trucking school worth it?

Yes, but after completing a private CDL school, don't waste that diploma on a starter company.
$9K is too expensive, but maybe that's the only school around his area.

 

Yeah, MondoTrucker sums it up nicely. Starter companies will pay for at least 75% of the costs if you sign a contract with them. Meaning, if you agree to work for them for at least a year, you'll be guaranteed a job with tuition re-reimbursements. LIke PAM Transport, along with other companies, they're great companies to start out with because they will let you know up front whether or not they'll hire you for a long-term commitment.

I'm not sure what the best training schools are, but C-1 Little Rock, AR and others I hear are decent. I graduated from North Little Rock's C-1 school, and they have part-time trainers that are some of the best truck drivers you'll ever meet. Their primary trainers are great as well, but you just don't get enough time with any one trainer to get a hard depth lesson. However, you get a lot of advice and instruction from multiple trainers. That can be a good thing.

 

Is it worth it you ask,that depends on the school.Some take your money but don't teach like they're suppose to.I know 2 ppl that got ripped off from a school.This is a 6 month part time school so you should be asking the school a bunch of questions before committing to anything.

 

Getting your CDL thru a good school will open up more doors for you. I went thru Schneider's school in Green Bay when they had it open and when I left Schneider there were hoards of recruiters wanting me to sign on the dotted line with them. I think after you get a few years experience it prolly won't matter much anymore. If its going to take several months you might want to check with some local community college. I'm sure its far cheaper than a truck driving school and paper is paper.

 

the thought that any trucking co reimburses you for training is a fallacy
they just pay you less while the reimbursement is going on

like buying a car you get a discount off the retail price or a good trade in


that said $9000 seems like too much money
most driving schools only end up teaching you enough to get your license
you will be trained at your first company in the rest

and insurers rule the world they like to see a student come from an accredited driving school

 

I never thought about companies paying less while they're so called reimbursing you but not surprised.Companies are going to find every way possible paying as little as they can.

 

with the current market for driver wages I would say it is not worth spending 9K on a CDL school

 

best thing I can tell you is to check and see which school would fit you. I went to E-Z Wheelz 2 years ago actually in 12/2012 I paid $1400 for 15 hours of practice driving and up to 3 road test. its honestly not enough I think 15 hours should be for experienced drivers there for refresher course. I win the lucky ladies sidebet in Ballys Atlantic City for $5K iafter learning about the school that im in Smith and Solomon they work with you until you really pass theroadtest and dont charge you anything extra. so I paid $2400 for my Class A with them & $500 extra to get my passenger endorsement. eE-Z Wheelz I pass only my pre trip inspection and fail all 3 roadtest if I wanted to continue with E-Z Wheelz I would have to pay $75 per hour for the training and $200 for the roadtest I told them at the desk I'm not investing no more money in this school my next and only CDL school ill invest money in is Smith and Solomon. guess what I took my roadtest for the school truck Saturday that just pass in Wayne NJ *my first roadtest with this new school im in Smith and Solomon* and I pass everything. im just not getting my CDL ID yet because I have a roadtest for the bus to get my passengers endorsement this Wednesday. after passing that roadtest then ill get my license. I called Schneider and got a phone interview with them tomorrow. I told them im only interested in the tankers division.

 

Well, that isn't entirely true. Every trucking company is different, and every trucking school is different. I'll tell you this... After the math, I basically paid about 34% of the actual tuition for C-1 Little Rock. Which they don't make the math very easy to figure out unless you understand the concept. The key is you have to do a whole year to get the full discount, and considering PAM was willing to invest that money up-front, I'd have to say it was well worth it. It's a program for those that can't afford it at such short notice, and it paves a road for new drivers to give them the time and opportunity to develop into an experienced truck driver over the span of a year, if not longer may they choose so. Assuming they even learn the ropes.

So, the issue is that companies know that there is a larger percentage of drivers that do NOT succeed in becoming a truck driver so they aren't as eager to invest or pay that cost until that driver proves himself worthy. That, and it's a cut-throat industry. I only have a year under my belt, and I can already tell that much.

That's why certain schools are more costly and take longer. There are quite a few that have a great reputation for graduating safe drivers. Like C-1 North Little Rock, and PAM knows that. That's why while working for PAM I rarely had to stop at a weigh station. #### near green light every time.

 

9k is a ripoff. This is truck driving, not a bachelors of science.....