Training Cost

This may sound insane but I would recommend that you pay for your own school because some of these companies you want to work for offer school tuition reimbursement. I wouldn't worry about the job placement. Because either way your gonna pay it, either with a contract that'll be taken out of your check or if you get mad and decide to leave (very probable) you won't have to have that supposed "Contract" over your head. Do what you want but if I were you I would pay it outright now if you can swing it. These same companies that offer "training" will hire you straight from school I guarantee it.

Comment By:
VM on Thu, Oct 05 2006 @ 5:02 AM [AKST]

VM is right, if you can afford to pay out of pocket do it. Because if you take the training offered by the trucking companies, you will work for a very low rate of pay for at least the first year and they will run you real hard for that year. You will have to sign a contract basically saying you will work for them for a set period of time or pay them for the training.So by the time your done with that first year you will have paid that $5700 and then some. When you pay out of pocket you can pick where to work and quit when you want. Just keep in mind that the first year in trucking is the hardest. It's generally a safe bet that newbies will be looking for a different company before that year is up. I know I was, my wife wanted to quit before her first year on her own was over(we teamed for 5 yrs before trying solo), and I'm sure alot of others on here wanted to quit. After that first year is over you will be doing everything with ease that was so hard at the start.

Comment By:
roadhzrd on Thu, Oct 05 2006 @ 2:45 PM [AKST]

Thanks for the backup Roadhzrd, its not that I'm trying to scare the rookies away its just that I tell it like it is whether you want to hear it or not. My first year was the hardest also and I agree with what you said 190%. I just hate to see other people go through the same bullshit I went through when I started. I'm a whole lot wiser about this industry now of when I started. I even dispatch every once in a while. So Nitro please I am telling you from experience I would STRONGLY recommend that you go to a private school for your CDL..VM-out!

Comment By:
VM on Sat, Oct 07 2006 @ 3:06 AM [AKST]

Thanks again for the advice I got the message loud and clear. I did call Schneider and they told me that they pay for the training and do not require a contract or pay back if I were to quit. I would plan on staying around if they were to give me a chance. The big hang-up I have with them is that they want me to live within 50mi. of the I-5 corridor. I am planing on relocating to northern Idaho near Lewiston. Swift is located there and they for sure require a contract, they told me if I paid cash up front ($2900) that they would fully reimburse me after 6 months. I also contacted May Trucking and they told me I would need to live near one of their terminals. When I talked to CR England they told me I could take the truck home on my days off, but they keep drivers out for a long time. The jury is still out...

Comment By:
jn on Mon, Oct 09 2006 @ 12:22 AM [AKST]