Well hope has been restored once again... I have a co-signer, but instead of co-signing for a student loan, she offered to get a signature loan with a lower interest rate. So I decided to go to C1 Trucking here in my city (North Little Rock) rather than driving 2 hours to Memphis for school. Plus the cost was almost 50% cheaper this way too so it's looking like it will all work out after all.

Originally Posted by DaReallyst

Well hope has been restored once again... I have a co-signer, but instead of co-signing for a student loan, she offered to get a signature loan with a lower interest rate. So I decided to go to C1 Trucking here in my city (North Little Rock) rather than driving 2 hours to Memphis for school. Plus the cost was almost 50% cheaper this way too so it's looking like it will all work out after all.

Great news, good luck!

excellent, keep us updated!

Originally Posted by RoadCall

Great news, good luck!

Originally Posted by ATL-1

excellent, keep us updated!

Thanks guys

Originally Posted by DaReallyst

Well as fate would have it, my trucking career has stalled out once again
I knew it was all too good to be true. Got an email from my recruiter at Road Masters today (normally she calls when it's good news lol) saying that as she was wrapping up my arrangements to start school on the 11th, her placement officer informed her that due to my student loans, I will need a co-signer. She was being really helpful though saying that if she needed to talk to whoever I was trying to get to co-sign she would explain to them that I already have a job lined up.

At this stage in the game, I really think it's about time to throw in the towel. My only option as of right now is going to Diesel Driving Academy which I really really really don't want to do.The tuition is $10,200 and the program is 20 weeks if you go during the day and 30 weeks if you go at night. If I didn't need to get some cash flow going to relieve the pressure off my wife, I would jump on it, but 20 weeks is a long time compared to 3 week programs out there.

Tomorrow I'm going to call the VA and see how far my application has gotten for a post 9/11 GI Bill extension (I maxed out my Montgomery GI Bill on my first degree and partial on a second degree that I still haven't completed). If the VA turns me down it's most likely a wrap for me. I did think about doing it on my own but I wouldn't have a truck to take the test in plus I really would like to learn the proper way of doing things especially backing.

This is really frustrating. I would have never thought it would be this hard to get into trucking. I understand the importance of the job, the responsibility and the danger of it as well. But seeing how difficult it is to get into it makes me wonder how in the hell did some of the truckers I know and/or have seen ever got started. The best rejection I have gotten thus far came from Arkansas's Truck Driver Training - Pilot Initiative program. They were originally looking for 300 candidates then they increased it to 400 because of the demand for truckers. You had to go through the Dept of Workforce Services to apply and if selected, they sent you to a 3 week school, all expenses paid and at the completion of school, you had 90 days to get hired on by one of the trucking companies that was apart of the program, companies like Maverick, Tysons, STG transport, and others. Well I went in to apply and the lady (who was the nicest lady you could ever meet) had me fill out the application and then take a series of test. The test where about 25 to 30 questions each on the subjects of Math, Reading comp, and one they called locations but it was basically reading a diagram, chart, map, or some type of graphic and answering questions by locating the answers on the diagrams. I asked her what score did I need to have to pass since the max score was 7 and she told me I needed a 3 or 4 to be considered. I scored perfect 7's on all three test and the lady acted like that was hardly ever done. She assured me there shouldn't be any problems getting selected with my app and test scores.
Then the letter came and it read:
Dear Mr. Barnes
Thank you for your application to the Truck blah blah blah. There has been much interest in the program. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate all who apply and have to choose those that appear most likely to successfully complete the program.
Though you were not selected to participate in this training, we commend you for your initiative in applying... blah blah blah

WTF!! How can you have perfect scores and not be likely to successfully complete the program???
I'm 33 years old, did 7 years in the navy right out of high school as an Aviation Electrician, 5 years at my last job as a graphic/web designer, I've been unemployed since the end of March and this has been the longest I have been without a W2 job (I do freelance work) since I was 14! IDK... this is about to push me to drink lol

$10,200


You might check out a Community college.. or CR England driving school. I think I saw their tuition was $2995.00 at 18% intrest or $1995.00 cash.. If you pay cash I doubt you would be obligated to drive for them I suspect.. just a thought.. But that is a $8000 difference.. thats a lot of $

Originally Posted by D33RHUNT3R

$10,200


You might check out a Community college.. or CR England driving school. I think I saw their tuition was $2995.00 at 18% intrest or $1995.00 cash.. If you pay cash I doubt you would be obligated to drive for them I suspect.. just a thought.. But that is a $8000 difference.. thats a lot of $

Thanks Deer Hunter, I will give CR England a call. I found out about a couple of other schools here in Arkansas too that I'm going to call. DDA will definitely be my last resort.

Originally Posted by DaReallyst

Thanks Deer Hunter, I will give CR England a call. I found out about a couple of other schools here in Arkansas too that I'm going to call. DDA will definitely be my last resort.

Let me know what you find out please I would be very intrested.. thanks

Originally Posted by D33RHUNT3R

Let me know what you find out please I would be very interested.. thanks

I called U of A Fort Smith today about their program. Still haven't gotten a chance to talk to anyone though. Here is the site, the cost if very cheap compared to all the others.
http://www.uafs.edu/cbpd/tuition-and-fees