who paid cash

I paid total about $2500 including fuel cost in the fall of 2011 to get my CDL. In my very first year of driving on my own I made $47k. But I changed 4 companies. Now I am taking a break and looking for local driving in Chicago.

 

$1500 and I got paid .18 cpm back in 1990.

6 week class.

At age 22, insurance required it or I would have been without till age 25 I was told.

 

Im fixin to pay 5000 for a one month course. Now, from what the recruiter at Schneider told me, I can get that back if I apply for their tuition reimbursement program within 90 days of graduation. We'll see if that's going to be the case. There are several companies that advertise tuition reimbursement, but from all the stories I read on here, one never knows LOL

 

I'm currently looking into the few different avenues of obtaining my CDL, I tend to listen to my gut feelings more these days, and my gut tells me it wouldn't be wise to go to a school thorugh a large company for the simple fact if for whatever reason I were to hihgly dislike working for them, (which alot of ppl seem to be unhappy with mega carriers) I'd be out the same amout or more just paying the company back to back out of my contract, which leaves me with expensive private schools or possibly the local CC which is about 15 miles away....I think ill go the CC route if its substantially cheaper, just for the simple fact I can go where I choose to work afterwards...and not owe anyone anything....

Dave

 

Paid $4600 included hotel while at school. I made $49k my first year

 

i paid cash for my school about 6 months ago and although i havent persued a job with any of the megas, just about every place ive applied doesnt reconize my schooling as "good enough" because it wasnt 160 hours. looks like i wasted 2150.00........

 

Sounds VERY frustrating, I wouldn't say I get surprised by some companies, but I do get thrown off from time to time at the vast majority of companies that insist on X amount of "hours in school" or X amount of years worth of "experience", Everyone starts somewhere, and with all the rules/regulations/and insurance issues its seems somewhat bleak when it comes to getting a DECENT local or even regional driving job since alot of the "good" companies have "no time" to train anyone, and people wonder why mega carriers churn out so many drivers, because a lot of people have no other choice, unless your one of the lucky few who stumble acorss a great opportunity to drive at a smaller company starting out....just the way it is

 

I've basically come to the same conclusion, but there aren't any community colleges in my area that offer CDL training. I am currently planning on attending Sage. I hope I can find something that pays good once I am done. Just looking at job posting through craigslist in my area there seems to be plenty of opportunities.

 

No, you didn't waste your money. You just haven't put in enough applications. Some mega's are OK because they have different divisions to choose from. Schneider has tanker and Prime has flatbed & tanker. The best money will be with tanker or flatbed these days. Paschall Truck Lines will probably hire you, but it's dry van, a start anyway. Also try Melton Truck Lines and Navajo. The problem now is it's been awhile since you completed CDL school. Ignore the "experience required" on the websites and apply anyway.