cdl questions

There is a WIA government program you could look into. For hardly any money upfront though you could go through company training. Sure you have to sign a contract with them but personally I would rather be in a contract with a carrier then the government or a bank. Plus as long as you pass your tests you have a job.

 

If I understood you correctly, you're in Virginia so the learner's permit you have is good for one year from the date you passed the "written" exam. I know this because I'm also in Virginia and got mine recently. As for a school, I believe most companies DO want you to go to a CDL school for insurance purposes. Unless you are going to work at a company like Swift and have them pay for training at their own CDL school, here are a couple in Virginia you might want to check out:

http://www.a1cdlschool.com/ (WIA approved)

http://www.truckdrivertraining.us/ (not WIA approved)

You might be eligible to receive government funding through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which will pay for all or most of the school costs. Go to your local Virginia Workforce Center for info about WIA.

Good luck to you!

 

Check with your local community colleges, ESPECIALLY if you're going to use a WIA grant. Depending on how much money is left in the WIA program in your area, they may not pay it all. But some community colleges have other federal and state workforce training funds available that might be able to make up the difference in the form of a "scholarship" if WIA doesn't pay it all.

Using a WIA grant does not obligate you to any particular company or the government other that your agreement to complete the training and seek work in the trucking industry after graduation.

I'd stay away from the "CDL mills" if you can, but if not there are other companies than Swift with their own schools. But keep in mind that if you attend most companies' schools and don't pay for it yourself, they "own you" for some period of time and many don't pay that well while they're recouping their "training costs."

 

From the posts I've been reading within 6 months or so 90% of the people that paid $4,000 for a school end up walking around aimlessly not making a dime .

 

...i don't think so, but to confirm, the place to go to is your local congressional reprentative's office. there should be one within driving distance of where you live, but they will know one way or the other. never be afraid to ask them, this is their job to represent you, regardless of your political persuasion, or lack of...best of luck to you!

 

That's going to be one your biggest hurdles, OTR is all about traveling, ie; driving for weeks at a time. This economy is forcing people to do things that they ordinarily would not entertain doing. Ask yourself this question, If the economy was strong, plenty of jobs, you were still employed, Would you want to drive a truck OTR ?

Some states have grants like WIA available, and it seems that the only program they readily support right now is trucking. So they will pay for you to get your CDL. Check with your local workforce/job-assistance center.

 

I think what eaton18 was trying to get at, with the whole if it was a good economy would you still want to drive, is that for most that use this as a last resort career, it doesn't seem to work out too well for them.

can you find a place that you arent on the road ALL the time, or as much as most the big carriers? yeah, there are people who have gotten into companies that have them home more often, but you're really going to have to look around and find them. Tho from reading the forums and everyones elses experiences, if you are going into this with an open mind, you really need to be prepared for being on the road quite a bit. Most places want experience, and well the easiest places to get it is OTR. Might want to find out how long your friend has been driving that pulls for walmart, I would guess he has some experience and took a bit to get where he is now. I would have also talked to your buddy before you went and got your permit in hopes of him hiring you. Not saying you're screwed, but definitely start browsing posts and see if this is really something you want to get into.

 

Wow RickG you can read, and that's what you've come up with so far! Good boy!

 

from my experience, the govt does have programs that will pay for the schooling at "driving schools" but be ready to jump through some hoops first. in oklahoma is called work force oklahoma. check into your own states programs. and good luck.