Monday, May 26, 2008
An Unexpected Development
Today the recruiter from Werner gave me a call and let me know what I would need to do to get back driving with them. Unfortunitly since it has been over five years since my last in truck driving experience, I will have to start over from scratch. While I was expecting the need to take a refresher course, and probably do some time with a trainer to make sure that I am up to snuff, I most certainly was not expecting this.
So in order to get back in a truck with Werner, I will need to go back to a driving school, and then go out with a trainer for 275 hours before I would beon the road alone again. After checking around a bit I found that this was pretty much standard due to insurance issues. So the extra I have been paying to keep my CDL was basically wasted, of course a Class B job may not be a stringent.
Now to look at schools.
So in order to get back in a truck with Werner, I will need to go back to a driving school, and then go out with a trainer for 275 hours before I would beon the road alone again. After checking around a bit I found that this was pretty much standard due to insurance issues. So the extra I have been paying to keep my CDL was basically wasted, of course a Class B job may not be a stringent.
Now to look at schools.
Looking for a New Direction
Today I decided to go with a new direction in my job search. Well it could actually be looked at as an old direction since I have done it before, but it is time to go back.
In August of 2000 I went to the Roadmaster Driving School in Columbus, Ohio. I had decided to that it was time for me to try truck driving, and learned how at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. After graduating in September of that year I went off to drive with Werner Enterprises, went through their training program and proceeded to drive over 100,000 miles for them before deciding I wanted to be around people more. I would drive using my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) one more time between then and now at a materials company near Toledo. There I drove gravel train in Michigan and Ohio until I got tired of chipping frozen clay out of dump boxes in the freezing weather of February 2003.
Both of these jobs earned me a lot of money, and yet neither was quite what I was looking for, thing was, I wanted a life as well. It is very difficult to meet someone when you are never around and are always working. Which brings us to the present after detouring through getting my two year degree from Owens Community College, attending Bowling Green University, and working several different jobs along the way. Since January I have been looking for another job that would hopefully turn into a career, and fell woefully short of that ideal.
Since today I now have a wonderful girlfriend, I no longer have to worry about getting a life, now I need that income. So now is the time to take another look at truck driving. I kept my CDL all this time, and have stayed fairly current on the changes in the law and equipment. So hopefully after a refresher course I will be back riding the roads in no time.
As a side note, I decided that I would start a blog about driving since so many times when I was originally out over the road, I would bring home stories about what I had seen, and so many times people said, "you should write that down," and this time I plan to.
In August of 2000 I went to the Roadmaster Driving School in Columbus, Ohio. I had decided to that it was time for me to try truck driving, and learned how at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. After graduating in September of that year I went off to drive with Werner Enterprises, went through their training program and proceeded to drive over 100,000 miles for them before deciding I wanted to be around people more. I would drive using my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) one more time between then and now at a materials company near Toledo. There I drove gravel train in Michigan and Ohio until I got tired of chipping frozen clay out of dump boxes in the freezing weather of February 2003.
Both of these jobs earned me a lot of money, and yet neither was quite what I was looking for, thing was, I wanted a life as well. It is very difficult to meet someone when you are never around and are always working. Which brings us to the present after detouring through getting my two year degree from Owens Community College, attending Bowling Green University, and working several different jobs along the way. Since January I have been looking for another job that would hopefully turn into a career, and fell woefully short of that ideal.
Since today I now have a wonderful girlfriend, I no longer have to worry about getting a life, now I need that income. So now is the time to take another look at truck driving. I kept my CDL all this time, and have stayed fairly current on the changes in the law and equipment. So hopefully after a refresher course I will be back riding the roads in no time.
As a side note, I decided that I would start a blog about driving since so many times when I was originally out over the road, I would bring home stories about what I had seen, and so many times people said, "you should write that down," and this time I plan to.
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