Originally Posted by BolloxReader

You might give Central Refrigerated a call, dunno if they hire in your area. 2 week CDL class, 1 year contract with a $3000 buyout if you don't want to stay for that year. Contract only becomes firm Friday evening of the first week of class, so you get your permit and a day of backing the truck before fully committing. We had 19 of 23 show up for first day, 10 remained after the first week. 1 washed out on the fitness test (torn rotator), rest were positive drug tests. 1 person washed out the second week, didn't really want to drive a truck and had a bad attitude.

Get through the 2 week course (and it is very condensed) and pass the CDL tests, you go out with a trainer for 4-5 weeks (200 driving hours). During the training you get $450 a week (or $67.xx per day).

They put you out with a trainer ASAP, only reason I'm still sitting here in Salt Lake City is because so many of the trainers took the holiday week off. The company completely reformed their training program, there are still a few less than stellar trainers out there but they've let go about 100 trainers in last 3 months. The only issue I have with the program is that someone can train after only 6 months, with 2 months of winter driving. So basically you can have rookies training rookies... but many of the trainers I've talked with here at the terminal as they went home have been here for several years or have had extensive experience before coming to Central.

The company isn't perfect by a long shot (none of them are) but I haven't heard the sort of horror stories coming out of Central that I do some of the other companies. If you're willing to work and have a clean background, they will do everything they can to prepare you for the CDL exam and then get you on the road. I can't say enough good things about the instructors, all of them have years of OTR experience and even though they thought I really needed an extra week they never gave up on me. The instructors here far and away are better than what I've seen in other walks of life. You just have to be able to absorb what they offer you fast enough to meet the deadline.

And since it's a company school, if you decide to leave before you get your experience in I really don't think you will be employable by other companies. You have a job market of one company. I ended up at Central's school because I wanted to drive for Central after reading up on all the possibilities on this forum. Not because I wanted a "free" CDL.

Central Refrigerated pushes that lease program which I would stay away from,if they don't required it like CRE,then Central Refrigerated would be ok in my book.

Originally Posted by Buffalo Chip

Believe me when I say "Pay Your Own Way" ... even if it's a CDL mill you attend ... I was so happy I took this route ... yes you will have to start out with Werner, USA, Swift or one of the other many crappy mega "Starter Companies" however when you pay your own way you can leave whenever you want to without having to "Pay Back" the company for your training if you want to leave before your contractual commitment to your carrier is meet. That "Pay Back" is always just another profit center for the company that paid for your training and will cost you more in the end than if you paid for your own training in the first place.

As for the training wage ... after on the road expenses you will be luckly if you have $50 to $100 a week to send back home ... sorry but it's the way things are done in this industry .... be prepared and hang tough till you get out on your own ... even then the first year or two are really though to get through financially ...

Just my 2 cents, hope this helps you ... good luck!

So if the company sponsored program costs 3700 and you would have to pay it back and the CDL school costs 3700 and you paid it up front what exactly is the difference?

I would encourage anybody who is making a decision about CDL schooling or becoming a trucker to do a pros/cons list and an opportunity/cost analysis based on your own situation and decide from there. The perception on this board mostly seems to be that you are always better off paying out of your own pocket if you can. That is not always the case.

Originally Posted by sharp.dressed.man

So if the company sponsored program costs 3700 and you would have to pay it back and the CDL school costs 3700 and you paid it up front what exactly is the difference?

I am not saying all however many companies spell out a higher "Pay Back" in the employment agreement if you leave early versus what you will actually pay for your own training ... read things carefully, it is a contract between you and the company ... I myself would not enter into the endentured servitued that company paid CDL training becomes for a driver. Again just my 2 cents.

One that I've been taking a look at recently after doing a lot of reading here on the forum is Prime. I know with all the companies there are a lot of different opinions, but any thoughts on Prime specifically? They seem to have one of the better training wages, and as far as schooling they don't do any payroll deductions. Work for a year and its free. Leave after 6 months and pay $1750. Otherwise total payback is something like $3900. It sounds like an alright deal to me, but I'd like to know what those of you with experience think. I definitely don't want to end up in a bad spot with a company having me over a barrel.

I think all of the companies mentioned are a good choice.....each have advantages.....here is another option if you live near Detroit? This company is highly regarded and they are a top notch company......I know 5 drivers personally, that have been with them 3 plus years and love the company:

http://www.ccjdigital.com/con-way-tr...aining-school/

Originally Posted by falconbowhunter

I'm wondering about this too. I'd like to find a CDL-training carrier that other than CR England to go to.

The risk is the same with all of them . There are too many potential causes for you to fail to complete your contract and be billed for the schooling

Originally Posted by sharp.dressed.man

So if the company sponsored program costs 3700 and you would have to pay it back and the CDL school costs 3700 and you paid it up front what exactly is the difference?

I would encourage anybody who is making a decision about CDL schooling or becoming a trucker to do a pros/cons list and an opportunity/cost analysis based on your own situation and decide from there. The perception on this board mostly seems to be that you are always better off paying out of your own pocket if you can. That is not always the case.

If you don't complete your contract the company school is useless . They won't give you certification another carrier will accept .

Originally Posted by RickG

The risk is the same with all of them . There are too many potential causes for you to fail to complete your contract and be billed for the schooling

Untrue.....risk is much greater with the carrier that looks at the training process as another revenue source vs providing them with a quality driver to haul their frieght. Too many training companies have made this a way to cover their bottom line, with cheap temp drivers and government training grant money.......if the company truely wants to make you a quality driver and long term employee the risk is much less. There will always be the person not cut out for this industry, but if you have a driver needing more training time to be sucessful, the better company will provide this extra help, thus reducing the risk taken by the student.