Changing My Career To Be A Truck Driver

Some of those companies you listed you won't make $700-$800 a week. Get delayed a couple times a week and you could end up with $200.00 or even a negative paycheck.

You probably can keep your pay the same or higher with Millis if you're in the hiring area. This company would be a good choice if private CDL school is out of the question.

Go to a private CDL school and get the endorsements; tanker/hazmat, TWIC, and a passport then hire on with company such as SVTN or Superior-Carriers to keep your income up where it needs to be.

You might keep your income where it is now or higher with Melton Truck Lines or TMC after private CDL school. Melton has excellent healthcare for driver and family.

 

So what changed now?

 

Swift Academy is top notch and PTDI accredited. Prime has among the highest pay rate for new drivers, and all their company trucks have APUs. Roehl has a very good home time policy. Stay away from CR England. I haven't researched the others.

School vs. company training: This has been "debated" ad nauseum on the forum. The independent schools (community college, tech school, etc.) are usually more expensive and take longer, but can be a lot cheaper if you are eligible for a grant. The company-sponsored schools are generally less expensive (sometimes half the cost of an independent), faster (generally three weeks vs. 9-13), and you typically have a guaranteed job offer from the sponsoring company once you graduate. Contrary to what some may say, attending a company sponsored school does NOT obligate you to drive for that company.

The goal of any CDL school is to train you to get your CDL. Once you have that, you start at exactly the same place when hired by a company, so you might as well get it as quickly and cheaply as you can.

 

If you can not walk into a lower paying job, then maybe you had better rethink your idea of changing professions. As a newbee in this industry dont expect to make a lot of money to begin with, you could get lucky and make what you make now or maore, but dont bet on it. Maybe you and the wife and kids need to have a heart to heart before you risk the farm on this venture. I am sayng this from exprience, as someone who stated in this business with a wife and 4 kids. The wife was definently mad with way less money to run the house, then before. It almost cost me my marriage, home, etc.

What you are proposing is serious business, that effects more then just you. You all might want to reevaluate this decision. Good luck in whatever you all decide.