ready for the change

Check your community colleges first. It's $1200 around here.

 

Are you saving your GI Bill education benefits for something in the future?

Yes, community colleges are cheap. One driver in GA went to one there for $700.00 and the state kicked in some bennies on that one to make it that cheap.

If you decide on a trucking company school, look at Earl Henderson Trucking. Much smaller classes than Prime.

 

I highly recommend a local community / vocational school as opposed to a CDL mill or company paid training. It's usually a longer course and you'll end up learning more versus the other two options.

The CDL mill I went to "taught" us how to cheat our way through the actual CDL exam with the state examiner. It was fun having to learn everything all over again once I was actually in my own truck......don't be that guy.

 

Get all the endorsements while in school, especially tanker/hazmat. Also get a passport and TWIC ID Card. TWIC is for entry to seaports, military bases, chemical plants, rail yards.
Google for nearest TWIC office.

Consider hazmat/tankers right out of CDL school. This is a good career and always make good money. Should make $60K - $65K easy your first year.
Submit job applications during the first week of CDL school; don't wait until graduation.

Trimac Transportation - sometimes hires new CDL grads.
Schneider Bulk - has tanker training in PA for new CDL grads. CDL school tuition reimbursement up to $6000.00
Superior Carriers is another good one for new CDL grads.

 

I was an automobile mechanic for 30 years. I decided I had enough of it and went to CDL school part time. I went to HACC in Harrisburg PA. I chose NOT to get my CDL thru a program like swift or other trucking companies. This way the CDL is "mine", I paid for it, I have NO commitment to any company.

I got hired by a local company and love it. Not saying I'll always say that since winter is coming. I have 1 month in so far.

 

I'm at Smith and Solomon in Linden, NJ now. The school is on the approved list with every company I've talked to so far without having to do the usual 1 year exoerence first. No community colleges around me offered cdl training but look into that route as well like previously posted. Pretty sure there is alot in PA. Not sure if it's for all the S&S campuses but I got a $495.00 discount for starting in October. It came out to around $3750 and they have 4 different payment options. Good luck with your adventures and thank you for your service to our country. TMC and Maverick heavily recruit out of here too.

 

I like S&S so far. Im only on my 2ND dah though. The classroom is extremely repetitive and the power point presentations are almost as old as me but it is good. I started reading the manual about a month ago so they gave me the option to go take the permit test now and come back next week to start on the range but hell, I paid for the classes, so I might as well use them and just keep pounding everything into my brain. My class consists of myself and only one other person but they are going for their class B so it is basically one on one right now. Hopefully when I go to the beginner's yard it will be the same.

And yes, this program is 160 hours not including classroom. Youll spend half of that time just waiting for your turn though. Definitely call the recruiters or better yet the TM's of your prospective companies about apprived schools or community colleges. Keep us posted. I'm a former mechanic/metal fabricator too and I got tired of spending half my paycheck on tools every week. I could buy my wife a new suv tomorrow if I sold my box.