So Many Choices....which way to go?

For schooling, check some of the community colleges around you to see if they have any CDL programs because in all reality Private training companies charge insane amounts and with their financial aid usually being 18% interest it almost impossible to make enough the first year and cover that expense while living / support familys. (From my calculations atleast)

As for trucking companies, there are mixed reviews on all of them. But in the case you do find one you like, alot of the times they have a section that displays some of their approved schools, so you may be able to find different schools and price them that way.

I'm looking to start in this industry pretty soon, and hopefully some other drivers chime in with alittle more information.

 

I live in TN and at most community colleges that offer training, there are grants that can greatly reduce the cost of tuition. Ask at the school.

 

If you can at all swing it, the private school or the community college route. If you go through a trucking company, you are tied to them for "X" period of time. If you leave before "X" period of time then you owe them the tuition for training that usually works out to be much more expensive than private school. If you are looking at doing this because of job loss then oftentimes there are federal funds available to pay the cost of school.

In my state, I am going through the Dislocated Workers Center at the community college. All tution is 100% paid, I get reimbursed for mileage to and from class, and they even will pay for childcare while you attend class. It is a very nice program.

 

If Crete won't take the community college training mark the off.. CRE, CRST shouldn't be on your list..

Swift has a terminal in TN, but that needs to be your choice. You could try Central Ref, but I am kind of biased there, because I work for Central..

However, before you spend a dime on training be 100% sure you can pass the background checks and your DMV record is squeaky clean...

 

While spending time with a trainer is no fun at best and likely awfull, I would not want to work for any company that would not have you driving with a training for your first couple of months. You will only learn so much at the school and it takes time on the road in different weather and driving conditions before you can be safe as a solo.

And do not be afraid to speak up if your trainer is only having you drive and not training you. Be polite and understand that you will be tired and stressed but don't accept them pulling you out of the seat when you can't back into a dock or they don't let you do paper work. You want to walk into the training as a slave because that is how you are going to learn.

When I was training, the drivers that came from the company school sucked. The ones from private or community colleges had driving skills and better backing skills. None had "rules of the road" skills. And that is what you need to learn from a trainer.

If it was me setting laws I would make it that a trainer was a trainer. Not the first person in a team position. I guy has a week of experience and the trainer is in the back sleeping for 6-7 hours that the newbie is driving. But, just a lowly O/O.

 

Read more threads here. A new driver should never lease a truck. Almost no driver should lease a truck.

Again, read more threads here and stay away from CRE---whether leasing or not.

 

Leasing will end up screwing you if you don't understand the in and outs fully. And even then that is a crap shoot.

 

Fueling up reminds me not to leash. That 53 dollar paycheck I got reminds me not to leash

Yes I know it's spelled lease..