What to do??????

**viperrts** · 09.07.2012

Here's one for ya to give your opinion to. I'm 37 with a wife and a 5 year old girl. I have limited options where I live for work, but a factory that is about $14.00 an hour hired me, but can't tell me when I am to start because of them laying off people. So far, the date is into next year. There is a college here in town that offers truck driving school, but no trucking company around here will hire you unless you have at least one year of experience. I have been approved with Central Refrigerated and since I live in Iowa, I can get a regional route where I am home once a week. Do I take the job with Central and get my year experience so I can come back here and get a job driving local easily? Or do I go to the local college and take a chance on not getting a job afterwards? Or do I wait around and see if I get called back to the factory job? With the internet, I can see my wife and daughter with Skype and once a week, and it would only be a year to pay off my schooling through Central. Is it worth it? What are your thoughts??????

Thanks!

**STexan** · 09.07.2012

There are many more driving options for new drivers besides Central. Don't rush into them because they are the first to pre-approve you. You considered TMC? They have a pretty good/reliable weekend home policy and IA is obviously a good home location for them. If you have a recent, successful CDL school certification and CDL and a good driving record and live in a reasonable area YOU WILL GET HIRED by someone when you're ready. If the finances will allow you to attend a good school nearby, do so, enjoy your time with wife and girl, and in the mean time put out more feelers.

Whereabouts in IA are you?

**sherlock510** · 09.07.2012

From what i've heard going through company sponsored truck driver training can lead to trouble. They might want you to stick it out with them for 8 months to a year so idk. Imagine if you absolutely hate it, you're either stuck or you quit.

After quitting, better believe they will send you a bill of what you owe for the schooling and they might even ding your DAC. Its risky, I'd go with a private school (or a CC) and take your chances with a company that will hire straight from graduating.

Just my take on it.

**OldDude50** · 09.07.2012

I would go to the local school for your CDL training and then you'll have alot more options as to where you can go for a year or so for experience, without being under contract with Central to pay off your training. Don't know what your situation is but if your factory job can't give you a specific start date and they're laying off, that can't be a very "sure" thing imo.
After a year or more of TT experience you'll have that under your belt when you talk to the local companies.
Good Luck!

**joseph1135** · 09.07.2012

Sticking it out with your first company isn't a bad thing. It allows to to grow as a driver without having to figure out new policies and procedures while you're trying to figure out how to drive. Plus you stay a year. You get all the bennies from being there a year.

**CondoCruiser** · 09.07.2012

I'd go with the college and then tough it out over the road for one year and go from there. You can look on these long haul trucking websites and see a map of their hiring area's. My last company was four states away.

Then I would consider moving within commuting distance of local opportunity. If you want a good paying local job consider LTL and work your way into a P&D driver.

**Aaron062** · 09.07.2012

Only do the trucking company training if you need to for financial reasons, Central does not have the best reputation and if you don't have any DL, Or criminal record problems you're choices are a much better after you graduate from your local college. I maybe forced to work for CRST not a good reputation either. do you research and call recruiters get the facts..

**CondoCruiser** · 09.07.2012

Originally Posted by Aaron062

Only do the trucking company training if you need to for financial reasons,

Actually anyone can get a Stafford loan for a community college and payback doesn't have to start until 6 months after graduation. It's a much better financing option for someone with no cabbage.

**THEPRIZEFIGHTER** · 09.08.2012

Alot of states will pay for your schooling if your unemployed. Here in Ohio they call the program WIA. (Workforce Investment Act) I have a buddy that went that route and went to the same school I went to, it didn't cost him a dime. From what I've found around here 1 year over the road will get you in with some local companys, but most of them seem to be bottom feeders. I would plan on sticking it out for 2 years if you want to get a good local job. Of corse by then you'll probrably have got hooked like me and not want to go local.