Do you need Cash for training school expenses?

Hey, new poster here. I'm looking into getting into trucking through driver solutions. They'd want me to go to the school in Fort Wayne Indiana (which kinda sucks because I live in New York). But I was wondering. Could I pay for all the the needed expenses while training there with a credit card, or would I need some cash?

The training is free, albeit with stipulations, but while you're living in the hotel you have to pay for food and travel and such and I was wondering how far a credit card would get me in doing that.

any help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks for the advice. Yeah the free training of driver solutions comes with strings attached. Luckily I haven't committed there or anywhere else yet but you make a good point about them. I've read about them on this forum and it seems like people can get their start there if they're willing to tough out the first year. tho getting terminated and billed 6000$ would be a huge problem if it were to happen.

Also like you mentioned there is SAGE at Mohave Community College in NY, (which I beleive is the only community college in the new york/new jersey area that offers a cdl school). I've already filled out a FAFSA so that's an option too. though I'd have to drive all the way to Vestal, NY everyday for 4 weeks which kinda sucks because it's a 161 mile drive.

But I appreciate you helping me make a decision, I'm still looking into things but it seems like it's either pay around 2500$ + Gas for driving to a school for weeks or go to a known CDL Mill like Driver Solutions/C1 school in indy.

Thanks, this is good to know.

Yes there are closer schools that trucking companies recognize, but I'm trying to get out of paying the cost of tuition, which is what programs like Drivers solutions will do in exchange for you agreeing to work at wherever you get sent for a year. I've also looked into something called a Pell Grant that people say you can use to pay for vocational schools like cdl training schools but I don't want to wait the months people say it can take to qualify for that.

 

Actually there's probably another question I should have asked first. As I mentioned before I want to get started in trucking but don't have a cdl a or any experience and live in Rockland County New York. What would be a good way to get into it without paying too much?

I've been in contact with drivers solutions because they offer free training even though I know about their companies' high turnover rate, and really tough first year. I thought my only oither option was to pay 2500$ to go to a school like smith and solomon and then apply to a starter company.

Is there a way I can get started without taking that much of a financial hit, and without committing to a place like drivers solutions for a year?

Again any answers would be appreciated, I've already done research for this decision, but maybe I haven't done as much as I thought.

 

Oh yeah that's right I remember the lady from S&S said that you can finance the tuition cost, even though it costs more total that way. that is one possibility. thanks.

 

I just have one more question. since I have in NY and have a NY Driver's license is there anything extra I'd have to do to get my CDL in a NJ school like S&S?