Company training vs Private school?

This is something to consider: My CDL expired whilst I was working overseas, so I had to take the full test after having 24 years OTR. I did it myself as did several others who had never driven OTR of had a CDL. In Ohio, there is a test center where you can rent trucks and trailers for $90 an hour. All you have to do is pass the written exam-easy. Then make appointments to use the equipment at the test center. When I went down there, they have a person who just keeps an eye on the yard, but will come out and show you exactly the manouevers and how to do them in the truck. The other guys just practiced and practiced with no interuptions of having to share time with other students. They will tell you after a few times if you can pass or not. Now you might spend $900 dollars to practice, then $90 to rent the truck for your test, and pay the CDL fee, but it can be done. Then take a one-week refresher course which is about 1300 at a school where they go over the basics of logs and actual backing and driving and road driving. Most of these schools are connected with companies who hire trainees with no obligation to them. There are several tank and flatbed companies in Ohio who will pre-hire and place you with an experienced company driver for 2 weeks or so. There are many who will hire this way. It is an alternative to paying $4000 to $6000 of a school or signing with a company where you are obligated to work there a year and be responsible for the training fees which may be more than a school. This way you are free to go where you want and most of the school training from what I saw was book training-not real world.

 

Well you don't really have to have PTDI, that is just a preference to many. Many companies hire regardless. I can tell you that Millis and Central get you paid quick. Like within 2 weeks. Check them out. I have made them my top choices. They are great starter companies. Millis tells you everything you need to know on profile. Contact a recruiter at Central Refrigerated and they will email you everything you need to know with no hassle. Stevens is my third choice because they have outstanding equipment. I will be picking Central if I can't get into Millis. They start getting you payed will in training quicker and more. They also have great equipment. I'm not even sure if they are PTDI. As long as you get 160 hours training is all that really matters, so PTDI certified is only a recommendation. Prime is a great choice as well, but I got turned down there. They are strict on who they hire. I have been a full-time student for the past 4 years and they didn't consider that as their strict past employment process. They require stable employment for 3+years. Hope this all helps.

 

Hey ScandBro,

Here is the Central Refrigerated begginers process, which looks great to me. The first two weeks are in Memphis, Tenn and then the rest in Salt Lake City, Utah. They pay for all the travel and lodge. Only companies that I have found as good is Millis and Prime. I will send you the Millis training process info as well to save you time and searching.

Central Refrigerated training process info:
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]STEP 1: ACADEMY/TRAINING[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Truck driving academy will be two weeks long. During this this time it will be class room and driving experience to prepare you to test and receive your CDL or refresh your skills. Central will finance the cost of your school with no credit check or interest. Your transportation to school and lodging is also provided by central (there is no pay during first two weeks ). After successful completion, you will have a 3 day orientation, and be leaving out with your trainer for 5 weeks of over the road training. During this time you will be team driving with your trainer and be learning the steps and skills to be a successful driver. Pay during this time is:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Week 1 and 2 = $375 per week / $53.57 per day
Week 3 and 4 = $425 per week / $60.71 per day
Week 5 = &450 per week / $64.29 per day [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]STEP 2:COMPANY DRIVER[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Once you have completed your 5 weeks with your trainer you will upgrade and become a company driver. At this time you will be assigned your own truck. You will be traveling all 48 states and be averaging approx 2,500 miles/per week. Starting pay is $.28/mile. Your school tuition will be deducted at $28.84 /week for 52 weeks.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As a company driver you are eligible for medical, dental and vision coverage after 60 days.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]You will be out over the road for 2 to 3 weeks at a time for every week you are on the road, you earn a day at home[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For example : 3 weeks out = 3 days at home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]35k-40k your first year!!!!
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]STEP 3:LEASE OPERATOR[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]After 90 days as a company driver you have the option to become a lease operator. Enjoy the rewards and success of letting us help you run your own business. At this time Central will pay your school payment for you. Your pay as an owner operator will start at $1.065/mile.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As a lease operator you are eligible for benefits of fuel program: safety bonuses, on time delivery bonuses, and very nice equipment! Our lease drivers earn 15% to 30% more than a company driver.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]55-60k your first year!!!!
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]STEP 4:TRAINER[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]After 6 months of driving experience you also have the option to become a trainer, where you would be training up and coming central drivers. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
80-100k a year[/FONT]

 

[FONT=&quot]I found this hard to beat other than Central and Prime if you can qualify for Prime. I think Millis and Central are the best starter schools and company. Both of these packages are hard to beat. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Millis Transfer Inc. Info: I think the $500. Down can be financed and paid like in the Central package I sent you. I’m waiting to call them money to find out for sure. It is cheaper than paying up front cost to a private college. I’m sure they will finance it though if quilfy like stated in the package. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MTI Program Features[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]- Low cost, high quality training- Upon successful completion, driver will be offered employment with Millis Transfer, Inc.- Up-front cost to approved applicants: $500.00- Financing of up to $2000.00 for approved applicants. Low cost, financing available. The experienced instructors will provide the best possible training needed to become successful as a professional driver. Most classes consist of 6 students per class, giving you high quality training in a small class. New Classes start every Monday. With only six per class they fill up fast. First come, first serve. Our instructors are proud of their careers and eager to pass along the knowledge and experiences they have encountered over the years as both professional drivers and instructors. With FOUR locations throughout the U.S., you can choose the location nearest you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Training location – Hamilton, OH. ( 20 miles north of Cincinnati ).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Training location – Cartersville, GA. ( 30 miles north of Atlanta ).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Training location – Richfield, WI. ( 20 miles north of Milwaukee).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Training location – Burleson, TX. ( 15 miles south of Fort Worth).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Class days will be every Monday to Friday. 8 or 10 hours per day and or night. 166 total hours.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We Pay our Trainees!![/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Trainee Pay[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Days 1-21: $72 per day
Days 22-35: $78 per day
Days 36 +: $86 per day[/FONT]
[h=1][FONT=&quot]Non- Per Diem Pay Scale[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]MILEAGE PAY RATE PER MILE. Based on HHg route.[/h] [FONT=&quot]Starter pay/No Exp/ After Training- .35-.37 first year per mile[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MILEAGE PAY RATE PER MILE. Based on Practical route.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Start Pay/No Exp-First year/After Training- .33-.35[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Per Diem Pay Scale Based on HHg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Start Pay/No Exp-First year/After Training .30-.32[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MILEAGE PAY RATE PER MILE. Based on Practical route.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Start Pay/No Exp-First year/After Training- .28-.30[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Home Time/Off Days/Paid Vacation[/FONT]
As a company that believes in QUALITY home time for drivers we provide the drivers with the most generous of vacation schedules. Few if any companies offer drivers the opportunity to have 1 week of paid home-time/vacation after completion of only 6 months of employment and 2 weeks of paid home-time/vacation after completion of only 1 year of continuous employment. In addition to our paid home-time/vacation scheduling, Millis Transfer makes the following commitment to drivers to provide the most flexible home time package in the trucking industry. Millis’ Home Time Policy shall read that a driver who accumulates 7 days out without a 36 hr at home period will receive a minimum of 36 hours of uninterrupted home time. A driver who accumulates 14 days out without a 36 hr home period will receive a minimum of 72 hrs of uninterrupted home time. A driver who accumulates 21 days or more out without a 36 hr home period will receive a minimum of 108 hrs or 4 ½ days of uninterrupted home time. Home time accumulations are not allowed to be added to paid vacation times. A driver request for home time will be processed as follows: Upon dispatch of any load after completion of a home time period, the driver will be allowed to request a home time into the future, not to be less than 7 days from the date of the home time request. Your dispatch manager is at that time obligated to return the driver to his/her home location for a period of not less than 36 hrs. to fulfill the home time request. Any driver who fails to be allowed the mandated home time earned will be paid at the rate of an additional $.05 per mile for all miles accumulated for days past the home time deadline date.
Great Starter Company

 

Millis has a great training program. Pay starts at 500 a week and by the end up to 600. And pay is great once you get your own truck. I would not label then a starter company. I and most make 60,000 first year. I'm training now and have already made over 50,000 for the year and still have 5 more months left.

 

Unfortunately, I was turned down at Milliseconds. They don't hire in Louisiana. So I have to chose between Central Refrigerated or Stevens Transport. Central seems the better choice from my research and communication. They are favored but still not sure.

 

&nbsp;Coastie is right. You'll get stuck with that company which trained you.<br>
Facts. You'll get your money for school back from most companies you start driving for past graduation or you may make it your tax deductible.<br>
After a good private school it's up to you who to go with. <br>
By accepting a truck company school (like Swift Academy and others) you lose the ability to choose your employer AND you become a hostage of the company that trained you. Usually their schools are overpriced, might have low standards and not accepted by other carriers.<br>
Do yourself a favor: finance yourself. There are plenty of good inexpensive schools, some use government money to retrain you.<br>
Best luck!

 

Well with flatbed you have to also realized that its manual labor having to strap down your loads and sometimes throwing a tarp on them so you have to put that in your decision process for were you go to work.