Paid CDL training with trucking company near Chicago or NW Indiana. Advice?

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by ChiRango, Jul 17, 2021.

  1. ChiRango

    ChiRango Bobtail Member

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    Hi guys. So i've done quite a bit of reseach here, however i would like to ask experienced ppl here for advice.

    I'm interested in starting free/paid CDL training school with trucking company. What companies would you recommend near my area. I'm in Chicago, IL area and ideally would like to avoid mountains in my first year or two so hopefully no colorado or cali runs.

    I think I would like to get experience in either dry van or refrigirated cause it's more universal. I think someone said that most money can be made in refrigirated trailers. What about tankers like gasoline? I don't mind getting hazmat endorsement.

    I found Maverick program to be fantastic but i'm unsure if i want to start out with flat beds due to down time of load and unload. Also saftey aspect of hauling pipes. We hear of ppl being killed when those pipes runs threw cabin when some idiot decides to cut you off. Risky? Plus side however is they pay .58c p.m. Pretty good student pay to start. They also have graduation and sign up bonuses. Pay up to $76k first year, sounds interesting. Could be their good marketing. lol. I'm sort of set on Maverick but i'm uncomfortable, maybe unjustly, to start on flatbeds. Thoughts?

    My logic here, maybe faulty, is that it's harder to screw up in dry vans then with flat beds until one gains overall driving experience. Also it's quick unloads/loads too. Safety also. Also if one would to leave company i have dry vans experience. With flatbeds i'm stuck with flatbed experience only? My learning curve in most things i do in live if very fast but i like to give myself more time then less for longevity reasons. TMC also only does primarly flat beds.

    My driving record is squicky clean, no duis ever, no accidents in 5 yrs plus, no tickets in 3-5 yrs.

    Millis is also interesting but pay is too much on low side 44cpm.

    Roehl sounds good cause they have mostly midwest and eastern states operation so no moutains.
    Couldn't find details on pay and company seems behind Maverick on reviews. When someone doesn't disclose pay it's usually very low so i'm thinking of Millis level pay.

    What about YRC Freight?

    Interested in your advice on company in my area what you think the route i should take based on what i said?

    Thank you in advance.
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
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  3. Lunatic Fringe

    Lunatic Fringe Medium Load Member

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    WOW - so much to cover. First, don't put the cart before the horse. You have much to learn. Start with the basics and then if you want to branch out into flatbeds, heavy haul or Taylor Swift's tour bus you will have that option. You still need to figure out routing, managing your clock, backing a truck and much, much, more. Try a year driving a dry van and once you've got the basics down then you can try something new. You don't want to drive in the mountains but you do want to try flatbed? That's cute. I'll take the mountains over freezing rain, hail and some of the other Midwest driving weather I've seen any day.

    You're worried about loading times for flatbeds, but you want to try refer? Bad news, refer is NEVER drop and hook. You'll spend HOURS waiting before the warehouse even thinks about loading or unloading your trailer. Yeah, you'll get some token amount for stop pay, like $20 but you could have spent that 6 hours driving 60 mph @ 50 cpm and made $180 bucks instead. If you want to go refer you better get satellite TV and a big screen for the truck - you'll need it.

    Dry van is usually drop and hook - you park your trailer at the receiver, lower the landing gear and unhook it then hook to an empty trailer they already unloaded earlier then go to your next pickup. You can usually do this in less than 10 minutes. I can count on one hand the number of live loads I had my first year of OTR.

    YRC freight is a great place to start. They pay you $18/hr until you get your CDL and then you're on the Teamsters pay scale. Linehaul usually drives nights, but you're home almost every day and get weekends off. Runs are based on seniority so you'll start on the extra board for a while until you can get a bid run get a regular schedule and paycheck. YRC's pay is lower than most, but they usually have lots of overtime with excellent insurance and retirement to offset that.
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Personally, I like refrigerated trucking. I was always paid hourly pay while waiting to load or unload, plus extra pay just for stopping at the shipper or receiver.
    I pulled reefers for 18 years and no regrets. Made good money, bought a house, wife and 4 children when I started, did just fine.
    ~
    FFE Transportation -
    School is in Burns Harbor, Indiana

    Frozen Food Express - Refrigerated Transportation Solutions For Over 65 Years
    @Jenn72 drivers for FFE.
    Chicago Illinois
    • 16100 103rd Street Lemont, IL 60439
    • upload_2021-7-17_18-47-3.jpeg
     
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  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Mileage pay is only a portion of the pay scale. Accessorial pays are added on to that.
    One company I worked for payed .36 cpm, yet my total pay each year was between $65G - $70G.
    You mentioned Millis as having low pay, but they don't. The pay there is really good annually due to accessorial pays added in.
    Yes, get the hazmat endorsement because even pulling a reefer, you still may be dispatched on a hazmat load such as paint, fingernail polish, etc. That's a benefit of pulling refrigerated trailers, can haul dry van loads and refrigerated loads.
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
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  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    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. We have two training locations: Missoula, MT and Springfield, MO. We hire out of all the lower 48 states. Highlights of Training Program
    Click ----> Wilson Logistics
    [​IMG].[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    1. CDL-A Truck Driver Job Training Program - Carter Express, Inc.
      Carter Express, Inc.
      When you attend training at one of our certified partner schools, Carter Express can sponsor you which includes covering 100% of the tuition costs or offering a tuition reimbursement program. Once you have have secured your CDL, Carter Express has a six-week paid training program to prepare you for a successful new career.
      Hauls lots of auto parts loads out of Laredo, Texas to various automobile manufacturing plants.
    2. upload_2021-7-17_19-1-27.jpeg . upload_2021-7-17_19-1-47.jpeg
     
  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    CFI
    CFI
    School in Missouri. Same as the other companies; transportation to the school, plus meals and lodging are provided.
    [​IMG]
     
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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