Finally Applied

Well you're off to a good start, reading and researching before deciding. I assume you know that you must go to school first? Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. Don't just go to school and then try to figure out where to go.

You need to look at your driving record and criminal record. Many don't take this into consideration and find out they can't get a job after school. The school likely won't mention this because they want your money.

I don't know your financial situation. Don't take training from a company if you can afford it or get it with financial aid. You will be their slave for a year or two. If you leave they will trash you DAC and credit record.

Just know that training and trucking company recruiters will do nothing but lie to you. They will let you talk about what you want and then tell you what you want to hear. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Your home time, family, paycheck and everything else comes second.

It is not like any other job. Local is usually backbreaking delivery work 12 - 15 hours a day, 6 days a week. Regional is lots of loading and unloading, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local but will wear on you. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles.

You'll have to pay your dues before you get the gravy job. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get something like that starting out, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Regardless of your driving choice, after school you will go through company training. This can be three months with no home time. The first month is usually $400 a week and the other two months are $500-550 a week. Some pay less. One company pays 12 CPM for training.

This isn't meant to be negative, just to offer the reality that you won't get from those that sell the training or job to you. I love driving a truck. It can afford you with an above average income in an economy with few choices. The early months up to the first year will test what you're made of. Get a year in and more doors open. If you job-hop looking for something better your options will become quite limited. Good luck!

 

after you apply for a job, call them back in about 3 days and inquire as to the status of your application. if they say to you that they are still accepting applications and haven't read any yet, thank them for your time. then call them back in 2 more days. some will send you an email of 'rejection", others will not. they are not obligated to inform you that you were not considered for the job.

good luck i wish you well

 

....what BigJohn said...


oh...and welcome to the forum!!

 

JMack, I am currently in your same situation. However, I decided to pay for my schooling. There are plenty of company's that will hire you even right out of school. Being 21 doesn't entirely effect you that bad as most large carriers higher at age 21. Of course, going to more Higher-end carriers the age goes up, but that is to be expected. I for one rather pay out of pocket then sign a year of my life to a company just to turn around and despise the job. But for me, paying out of pocket isn't that much of a struggle as I make a good amount from my current job. Money is easy to save when your not buying liquor, beer, and cigarettes (not saying you are haha). Though gas will kill ya

 

i'm in the same situation as you are i'm 20 about to be 21 and will more than likely go with swift, but hey you have to start somewhere. As for the training part i'm going to have to go to swift's academy i tried to go with a local school, but the tuition was way to much $2800 down and $150 a month for two years or i could get a discount for paying all upfront of $4900, so needless to say I've decided to go with the academy. good luck to you both lets hope we get in and start driving asap.

 

You checked local colleges? Or is that local college price? Because my area it was $2.3k (give or take a few hundred)

 

If that is your only choice and you understand the risk........well. I think Swift charges $6000 - $7000 and it takes two years to leave without a balance. Just know if they make it impossible or you can't stick it out, it will likely make you unemployable with bad credit.

Have any of you checked on any kind of funding? If you are unemployed many states will pay for training if they have funds.

Good on your record. I have seen a number of students lately who invested time and/or money and find their records have them stalled.

Good you're reading, it's amazing how many don't research or plan.