private school or company school?

In an earlier post you stated you wanted to stay away from contracts. Yes, training is "free" but you would have a contract I am pretty sure.

 

Roehl has a reputation for treating their drivers well by giving them decent miles (all companies miles will vary from week to week) and also getting them home on a regular basis. Most training companies will make you stay out for weeks at a time and I have heard many complaints about home time -- Roehl seems to be the exception. Plus, Roehl pays practical miles which means you get paid for more of the miles you actually drive than some of the other companies. Do a search on them and read some of the comments for yourself. Just click on 'search' on the blue bar at the top of the page and type in whatever company you want to search on. If you don't have the money to pay for training, you will want to look at some of the training companies. Definitely check out local community colleges, some are much less expensive and some are just as expensive as the schools. A contract isn't the most desireable option, but if you do need to get into one, then make sure it is with a good company. Best of luck to you.

 

I'm facing Paperboy's dilemna too ...

So here's my question: If we go to a community college CDL, won't it be hard to get a job, since many require a year's experience?

That would seem to be the advantage of Stevens or Schneider, that you get that experience while fulfilling the contract.

 

No when you go to a accredited school it actually counts for six months experience. Good Luck Companies train you the way they want you to work Private schools teach you industry

 

When you go to a trucking school you spend thousands of dollars for a CDL. That is all they teach you. Enough to get the CDL. It is up to the company to teach you to drive.
When you go to a Community College, you get better training for allot less money.

The training a company will give you is the same as if you went to a CDL mill or took a community college course. The difference here is that you have a greater chance of success with the Community College.

Here is what I am talking about;
In the late 80's and early 90's I trained new drivers. The ones who came out of community colleges were better and safer drivers. At that time the statistic was for every 100 new drivers only 10 would still be driving in the following year. only 1 or 2 would still be driving a truck the year after that. These drivers would go on to make driving their career.

I'm sure the statistics is worse now then ever.

Trainees made the same money then as they do now. Today, a cheeseburger and soda in the truckstop after the tip is going to cost you $10. Back then it was $5.

Today, new drivers are training new drivers..............Many, many drivers are crashing out of the industry for lack of proper training, or dieing in these wrecks. God only knows how many people are dieing with them.

The bottom line is back then there was little use of DAC Services, The companies who did report to DAC were usually honest. Today, all the large companies use DAC (USIS) and if they paid for your training and you crash out or quit because of poor treatment or low pay then they blackball you. After-all they do not want you to go somewhere else so another company gains benefit from training that your first company payed for.

I once talked to a Ham in Provo who mentioned that he had his CDL but was currently unemployed and could not get a job trucking. When I asked why, his response was that he Swifted out. Swift trained him, he had an accident and they blackballed him.

The same thing is posted here by a female CR-England driver who rolled her truck. She is done and she is lucky to be alive and lucky nobody else was killed. She probably will not find another company.

Lastly, These companies are filling seats. They do not care if a new driver makes it or not. They put improperly trained people behind the wheel and turn them loose, sink or swim. If you sink, your out. If you kill somebody you go to prison. The company will get a wrongful death suit that they will settle out of court for pennies, and you get to go play with Bubba.

Now, wouldn't you rather be properly educated and then trained by a reputable company by a driver who has at least 3 years under his belt?

 

Well, that is indeed alot to think about.

I applied to Schneider today ... Stevens is ready to go (although I think I'll take the advice here an "blackball" that ahead of time ). I've looked for community college CDL courses here in Denver, and haven't yet found one. There's "US Trucking" and "Careers Worldwide" (Stevens Colorado training school). Anyone heard of them?

Those are excellent replies, especially kc0rey. Thanks a million!

I'll keep seeking alternatives until the Schneider contract is signed ...

 

hi..all...does anyone out there know of a driving school ...that is private and not very costly....i only have a chauffers lic in mich...but what to get a cdl with driving experience...i really dont know one school from the next but heard tech schools are less costly...and do a good job...i called a few mills they say...and anything from 5,000...or more...boo....cant afford that...if you know of a ok school anywhere in the midwest or south..please let me know...thanks for your help...juststartn