Not sure if this is a safe route could use advice

One thing you need to consider is if you have a clean driving history, if it is not clean, tickets, etc they need to be more than 3yrs old. No felonies that are less than 10 yrs or more. You have to pass a drug test. Do you have verifiable work history, 10 yrs worth.

Schools can promise the sun and the moon, but that doesn't mean anything in the real life, they are just trying to fill spots to make money too.

Don't know too much about USA, my husband drives for Prime. Had driven for CR England in the past, this is one to stay completely away from. He started in 2008 with US Xpress and he left in 2009 when the economy tanked.

Prime has been good for him. He was already a Cdl holder when he started with them. He stays out on the road for 1-3 mo at a time usually before he comes home. This may not be the lifestyle for everyone.

It is best to talk with a recruiter at some of the other companies before you make a major decision. Most company sponsored schooling comes with a one year of work for them contract. If you are going to a separate school, then you pay for it yourself out of your pocket. You have your cdl then and will not be tied to one company or the other for the year. But I would talk to a recruiter first and make sure they will hire you after you get the schooling. There have been guys who have ended up on the short end of the stick with no job, esp if they have a record of any type.

How long ago has it been since you applied with the Stevens, Pam, etc. Have you heard any word back from any of them?

 

Depends on your location; what is your city/state?

Some more CDL training:

Prime
Swift
Knight
Willis Shaw Express
Central Refrigerated
CRST

 

Lie; tell your present company a private matter came up in another state concerning family or close friend or something and you will be back in a few days, maybe a week and to dock your vacation time if they want to. Once you're locked in to the school, mainly the DOT physical, drug test, no questionable application, call back and tell them you've decided not to return. For example, if the company you're going with is headquarted in Denver, CO then tell them you've decided to stay in Denver and found a job there.

Info : Knight is trying to purchase USA Truck, and that's not a bad thing at all; it will make USA Truck more financially stable with more freight connections through Knight.

Take copies or originals of your W-2 forms and pay stubs from the gas station with you; this can simplify the hiring process & maybe they won't call to verify employment. If your boss asked about anyone verifying employment, tell him you always have a backup plan in this bad economy. Remember, when a company fires you or lays you off, they couldn't care less about how it affects your life.

 

What is your take on Prime for an individual who has never driven a truck? Could it be a company to both start with and retire out of?

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

Schools can't guarantee you a job. They can only refer you. They will say anything to get your money. Training companies can bring you in and do their background check after you get there and if there is something they don't like they can send you home. If you don't have any skeletons in the closet you should be okay.

You have more options than you think. Apply to individual training companies instead of some 3rd party resource.

You can get your CDL through a community or technical college. With them you can get a low interest Stafford loan which doesn't have to start making payments for 6 months after graduation. They might even find you a grant.

Where you live makes a difference too. You don't have to live near a terminal, just near the lanes the company travels.

 

Stay well away from Prime. They will guilt you into leasing which is not what you want to do right from the get go. Just be completely honest and upfront about everything and you'll be fine. Lie about something on purpose, they will find out. Other than that just make sure you can pass medical physical and you'll be fine.

 

I used to work for Prime, I left because I got tired of running reefer and went back to hauling equipment. I got the feeling that Prime was a company a person could train with and stick with until retirement. I was not guilted in to leasing. I did go lease for awhile and did make money. I went lease because I wanted a bigger truck because my girlfriend was riding with me all the time, and there was no room in a lightweight pete for two to sleep. As a company driver with Prime I made good money, I got home about once a month, and had fun. I disliked the northeast regional division, but that was due to the citizines of the northeast and not primes people. I would recommend them as a good starter/keeper company. If my situation where im at now changed and I had to find another company Prime would be one of my first choices to go back to.

 

Driving solutions is an employment agency for truckers is it not?Why rely on them just call usa and get the ball rolling yourself.Anyway in answer to your question,yes usa can drop you before class and during class if they find a flaw in say your mvr,workhistory,ect.I don't know why they don't check everything out before bringing ppl in.USA usn't the onlt carrier that does this.Just make sure you don't leave anything out and if you find something you're not sure about then call usa and ask them.

 

All they do is gather bodies and do the dirty work exclusively for USA Truck and PAM Transport who coincidentally are headquartered 30 miles apart. It's a generic mix of a truck driving school and company training of sorts. Driving Solutions trains them but students pay by selling their souls to one of them companies for 12 months. Kind of like a prison sentence, lol. They still have to make it through orientation when they get there. Nothing is guaranteed.