Start of a New Life

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by Tlingit35, Aug 14, 2011.

  1. Tlingit35

    Tlingit35 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 13, 2011
    Indiana
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    I came from Alaska to Indiana to visit my sister, while here my darling husband served me with Divorce papers, seems he had someone on the side and had the perfect opportunity to dispose of his wife and 27 year marriage. All accounts were emptied leaving me stranded in Indiana with no way home.

    I now need to start a new chapter in my life, and am set to pursue driving. This is my third attempt, each time my wonderful husband has shot the idea down. Well no more, I going ahead with my wants, and that's to drive trucks and travel.

    Since I was left destitute, I needed to find a school that would train with no money up front. Quick internet search and found C.R. England. Seemed like a perfect match, they had a school at Burns Harbor, Indiana, they would provide transportation to the school and they also had a place to stay while in school. I would be done in as little as 2 weeks, what more could I ask for..... Then I did some checking, first a search for unhappy people, found pages and pages of them, then a search for happy C.R. England graduates, nothing found, anything good, nothing found, anything ok, again nothing found. So I started really reading the forums and they sscared the crap out of me, I ran far and fast from C.R. England. Also they taught on Automatic's.

    Next Search brought up Drivers Solutions, filled out the application and of course I was accepted, no questions asked. There was a school even closer to where I was, they required no money up front, was guaranteed a job in just a few short weeks. Only thing I saw wrong was that I would be only getting 17.5 cents/per mile and that I would have to pay back the loan thay were giving me at a rate of $35.00 per week. The math didn't add up, but being new to the game I figured I must be doing the math wrong. Drivers Solution sent me a link to a wonderful web site and I got started agreeing to everything they required. Came to DOT requirements and had to mail my recruiter with a quick question. My question was, what is DOT requirements if you have sleep apnea. My nice link to Driver Solutions web site was shut down so fast it made my head spin.

    Ok fine, time for Plan B

    I found two schools in Indianapolis that found trucking companies offer pre-hire options as well as truck driving school tuition reimbursement. I also learned the difference between the two types of schools, contract tuition and none contract tuition.

    It seems my choices are currently Roadmaster Driving School and TDI Truck Driver Institute. Any suggestions on schools, both are the same length of time. Both have about the same trucks, and both gave me applications to fill out to obtain pre-hires.

    Any advice will be appreciated.
     
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  3. d o g

    d o g Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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  4. sbeatty1983

    sbeatty1983 Light Load Member

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    Jun 4, 2011
    Tupelo, MS
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    check the local community colleges. The tuition is much lower, much of the time the training is better and there is a possibility that WIA will pay either a portion or all of your tuition. You may not qualify but its definately worth a try. It helps to not come out of school owing your soul to a trucking company. Good Luck
     
  5. Tlingit35

    Tlingit35 Bobtail Member

    8
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    Aug 13, 2011
    Indiana
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  6. sbeatty1983

    sbeatty1983 Light Load Member

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    Jun 4, 2011
    Tupelo, MS
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    Stands for Workforce Investment Act if im not mistaken. Basicaly its free government money to train you for a new career. I used it to go to driving school. I ended up paying about $200 out of pocket for my schooling. Talk to the person over the truck driving program at the nearest community college and they can tell you who you need to talk to. I dont know what the qualifications for the program are in indiana, but in mississippi all i had to do was take an ACT style test and do well on it. Ive always paid more than my fair shair of taxes so i didnt feel guilty at all about accepting "govt" money this one time.
     
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  7. Tlingit35

    Tlingit35 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 13, 2011
    Indiana
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    Something to check into and from the sounds of it well worth the effort, thank you.
     
  8. Mrs T

    Mrs T Road Train Member

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    Aug 5, 2008
    planet earth
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    Hello and welcome.
    Sound like you should think about writing a book, about your adventures afte leaving Alaska!
    Please get loads of advice from here, especially before signing for any training.
    There are some really helpful folk here who will know what is good and what is not, they will help get you to the right school, for the right price and the right contract.

    And keep posting, we are here to yap just as much as to share info : )
     
  9. Gears

    Gears Trucker Forum STAFF - Gone, But Not Forgotten.

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    Aug 20, 2009
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    Welcome to the forum.
    Sorry to read about your life as of late. Hopefully things will turn around for you and you'll be on your way.

    A new day... a new life. Keep your chin up!
     
  10. Lilbit

    Lilbit Road Train Member

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    Aug 4, 2008
    Let me check my logbook
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    Welcome to the party!
     
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