CDL - Require Your Guidance

Depends on how clean your background is. Tell us more. Friend...

 

I'm not from the area and I run northeast regional but I paid my own way for school as well. The best thing to do is homework! Call each school and ask the important questions like duration of classes, student to instructor ratio, success rate %, cost, what type of equipment they have. Whatever you can think of and then pick the one which fits you best.

 

From what I've read, Old Dominion in Indy is very busy and they have a program to help you get your CDL while you work the dock. Could be your first, and last stop in trucking. Good luck to you.

 

What I learned is by paying for my CDL is to make sure the companies you are looking at getting hired with accept the school you want to go to. Also be careful what job you pick because many companies will give you a shot right out of school but won't if you already started a job.
I started a job right out of school and lost that job only after a month and con-way told me they would have taken me right out of school but wouldn't due to already having worked. I would need to wait until I had a year of experience before I'd be considered. May trucking also said the same thing. So just some things to think about.

 

I went to Vincennes in Plainfield, but Have heard good things about Sage. I would pay for the School yourself, maybe get reimbursed later.

 

Also ask about the loan terms (interest rate, payments, length, penalties), and the employment contract terms, if there is one. Always read everything, cover to cover, before you sign it.

How much is Ivy Tech? Community colleges are usually cheaper.

 

Only two schools I heard anything positive about is Sage and Roadmaster. I actually went to school at Sage in Billings, Montana to get my Class A.

I took the fast track program because I had previous military truck driving experience and didn't need to know the basics... But that two week course still set me back $2800 plus another $1,000 for hotel costs. You may live close enough to a school where you can save on lodging.

Either way, keep banging on some more doors to see if you can just get a CDL through the company. YRC, USF Holland, and Old Dominion are good about that.

 

I went to school to get mine, actually I was glad I did I didn't want to be beholding to anyone. You know we get you you're CDL and now you have to work here for 2 years etc etc, I like freedom to live on my terms when it comes to should I stay or should I go.