need it straight forward

just go to cr england to get your cdl and some experience. then find a company to go to after youdo so. youdont have alot of options. every company has its flaws. just look at the forum for bad companies. everyone is listed.hell even the o/o complain. the trick is make the best of it for yourself stay away from complaining truckers. its enough to make you want to give up. make your plan and stick toit. a little advice is good to get from vets but you still have to make a choice. cr england is just a starting point for you to get into trucking. you never know you might like it.

 

If you you really want to go to a driving school find a cc that offers the course and talk to guidance about grants. Loans work, but you do have to pay them back, good thing about gov grants is that you can defer them fo quiet a while and that would give you the time to build up experience and hopefully get a raise of some sort.

Depending on your exact circumstances, will dictate what kind of grant you can get. Between school grants and cost of living grants, you can potentally go to cc free, basically. It's all in the amount of paperwork and leg work you are willing to do. I ended up geting my AS degree, with nothing out of my pocket, alot of it was private grants, my GI bill money paid my groceries, everything else was done through the private grant I got. That included a repair bill for my car. My councilor found that grant for me.

 

I guess it comes down to 1) How bad do you want to get your license and experience? 2) How bad do you need it? If you really have to do it I would suggest taking a job with england or swift and just get it behind you. Atleast those bigger guys will pay to get you out there and feed you while there.

 

I've read your post 3 times and it aint computin' if you know Millis is top shelf why arent you going to go?

 

Sorry double post

 

From what I have heard about CRengland, if you do not lease a truck, which EVERYONE here advises against, then you get crappy miles and make no money. "Just what I have heard..."

If you can somehow get the money for schooling, there are several companies that will reemburse your tuition over a year or two. The govmt taxes the money returned though, so you don't really get it all back. But it helps.

Mikeeee

 

I also looked in to CR england, stevens and swift. Here is what I found out about all three doing my own reserch

Swift wont hire if you were fired from your last job, alot of companies wont hire if you cant show steady employment. I have been in the same field for 23 years and the longest i have been out of work was a month.

Stevens will take ANYBODY!!! just dont lie on your app and disclose EVERYTHING!!! I had to call them up and straighten out some mess up on my app "my fault" but they still accepted me for the jan 14th class in Denver. Still not sure if i will attend but still looking at other companies.

CRengland: After filling out the app and disclosing EVERYTHING I talked to their rep and they wanted me in the next class which was Dec 4th. Couldnt do it. Told them I have commintments "lease on the apt" and with the holidays i would rather wait. He told me to call back Jan 2nd and see if they have any openings. Which I am sure they will. Just a game they play. But will call when I am ready and see. If they have a opening i will go. If not I'll go to stevens.

All I want to do is get my CDL and drive!!! if the company screws me passed my breaking point,which is high, i'll walk away and find someone else. I dont expect to make a ton of money off the bat and being gone for long periods, which I am fine with, knowing what I am getting in to and just have to pay my dues and move on.

I think the problem that your going to have is your gap in employment.

 

Did you talk to Central Refrigerated? They have a pretty good reputation. Millis also has a good reputation.

Talk to the unemployment office about WIA program; free CDL school. You better make a decision or your wife will beat you with a rollin' pin.

 

If Millis accepts your application, BY ALL MEANS, GO THERE!!!! It will be your fastest way to earn an income, and not a bad one as MT pays better than most starter companies. Avoid scamming companies such as CR England and the likes. Do your research or take my word for it. I have 0 experience but have done tons of research.

Applying for grants to get either full or partial tuition to the CDL school/college of your choice is fine and dandy, but will take time, LOTS of time without pay. If you can feed your family while waiting to hear back from possible grant money, then go for it, especially if Millis turns you down.

Double clutch at the school, double clutch for your state CDL exam, double clutch w/ your trainer, SHIFT AS YOU WISH when you are in your own truck. Who will know how your shifting? Most experience drivers float gears. (Or most ones I talk to anyway).

If I were your wife, I'd be getting the rollin' pin out, LOL.

PS: If Millis turns you down, try Roehl. They have a great training school as well, but I believe you'll have to dish out more money than w/ Millis. I would consider both these companies ones that you stick with, not just start with.

Goodluck!