Okay, Need Your Guidance...

This may be the worst time in history to get into trucking,...Many companies have put a freeze on hiring,...He77, I have experiene and a clean driving record and I'm having trouble finding work,....Good luck....I'm sure someone will have an idea for you..

 

Are you serious? I haven't heard this. Of course I don't talk much in the truckstops and haven't been on here in awhile. I have noticed that freight has gotten slow in the past few weeks.

Rodman, it's been so long since I've been through the schooling I wouldn't know where to start except for the big companies that will loan you the money if promise to work for them for a year and pay half of it back.

 

First look at the local community colleges and see what the state will provide in form of grants/etc. Here in GA I can have a CDL funded by the Hope grant but it will take 10 weeks to complete training. The local CDL school charges over $4000 but can provide financing should I need it and my credit is good enough. Check into a CDL mill (company that provides CDL training in exchange for employment/ contract). Some companies will train you cheaper than a CDL school and you can pay for it and then drive for another company. (example: Millis charges $2500 for training north of ATL) If you are a veteran, Roehl will train you for free even if you aren't going to work for them, BUT you have to pay for your own lodging and food and transportation during training.

 

Hey Idaho, check out May, or Central. They run in your area and can probably get you home a lot. They are pretty decent as far as starter companies. I know Central has there own school in SLC,UT with a hotel on the premises. You will never run short of miles there, unless you make somebody mad.

 

As far as I have heard,....Schnieder,Roehl,Millis,Maverick, have all stopped hiring newbies,....JUST what I have heard,......

I do know that I am looking for a "local" job,...and will move for it,...and haven't had any luck yet....

Times are tough all over,...In my opinion it would be a bad idea to leave a job to get into trucking AT THIS TIME.......

 

I was just hired by a company that is going to train me from "zero" to "someday I will be a real trucker" and I have signed a one year contract with them. I consider this next year as "paying my dues". This is my second career and because this is something I have wanted to do since I was a kid (a long time ago) I am willing to sacrifice to make this happen.
If I complete my one year commitment the training is paid for, if not I owe the company several thousand dollars. The point being there are still companies that will train you and hire you depending on how bad you want to be a truck driver.....or maybe I was just lucky, who knows.

 

You should know in a year, or less.

Good luck.