Newby + CR England =???

prisonerofthehwy · Feb 9, 2009

sameguy said: ↑

OK, I have read a zillion posts about CRE. My situation is a little different than most. I am a conductor for BNSF. Freight traffic slows in the beginning of the calendar year and being low in seniority I have been furloughed or laid off. I expect to be off for 4-5 months. I expect this to happen for the next few years. I get unemployment for 6 months and my benifits keep rolling for 4 months at no cost to me. When BNSF calls I will go back to work for them, the job pays too good to let it slip away. Being on unemployment, the state of Wyoming seems more than happy to pay for job training, or hook me up with a WIA grant.

CRE has a CDL program in Salt Lake City that takes 3 weeks. I've got family there so room & board is covered. Cost it $3500 or $2000 if you pay up front. If I can't get WIA to pay I would pay up front for the savings. They say after passing you are hired and go OTR with a trainer for 90 days. est. pay for those 90 days is $450/week. If I am not called back to BNSF by the end of the 90 days OTR, I would get my truck and drive company for CRE till they call, or bail with my 3 months experience and fine something else.

Option 2 is to take a course at my local community college, where I live. I don't have many details other than they offer classes starting every Monday and the tuition is $3400. They say they have "Corporate Alliances - Our multiple relationships with local and national trucking companies
ensures a quality job placement for the student after graduation." and lifetime refresher courses for free. I haven't been able to talk to anyone on the phone but I just started calling this morning.

Now with CRE I would get at least 3 months OTR which would help me down the road get hired somewhere else. I understand that this may be more if an insurance requirement that anything else. With my local CC I would not have that benifit. I will ask them when I get ahold of them what kind of jobs people are getting right out of class, maybe even talk to a former student.

I would like to work local (there are a lot of jobs here which require CDL in the coal, oil, and methane industry) and most of those places want someone with experience.

So Hopefully someone will have some advice, pointers, other questions to ask before I commit. thanks in advance.

pete
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I would definately go to the community college..... feel out a fafsa first to see if you can atleast get some of it covered. If the state of wyoming covers the community college as well.... then take that option.
Trucking schools will screw you over in a heart beat, expecially if you go to a trucking companies school. Don't become a slave to a company. With the community college, you won't owe england, and if you want to drive for them then go for it, but not as an indebted slave to them.
Companies can and will take advantage of you, if you let them.

prisonerofthehwy · Feb 9, 2009

sameguy said: ↑

Thank you all for the feedback. The decision has pretty much been made for me as the grant for training is only available for the community college here in town. They will pay $75% and it is up to me to pay the rest. Still a good deal I think. I have an interview with them next week to see if I am a good candidate for their grant program. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.
pete
Click to expand...

Feel out a fafsa and the other 25% may be covered.

sameguy · Feb 10, 2009

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am waiting for my driving record from Texas (squeaky clean) to take into the interview to see if I'm a good candidate for the grant. Hopefully that will get here this week. Sounds like it takes 2 weeks to get approval.

Beantowntrucker, I got the conductor gig by dumb luck. My stepfather told me they were hiring on 06 and I just decided to go for it. Many people think ya gotta have family in the Railroad to get in but it aint so. I think so many kids follow in their old mans footsteps with this job because the pay and benifits are good, especially for an entry level position. I don't think any of the major railroads are hiring for train service right now but its worth keeping an eye on their web sites and checking in once in a while. In 06 they told us that 80% of the workforce would be retireing in the next 10 years. I'm not sure if I believe that statistic, but im sure it isn't too far off. BNSF, UP, CSX, Canadian Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Soo Line and CN/Grand TRunk are all first class railroads and pay the best. The down side is that when things are slow the new guys get furloughed first. If anyone wants any other info on the job or whatever let me know. I know things suck all over and I'd be happy to share what I know.

happypappy25 · Feb 10, 2009

Lilbit said: ↑

Take option 2!
Click to expand...

I totally agree with Lilbit, take option 2. There will be companies at your CC looking for drivers and you won't get a sour taste in your mouth right off the bat as you would going with CRE.

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