Got permit looking to drive.

Look into Company Sponsored Training. No money up front, usually a 1 year commitment to "pay off" your training. Why come out of pocket with 7-10 thousand dollars, or worse yet, finance that tuition through some "finance company" that charges Payday Loan rates. You need to stay with your 1st company for a minimum of 1 year anyways. Trust me, that first year solo is filled with ups and downs you will never forget. Good luck

 

I seem to recall somebody mentioning on here before that there is financing or grants for training vets wanting to get their CDL. Perhaps somebody will chime in with some experience in that area.

 

@Chinatown

 

The cheapest school, and likely the most thorough imo (perhaps overkill) is at community colleges. A lot of them are 8 week programs for like 3k. You can probably get student loan or if you are lower income there are a lot of different grants and stuff, maybe moreso now because of pandemic response. They will be in contact with a bunch of companies, most of which will pay for your school. Once you start you will spend at least another month with a trainer, so if you want the slowest, most thorough route, this seems to be it.

The other way to is to go to a mega, and attend their company training. In that arrangement you will likely start working in as little as 3 weeks, so earning income at the 4-5th week. All the megas have raised their pay recently, you will likely get at least .40 cpm at any of them. The downside here is more debt, like 6-7k. They will pay for it with a certain length of commitment. I have heard if one does not like their chosen mega, the competing megas will typically offer to pay for your school if you switch.

IMO your first concern should be: am I mentally prepared for this, am I ready to make this commitment for a year, am I prepared for this to be my life all day every day with very little time at home. If you are a confident yes to those type of questions, I think they are all about the same in the end, with a few variations. Personal observation: Schneider company trucks seem to be the slowest, or maybe it's just me. I got the impression Schneider trucks only go like 63 mph, others may know better.

Another opinion, if you go the mega sponsored training route: These big companies recruit from anywhere they can find a warm body with a pulse. By simply speaking proper English, dressing business casual, being respectful, being prompt, studying hard and scoring well on the tests you will have already set yourself apart from a good half of the class or more. This will serve you well with that company, and will likely lead to them treating you well.

Good luck

 

Wake up china time to get to work.

 

If you want to get started right away, look at Wilson Logistics.
Training is in Springfield, MO or Missoula, Montana.
Good pay there and nice trucks, which you can see on the website.
You can run 48 states, so you're not confined to certain areas.
Hires from all 48 states.
~
Wilson Logistics
Wilson Logistics
Wilson Logistics offers a Paid CDL Training Program designed for those with no prior experience wanting to become a professional over-the-road (OTR) truck driver.

 

Here's two more; KLLM Transport and FFE (Frozen Food Express)
KLLM owns FFE.
`
Home | KLLM Driving Academy
Home | KLLM Driving Academy
Come train to be a professional truck driver at The KLLM Driving Academy. We'll get you equipped to go on the road as a Class A truck driver in 22 days - and we'll have a job waiting when you finish your training. Plus, if you agree to drive for us for one year after you're trained, your tuition is covered by a KLLM scholarship!
~
FFE Transportation
Frozen Food Express - Refrigerated Transportation Solutions For Over 65 Years
I think FFE trains in Burns Harbor, Indiana for students that aren't Texas residents, otherwise training is in Lancaster, Texas.
@Jenn72 can answer that question.

 

If you’re prior military your schooling should be free.
Call Sage Truck driving school in Fort Pierce.
I went there and highly recommended them..