Begining my CDL journey HELP

Get your own CDL with cash.

That way you are beholden to no one and cannot be sued for full balance should you be dismissed from any company in this industry within your first year. It is a dangerous time for those who dont yet learn what they need to should they survive long enough.

FFE sent my spouse to school and paid first half. However we checked on the balance some time later and found that school was pending collections against us. We paid it off with bank wire in 10 minutes, some 1800 dollars. Never mind FFE. Water under the bridge. This was back in 2000 for us.

 

If you can I say pay for it your self most companies that hire new cdl driver have some type of reimbursement and you can get a local job in most city without having to go otr big and small just depends on how much they need drivers my company only has 3 tractor and about 8 straight trucks and we hire no exp starting at 19 an hour and .50 raise ever 6 month just can't keep people to stay but give us where you live and I'm sure someone will give you more info

 

The megas that offer training don’t do it for free, they take it out of your check for that year. Post your location so @Chinatown and others can make suggestions. There are plenty of companies that offer local work that are willing to train a new driver.

Drive safely

 

The main thing is being trained properly. Be patient and ask the company in your local area do they hire recent graduates. That will stop you from getting bad information. Just to let know the local can be very tedious. Get up early and go to bed early to start it all over again and again. I will say this trucking is not easy on family local or over the road. It takes up a whole lot of your life. It can be hard on you physically because you're sitting in a seat for long periods of time. When you get home your family wants you to know exert more energy after all that driving( you might hear all you do is drive a truck). You need time to refresh yourself your family may not understand that. After 12 years I still hear it at times. I have missed some important things. Trucking does fit my personality. I hope it fits yours it may not fit your family. I like trucking not like I use to. Really give it some thought as I said be patient you're learning something new. For me I would have done something else. For my family & physical well being. I run flatbed. All the best to you. Other will weigh in.

 

Check beer distributors, the ones around here will train you cheap and then pay you for it if you stay a year. You will work your balls off, be in good shape, and be home every night and a few days a week (they run 4x12hr days here with an optional fifth).

 

Your state may pay for CDL if you are unemployed or underemployed. Search for WOIA or WIA. They can give grants, not loans but grants, to pay for school

Most importantly, put off a decision about CDL school until you have enough research to decide you REALLY want to work at whatevr company you choose. It would be dumb to borrow money and got to a 3 week CDL school if the trucking company you REALL want to work at has their ownschool. CDL school is not a 4 year university. It is a VERY busy 3 -6 week course with little time for anything but class.

PICK YOUR COMPANY, THEN DECIDE ABOUT SCHOOL

Half of trucking companies that hire newbies pay Tuition Reimbursement. After you start working for a company with TR they pay you wages for your work plus some amount toward any CDL school loan you may have taken out. EVERY CDL school will find someone to lend you money for school.

The big companies with "free training" may or may not be suited for you. Tell us your city and what type of trucking you want to do. The big companies and the ones with "free training" are pretty good and also terrible for newbies. You need to carefully match where you live, how much money you need, amount & frequency of home time, and type of trucking to make a good match. There is no shortcut or one Mega company that works for most people. If you flip a coin and just sign a contract you are unlikely to be verry happy or stay for 1 year. If you can get you 1 year experience with a clean record and no bad marks at your first company you can work for ALOT more companies that pay better and treat you better. Working for 2 companies over 12 months is NOT as good as finishing 1 year at 1 company.

There are happy drivers at many companies. Your goal is to find a company where you can be happy and stay. Some people will suggest you can sign a contract with a company for a "free CDL" and then run away before you start working for them. DO NOT DO THAT. You limit your options and some really good companies will not hire you.

ANYONE can pass CDL school if they do what the school says. CDL school is just to get the license. You will learn 90% of how to do this job when you are trained by your first company. My reccomendation is DO NOT sign onto CR England, CRST, or Western Express. Do an internet search for trucking companies near your city. There are thousands of trucking companies. The big companies are not necessarily a safe choice. They hire thousands of drivers every year and nearly 100% of those drivers leave before 1 year of experience.

There will be some good info in other posts. This question is asked/answered every week.

 

Telling us where you live will help us help you?

 

@Chinatown should be able to help you. It sounds like you need to be home as often as possible.