Training Pay / Training Companies

Believe it or not, a lot of new drivers are broke, or close to it, when they show up at training. Thought it might help them (and other posters here) to have a thread that helps them plan to take care of themselves and their families during that first several weeks with little to no pay. Newbs: Don't FORGET you will pay TAXES (figure about 20%) on any income, and you MAY have to pay costs for locks, training advances, tuition etc., from your first several checks. ASK your recruiter when you start paying for those.

Maybe some won't even go to a company they can't afford, or wash out early from going broke. It can take a LOT of time to get all the info on all the companies, from recruiters and web sites, even here.

Any VALID input or corrections you have would be helpful. This will make the thread more searchable, if it catches on, and save them from asking the same questions over and over in the threads. There are other places to issue dire warnings and trash talk. Thanks for using this thread as intended.

Here's a template that will help organize the information.

Company:
CDL TRAINING:
Training Costs/Expenses:
RECENT GRADUATES:
Length of CDL training:
Permit before training?:
Pay or advances through CDL training:
Length of finishing/mentor training:
Pay through finishing/mentor training:
Home Time during Training:
Starting pay:
Approximate time to solo:
Evaluation Rating/Comment/Opinion:

DONE:
MAY Trucking
Prime Inc.
FFE
Central Refrigerated
CR England
CRST
USA Truck / P.A.M Trucking
Werner
Watkins/Shepard

Some other training companies WE can complete:
Knight/Squire
Swift
Gordon Trucking
Covenant
JB Hunt
Schneider NOT hiring trainees or recent grads.

 

Company: May Trucking
CDL TRAINING: Not available
Training Costs/Expenses: personal expenses
RECENT GRADUATES: Yes
Length of CDL training: N/A
Permit before training?: Must have CDL and graduate from school before training.
Pay or advances through CDL training: N/A
Length of finishing/mentor training: Depends upon YOUR skills.
Pay through finishing/mentor training: $350/week paid through training
Home Time during Training: Do you want to be a truck driver or NOT?
Starting pay: .30/mile, .31/mile # 6mo., .32/mile # 12mo.
Approximate time to solo: Depends on YOUR skills.
Evaluation Rating/Comment/Opinion: Tuition Reimbursement, 11 western dry van (5 terminals), reefer/dry van east, (1 terminal Pensacola)

 

Company: Prime Inc.
CDL TRAINING: Yes
Training Costs/Expenses: food, permit, no school cost IF you stay for 1 year.
RECENT GRADUATES: Yes
Length of CDL training: 2-3 weeks
Permit before training?: No
Pay or advances through CDL training: advances up to $200/week, deducted from pay after CDL training.
Length of finishing/mentor training: mileage based, credits 10000 for completing CDL. (B seat)
Pay through finishing/mentor training:
B seat: Total 60000 miles at $600/wk or .12/mile whichever is greater, must be 100% ready for dispatch or no pay. (approx. 3500-5000 miles/week) *rumor that training pay is now .10/mi?
A Seat: Another 20000 miles with trainer at B seat pay, (faster) or solo at .30/mile.
Home Time during Training: Possible, but wouldn't you rather get DONE?
Starting pay: .30/mile
Approximate time to solo: 3-4 months
Evaluation Rating/Comment/Opinion: Good long term training, more opportunity to learn from a good trainer, more opportunity to have to tolerate and compensate for or replace a bad trainer.

 

Company: FFE
CDL TRAINING: No
Training Costs/Expenses: personal expenses
RECENT GRADUATES: YES
Length of CDL training: N/A
Permit before training?: N/A
Pay or advances through CDL training: N/A
Length of finishing/mentor training: 3 day orientation (Lancaster, TX)wait for trainer, 6 Weeks Training (or less, depending on your skills)
Pay through finishing/mentor training: $375/wk1,2, $400/wk3,4, $500/wk5,6
Home Time during Training: Don't ask.
Starting pay: not stated.
Approximate time to solo: 3-6 weeks
Evaluation Rating/Comment/Opinion:

 

Company: Central Refrigerated
CDL TRAINING: Yes, Salt Lake, Riverside CA, Conley GA
Training Costs/Expenses: permits, cost of living. CDL training cost is "financed" by company, Cost of training is not published.
RECENT GRADUATES: Yes
Length of CDL training: 2-3 weeks
Permit before training?: No
Pay or advances through CDL training: None
Length of finishing/mentor training: minimum of 28 days/14,500 miles
Pay through finishing/mentor training: $450/week
Home Time during Training: please stop thinking about being a truck driver.
Starting pay: Test, one day additional training, .28/mile to 6 months.
Approximate time to solo: 30 days, plus any wait time for a trainer, etc.
Evaluation Rating/Comment/Opinion: Good, quick training company.

 

Company: CR England
CDL TRAINING: YES
Training Costs/Expenses: >pay in full: $1995 + $50 non-refundable fee
>finance with company: $2995 + lodging, at 18% interest, $55/wk after 4 wks after signing for 18 wks, then $75/wk until paid, $1000 reimbursement after 3 years.
>Lease/Op: pays back your tuition at $55/week when you go L/O, as long as you stay in the L/O program.
>CDL refresher tuition: $1395 +100 non-refundable fee. can finance at $55/wk for 26 weeks, or pay in full.
RECENT GRADUATES: Yes - requires "refresher" course.
Length of CDL training: 3-4 weeks CDL school.
Permit before training?: no
Pay or advances through CDL training: none for 3-4 wks,
Length of finishing/mentor training:
Recent Grads: 17 Days refresher course, no pay.
30 days with finisher/mentor
60 days co-driver/team
Pay through finishing/mentor training: $61.43/day, $430/wk., then .12/mi or $450-$600/wk as a co-driver.
Home Time during Training:
Starting pay: not published
Approximate time to solo: 107-118 days
Evaluation Rating/Comment/Opinion: Schools in IN, CA, UT, TX. long training time, plenty of opportunity to learn to be a good driver, or to screw up your trucking career before driving a single day solo.

 

CRE looks kind of complicated, doesn't it?

Hey, if you have the skinny on any of the listed training companies or others, feel free to copy the template, paste it into a new post, and add any info you have.