okay... i've read just enough to be totally confused! lol

after i complete school and decide on a company to drive for, should i expect to be asked to sign a contract? most posts i've read say "never sign a contract" but i can't believe you don't have to sign something. i know as an o/o, my ex got into a couple bad leases, but if i hire on as a company driver, what can i expect?

thanks in advance...

no........

if you go to a trucking school, preferably in your area, and you pay for it yourself, either through cash, credit card, or a student loan, or even a "grant" of some sort, that loan is yours, and yours to keep forever and forever, till YOU PAY IT OFF......

now, if on the "other hand" you apply to a trucking company, and THEY send you to school, or they claim to "re-imburse you", the chances of signing a contract are all too real..........then, you are bound (in most instances) to stay employed with that company till the debt is paid in FULL............

so, best advice anyone can give is, "PAY YOUR OWN WAY"........if possible.

otherwise, kiss your life/freedom good-bye for a year or two, or three......

yesterday i found out i may qualify for a grant to do my CDL training. i'm going into town to apply this morning. tomorrow i have an appointment with IL central college in peoria, IL (anyone have any comments on their program?). they have a class starting next week. i also talked to a local guy who runs a school here. he doesn't have an open class until mid-APR, but if i qualify for the grant & can get my training free, i can wait the 2 months! lol

so... let's assume i pay for my own training and get my CDL. i'll be researching companies in the meantime, but what kind of position does that put me in when i hire-on with someone? i mean, i'll have no real driving experience. what can i expect? will i be required to sign a "drive for a year" type contract, or something similar?

and thanks for your advice!!!!!

Unfortunately some companies want you to sign a contract even if you pay your own way to through trucking school. Nationwide Express wants a six month contract that says that a new hire will pay the company $5000 if they leave within six months. This is to reimburse the company for putting you with a trainer and investing their time with you -- it has nothing to do with them paying for your trucking school. I paid my own way through trucking school and they still wanted me to sign the contract.

__________________
TNtrucker07
CDL A since 02/07
(Yes, I am a newbie)

wow...$5000 sounds unreasonable. i know 6 mos isn't that long, but still.

Good info here. If a company tries to get you hired on as a company driver, and sign a contract RUN! RUN! RUN! away from them!!! You'll find truck driving "Academies" like with swift where they teach you to drive, then TRAIN you. But have you sign a contract obligating 1 year or so. (again swift) will also use other tactics to lure, such as fronting your hotel bill while in trucking school, then deducting payments, WHILE they pay on your student loan..... Ask yourself: "Why are they trying to force and coerce drivers to stay???" Or "Do I want to drive for a company looking to remove my choice as to whether I can quit or not?" These are all sure signs that the company is going to be a miserable place to work.

Never sign a contract that you will stay so long as a company driver! Some companies will have you sign something saying you owe them $40-60 for the drug test and same for the physical if you leave within 90 days and I think that is reasonable but I would never ever sign something committing to a company for a certain amount of time.

Personally, I don;t even think that is reasonable. They have certain overhead to run their hiring process, and I don't think the driver should be on the hook for anything like a mandated test. Now if the company provides uniforms and boots, and you leave in under a certain amount of time, I can see withholding the money for that type of thing, because no one else can wear your clothing and you left in a minimum amount of time.

But drug testing, any meical or fitness testing needed, or anything of that nature is (or at least should be) the companies cost. We have had peoiple ride with our trainers and attend the company school, and then leave and that's just something that happens. We try to do a better job of selecting people based on what we learn, but we don't bill them for the schooling they got.

Look at it from the companies point of view. They are investing in you time, truck, trainer, fuel, etc. How are they going to feel if you waste their time and leave them suddenly? Put yourself in their shoes. How would you like to invest in a stock that shows promise and then it tanks the next day.

I'm sure you're not going to be happy in that investment. The choice one makes today can affect them a life time down the road. Use your brain with caution. I say this cause alot of people fall for the allure of trucking only to find out it's not for them or what they're were expecting. By that time, it can be late for a drastic change on your part especially for the company.

I'm not saying the company will go under because of you. But think about the customer they're providing a service to. It can be disrupting to them. And as we all know it's about providing a service to the customer. I guess that's why this industry has a high turn over rate.