What Every CDL Student Should Know

In today’s economy, many people are looking at professional truck driving as a possible career.  Their first stop?  CDL truck driver training school.  Before heading to the nearest CDL school,  CDL students need to know certain, important facts before making the move to OTR trucking.

From your MVR records to filling out the truck driving job applications to choosing the right truck driving school . . . the trucking job market has changed considerably in today’s economy.

Truth About Trucking “LIVE”Blog Talk Radio’s premier trucking talk show, discussed these facts this evening plus much more.  If you’re considering a career in over the road trucking, be sure to listen to what was appropriately titled:  What Every CDL Student Needs to Know.

This one show could save you thousands of dollars.

Our upcoming shows:

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 7 PM EST – Truckers Convoy Aims to Rescue California Farmers From EPA Drought – Water restrictions that were imposed by our Federal Government in order to protect a little fish called the Delta Smelt, is putting California farmers out of business.  The situation is so bad, that a convoy of 18-wheelers are being put together in order to bring trailer loads of food to the farmers and those within the area facing the high loss of jobs and income.  Join Allen for this SPECIAL broadcast detailing how EPA regulations have made a tiny fish more important than our American farmers, and how truckers are working to bring relief to those in need.  Special guests:  JB and Fred Shaffner of The American Driver.

Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 3 PM EST :  American Trucking and Opening the Mexican Border.   Opening Mexico’s border and allowing their trucks to run through our 48 states could prove disastrous for the American driver.  Most companies and organizations write that they are against this plan, but are they really?  Or is this a plan that has been secretly building in the background for years?  With a combined driving experience of 65 years, Allen and co-host Barry Szczucki takes a look at what opening the Mexican border could do to the American trucker.  Special guest:  Daniel Audet of The Truck Star.

Come join the conversation!

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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There are those truck driving training schools that will use one technique that will insure a new drivers’ failure at a driving career every time:

Another email from a CDL graduate with the same story:

“Just because my teacher at XXXX Training School told me not to put my DUI on my application because the DUI was over 5 years old, they fired me because I did not put it down.  I was out on the road with my trainer for a week and they red flagged me and then fired me.  I can’t seem to get any trucking company to even look at me now.”

When I receive emails like this one, and I get a lot of them, it simply makes my blood boil.  As author of the first and original, Truth About Trucking, I want to reiterate the TRUTH about what some truck driving schools will do that will end your truck driving career before it even has a chance to begin.  It’s not like I haven’t already made this SCAM known, but it’s time to let it be known again.

It is true that trucking companies will normally do a back-ground check for the past 5-7 years.  The above email was sent to me by a new driver that had experienced a DUI back in 1996.  So, here’s the truth AGAIN:

The trucking company means absolutely NOTHING when it comes to the completed hiring process.  The ultimate decision will nearly always come from the insurance carrier.   The employment application will always ask the question in similar form such as, Have you ever been….?” or “Have you ever had a…?” or “Have you ever been convicted of…?” and so forth.  The key word here is:  “EVER“.

If the question is, “Have you ever been convicted of a DUI?” -  then it means “ever.”  Even if the DUI was 75 years ago, ever means ever.  By not putting it down on the application constitutes “falsifying a Commercial Motor Vehicle Application” which is a very serious offense.   State and Federal Laws are very clear about this matter:

“Any person who falsifies any information in an application or test for a commercial driver’s license shall not be licensed to operate a commercial motor vehicle, or the person’s commercial driver’s license shall be canceled, for a period of one year after the director discovers such falsification.”

These truck driving school instructors, recruiters and driver trainers know this.  By telling you not to write it down on the application because they only go back several years, is nothing but a lie and a scam.  The school still keeps your money and you could very well be in a situation where you may never find work as a truck driver.  At the minimum, you will be out of luck for at least one year.  Then, after one year has passed, you will be required to go through CDL training all over again, and yes, you will have to pay for it once more.

Because you may have driven for one or two weeks before the insurance carrier caught it, the trucking company will then turn around and place a “falsifying” report on your DAC.   All future employers will see this report and thus, the reason for not accepting you within a driving position.  Also, the HireRight DAC Trucking Solutions, who oversees the DAC report, could care less about the truth.  You have the right to place your side of the story on your DAC and try to have it removed through the use of an attorney, but this can be very time consuming and costly.

REMEMBER:  When a recruiter or truck driving school official or driver trainer tells you not to worry about writing down a violation that occurred over 5-7 years ago … they are either lying or they are just ignorant.  It is a SCAM!

Doing so, will end your driving career and landing another truck driving job could take a very long time.

ALWAYS list EVERYTHING down on the Commercial Motor Vehicle Application no matter what the offense and no matter how long ago it was.

Allen Smith

© 2009 – 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Truck Driving School Facing Lawsuit

Nu WayA Michigan truck driving school is facing a lawsuit by several students, charging that fraud was committed pertaining to the CDL training.

Former students claim that Nu-Way Truck Driver Training Centers in Livonia, Michigan is “preying on the unemployed desperate for work and leaving them in deeper debt with sub-par skills.”

Former student, Greg Adkins states that the school convinced him to enroll claiming that there would be no cost to him, by letting the trucking company pick up all the expenses.   Total cost was $6,000 and Adkins landed a job after completion of the CDL course, which paid less than $10.00 per hour.  He later lost this job due to the driving skills being inadequate.

Ambrose Law Group is representing several former students in the upcoming lawsuit, claiming:  “These are vulnerable people. These are people who are on the verge of losing their homes. These are people who have been laid off from work and there’s a lot of laid off workers here in Michigan.”

According to the Law Group, Nu-Way is in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act and that they engage in false advertising and fraud.

Nu-Way has not yet been served with the suit and has stated that if they are, they are certain they will show that no violations have been committed.

More of the story . . .

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Truck Driving School in Kentucky

Looking for a truck driving school in Kentucky?  We would recommend Truck America Training, located in Sheperdsville, KY.  Classes start every Monday, and they offer Job Placement Assistance – before, during and after training.  Considering a career in trucking? 

Their CREDENTIALS :

Licensed by:
  Kentucky State Board For Proprietary Education
  Indiana Commission on Proprietary Education

Training Programs Certified by:
  Kentucky Workforce Investment Act
  Indiana Workforce Investment Act
  Ohio Workforce Investment Act

 

Check out their website and give them a call.  They offer excellent training by qualified instructors.  Recommended truck driving school in the State of Kentucky.

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Truck Driving School Questions

As a new year for trucking approaches and you contemplate your choice for a truck driving school, here is a reminder of important questions to ask and facts to keep in mind.  There are plenty of truck driving schools across this nation…know what to look out for…what questions to ask…and as always, read every line in the contract before signing on the dotted line.

Truck Driving School Questions

Allen

The Best Truck Driving Jobs

 

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Can You Get Your CDL for Under $500?

Many newcomers to the trucking industry understand that there is a way to receive the CDL without spending thousands of dollars for a truck driving school.  On tonight’s show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE”  Allen discusses the steps that people are taking to grab their CDL for under $500.  Is it the right thing to do?   Should you receive the CDL by bypassing CDL school training and taking “easier” steps? 

If you missed the live show you can hear it now, and find out what Allen thinks about these “bypassing” steps.

 

 

Next show will be Tuesday, October 28th at 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time – “FREE CDL TRAINING” – Be sure to tune in!

Thanks to everyone for listening and your support of the show.

Donna

© 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Today Setember 30, 2008 Allen Smith Of Truth About Trucking.com and AskTheTrucker.com  was featured in Google News Alert for his Press Release. Allen continues his quest of “Raising the Standards of the Trucking Industry.

To read this entire Press Release go to:

<http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/9/prweb1384764.htm>

 === Google News Alert for: truck driving schools ===

Veteran Trucker Allen Smith Releases Audio CD’s Exposing Trucking …
PR Web (press release) – Ferndale,WA,USA
In addition to his relentless quest to educate and inform truck driving
students and new drivers about the truck driving school and trucking
company scams, …
<http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/9/prweb1384764.htm>

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I would like to tell eveyone that I’m in the process of expanding our Trucking School list.  While doing this I will be asking those interested to sign up for information regarding the approved trucking schools on this list. We will be researching the many worthy and dedicated training facilities that prove to offer a safe, quality and affordable cdl truck driving school. This is a tedious and time consuming task, but will be well worth the effort in the end.  We invite those who believe that they have a Quality and Excellent Training Program to come forward and we will review their program.

All those who have purchased the “The Truth About Trucking” will receive this updated information as it comes in, however, we will ask you to be a member of this list so that you will agree to accept information from the approved schools, should they desire to send it to you.

We are hoping to create a “match” system of schools and students. The process is still in the early stages, but I feel that when it is completed, it will be one of the most complete and thorough lists of students and schools around. Actually, I don’t believe there is anything quite like it .  We will only accept the finest trucking schools and in return the schools will have the best of the best trucking students.

Our next Blog Talk Radio Show will be the start of this new investigation. We will be interviewing a truck driving school CEO and owner. Watch for the next blog post when we will release the details of the school name and guest speaker representing the school. You will be able to call in and ask questions as well as use the “chat” mode on your computers keyboard.

I want to continually thank all of you for your trust and support in our cause to raise the standards of the trucking industry.

Allen

© 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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TruthAboutTrucking.Com is all about the TRUTH when it comes to the trucking industry.  Providing students and new drivers with the information they need in order to make the right decision about a career in trucking, Truth About Trucking has set out to raise the standards of the trucking industry.  Somebody needed to step forward and make the truck driving schools and trucking companies accountable for their actions that have led many drivers down a road of financial failure.  For three years, we have been doing just that.

Providing an endless amount of FREE information through our article writing, blog posts, newsletter, bonus reports, our talk radio show and answering hundreds of emails and returning phone calls, we want the scams of the trucking industry to know that the Truth About Trucking is fighting back for our nations’ drivers. 

Do you run a quality, reputable truck driving school or trucking company?  Are you one that does what you say you will do?  Are you a school that provides excellent training at an affordable price?  Are you a company that promises a certain amount of miles with appropriate pay, and then delivers on that promise?

If so, then we want to hear from you.  Write me directly at: allen@truthabouttrucking.com and after a very thorough investigation, we conclude that you are indeed, a quality, reputable school or company, then we will let students and new drivers know through our new link exchange program.

Let’s see if there are any truck driving schools and trucking companies out there that will accept the challenge.

To the drivers’ success,

Allen Smith

Ask The Trucker  Truth About Trucking  Truth About Trucking “LIVE”

© 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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\”Allen Smith-Rob Canyon Audio\”
We are happy to announce the 2 CD set Audio CD’s are available. There has been an overwhelming request for these and we’re glad to finally have them here for you.  The CD’s can be played and listened to at your leisure. We do strongly suggest however that you read the book ( which comes with them) because there are many links to various trucking companies and schools as well as other important references and resources that you may need. The CD’s and the book work together so you can get the most out of the information we supply for you.  Also included with the CD’s are 6 Bonus Reports which will be beneficial to everyone in trucking, including truck driving students who are investigating the thousands of CDL  truck driving schools across the country. We believe you are going to be very pleased, to say the least.

There is so much more that needs to be done.  Our book, bonuses, and audios are just the “tip of the iceburg.” We believe that if we all stand together, the scams within the industry will be abolished. The trucking industry, including the schools and companies, will be held to the highest level of integrity, treating their drivers with respect and giving them the recognition they deserve. 

Equally important, truck driving schools/ cdl training facilities will have one main priority: Teaching students how to drive safely and thoroughly. One day the CDL mills will be replaced with the finest training  sites available.

All this can be achieved if enough people join the cause. It only happens though when enough people are enlightened to the truth behind the scenes. Sadly, too many drivers discover the truth after they have been tested and tried for many years. Many times they become bitter, angry, and just give up on the industry,  not believing that their voice will change anything. They are wrong…. It can….and it will.

Soon we will have our first BLogTalk Radio show. We plan to have guests on the show who can help aid in our cause and to offer information of importance to everyone. We would like it to be a gathering where truckers and students can feel confident that the information they hear is that of credibility and  authority and can be trusted  whole heartedly. 

Another goal we would like to achieve is to create an extensive list of truck driving schools throughout the country which can be given the”stamp of approval” so to speak. This will not be an easy task however as a fair amount of research would need to be done before just “any” school would be recommended to our clients.  Right now there are many reputable schools scattered throughout the US and Canada, offering quality training at affordable prices. Unfortunatley the schools with less than adequate training have made it difficult for many of these worthy trucking schools to be recognized as the excellent training facilities which they are.  Locating  and reporting  ALL of them will be quite a challenge.

To sum it all up, we would like to change the standards within the trucking industry. We believe students should not have to worry about being scammed or ripped off from a school that they just paid thousands of dollars to for their training. We believe that truck drivers should not have to worry about being taken advantage of or lied to regarding  the promises that were made to them when they were hired. We believe this can and will be changed. We believe you can help. By voicing your opinions and experiences here and to all the other trucking blogs and forums, you will be creating a viral voice for all truck drivers and truck driving students everywhere.

Glad to see that a few of you have joined Twitter and are following us. Start writing your own posts too and get involved.

Finally, hope you enjoy the interview in the beginning of the post.  Allen was indeed honored to be chosen for this.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support and we wish you the best in trucking and your life.

God bless,

Allen and Donna Smith

 

© 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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