CDL Schools Western PA

With the assistance of PA unemployement looking at trucking schools to get my CDL. They pay, so that sounds like a good idea. I spent 27 years working in another field with the same company but cannot find work anywhere doing that and need to get moving. Got laid off in April. I've been checking out this and other trucker related sites for some time; I believe I can deal with this life style and maybe make a buck or two while doing it. Have not driven a truck since the mid 70's while in the service and even then it was only once in a while but have done lots of traveling at the old job, this is very different but I am used to the away time.

Has anyone attended All-State Career in the Pittsburgh area out there? From talking with their representative I understand they have several centers across the US.

My thinking is get the training from a good school where I don't have to sell my soul for a year or more to a carrier or have to pay back a debt to a company provided training center if things do not work out. Not planning on failing at this but foolish not to consider all the possibilities.

pro's and con's of this approach are more than welcome... not sure if all companies will hire from a school, there are several in the area, so far I like that everything is covered (permits, physicals, drug testing) by this one. Program is 4 weeks, 172 hours and they are certified testers for the state so I imagine they should know how to prepare someone to pass the testing.

As always thanks for the help and advice...

 

To get hooked up with the PA retraining you'll need to visit your local unemployment office, best to make an appointment via the phone. You have to take a quick test (if you finished high school it is a no brainer). After that they can help you locate a school, most likely you'll have to talk to a school recruiter, then go back to the unemployment office and bring your birth certificate, your ssn card adn the letter from unemployement saying your qualify for benefits and away you go.

Might be more info than you want and BTY I haven't started yet, my choice I had 2 offers in my old field that took forever to work out th einterviews and security clearances, but thanks to the wonderful economy the one was pulled back and the other was taken by an internal transfer (thats what they said anyway).

I have a friend who drives, new driver about a year now, younger than me, he can hardly get any loads right now again due to the economy.

Still thinking about trucking and this site is the best for questions and answers plus these folks have a good sense of humor.

Hope it works out for you...