Any schools 4 weeks or shorter and not over $400.00 to get CDL? I have bad credit!

Hi LisaFaith, here in Oklahoma the state job service, or whatever it's called, will completely pay for some schooling like a truck driving school. I wasn't able to get it because they were out of funds until July and I couldn't wait. Here's something you could try, contact a VoTech in your home state that has a truck driving program and ask if there's any assistance programs. I'd be very cautious about financing training through a private school, what I've seen it can cost you near 10K of debt.
I think there are companies that have their own schools but you'll owe them a commitment to work for them. What I've seen they credit you $150 to $200 a month towards the tuition as you work for them, do the math and see how long you'd have to work for them to recuperate the cost.
I sure don't know everything but that's what I have seen.
Best of luck to ya.

 

I lost my wife last year (she is actually still alive on permanent life support in a nursing home unable to speak or recognize anyone) and had to come to grips with a totally new life adjustment. Was unemployed by the time my wife's in and out of hospital thing ended and had no idea what to do. I went to a state run (Missouri) Career Center and was told trucking might be a good fit. They said that due to my circumstances (and although I was by that time out of money COMPLETELY, I did still own a house and a car) the state will fund it. I ended up going through a school in southeastern Missouri (Southern Missouri Truck Driving School)and it didn't cost me a penny. They even put you up in sleeping quarters (ROUGH sleeping quarters, but they sufficed!) if you live far away from them. I had my CDL 3 weeks and 4 days after starting with them....so basically 4 weeks.

I could then go shopping for a company that had a new CDL student training program...much better selection than the "company sponsored CDL" companies.

Now...as far as those company sponsored programs... I've heard nothing but BAD about nearly all of them. If they are going to send you through to get your CDL (and the CDL training will cost between $4000 and $5000 at nearly all independent schools) they are going to make you 'commit' to working for them afterwards. Only makes sense...they invested time and money into you. BUT...(and this is a TRUE story from a friend of mine) once they have your legal and binding commitment and you have your CDL, you may or may not get very many miles. You might sit around doing nothing for a week because you've become a 'committed fill-in'. My friend was at times making less than $2000 in a month. If you leave to go somewhere else (and he did), they will hound you to pay back your CDL AND driving training costs at the ridiculous price tag of sometimes as much as $10,000. He wishes he never set foot in that place...

I had another guy tell me he did this...if you don't qualify for the state funded thing... he got a credit card (or you could do some type of small loan) and charged the $4500. He said he that once he got a trucking job, he focused on paying off the card (took him about 18 months).

Just some thoughts...hope it helps.

 

Sorry about your wife. Can I ask what happened to her?

Lisa said her credit is very poor so a credit card isn't an option. Also I just want to add, don't go to a school that charges $4 or $5k. There are reputable schools in Chicago that only cost around $1,500.

 

It's been a long time for me probably 20 years ago but I went to central vo tech in drumright ok
It was a co sponsored program
they were $2300 back then

 

3 weeks school
m-f 8am-5pm

then
5k miles solo
5k miles team
total 10k miles before you are out on your own

(i left after 4k miles lol )

 

I recently graduated from Central Tech in Drumright, from what I saw looking at private training this place is awesome. It was $3000 and included housing for a month. Vo Techs are the way to go from what I've seen. Two people to a truck rather than 5 like some of the private training companies.

 

I got help going to school at my local Comm. College. Government grants and loans covered everything. Just sayin' I have horrible credit and owe back child support so getting a 3rd party loan is out of the question.