Looking for advice in getting started.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by leviticus, Oct 16, 2010.

  1. leviticus

    leviticus Bobtail Member

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    Oct 16, 2010
    Anderson, Indiana
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    I'm lookin into starting a career in trucking, dont currently have my cdl and have been trying to look up best schools, financing options, companies, etc, best ways to go about getting started in the field. looking to do over the road. was considering greatcdltraining.com but everything i've heard so far has been nothin but bad. any advice would be greatly appreciated!
     
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  3. leanright

    leanright Medium Load Member

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    Oct 12, 2010
    phila,pa.
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    Companies like Swift, C.R. England ( not sure ), etc. have training schools where you can train for a few weeks ( I think with no money down?? ) and work for them for an agreed amount of time, probably a year I would think to pay back the loan. I'm not hip to all this but I'm sure other drivers here can fill in the blanks. Swift is a training company that hires inexperienced drivers. You'll be running O.T.R and assigned a trainer for probably 6 weeks or so before they turn you loose. I'm not savvy about which other companies do this but I'm pretty sure there are at least a few out there.
     
  4. KDuBB

    KDuBB Bobtail Member

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    Oct 15, 2010
    Inverness,fl
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    Werner also does it, but you gotta ask yourself "do i want to be STUCK with a company if i completly HATE it because they paid for my training?" i got threw a CDL school with no money what so ever, but im paying them back now, kinda sucky but hey im in a different career, also LOOK UP GOVERNMENT INCINTIVES i didint know about this but apparently EVERYONE in my class had it paid for by the state, some typ of job fair deal or some crap, and guess what, only me and 1 other guy that paid actually passed? kinda funny..guess we had the incentive to do so...
     
  5. leanright

    leanright Medium Load Member

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    Oct 12, 2010
    phila,pa.
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    Don't worry as long as you enjoy your work it will be worth the expense. Once you have experience you can pretty much pick and choose who you want to work for. As long as you have a clean record you should be ok. It will pay for itself in no time.
     
  6. KDuBB

    KDuBB Bobtail Member

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    Oct 15, 2010
    Inverness,fl
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    o yeah i forgot to add if you do end up getting it financed make SURE ur payments around $100bucks a month as Werner and im sure others do a repayment program where they pay it for you but they only pay up to $100 a month and the rest is out of ur pocket, mine's $211 so its an xtra $28 ish a week out of my check to pay the other $111
     
  7. Madbull

    Madbull Bobtail Member

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    Oct 16, 2010
    Girard, IL
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    Well I know here in Illinois Trucking is considered a high demand job. There is a program threw the unemployment office that if you qualify they will pay for your schooling at no cost to you. I would check with your local office first or call one of the local driving schools to ask them about programs available before using a company specific school.

    New drivers starting out don't make top dollar and your not really going to want to see a payroll deduction right off the bat for school reimbursement for the first year or so of your career trying to repay your company when you might be able to get the CDL for free.
     
  8. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    Jan 1, 2007
    NASA HQ
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    Wow; just seen your location. I am from anderson.
     
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