24yo no-lifer, need company / newbie advice.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Spartananator, Jan 17, 2025.

  1. MSWS

    MSWS Medium Load Member

    446
    697
    Jun 30, 2022
    0
    If you're looking for company sponsored training, you might want to check out KLLM. I almost got my CDL through them. Didn't like the terms of their contract, so I ended up going the private school route, but it's still something to consider, assuming they hire out of Kentucky.
     
    Spartananator Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

    39
    48
    Jan 17, 2025
    0
    No dice :( they dont train from kentucky.

    Thanks for the info tho!
     
    MSWS Thanks this.
  4. MSWS

    MSWS Medium Load Member

    446
    697
    Jun 30, 2022
    0
    That stinks! I'm not sure what your financial situation is, or whether or not you need a paycheck while training, but there are private schools that partner with finance companies to upfront you the cost of tuition, and sometimes even room and board while you're training. You don't start making payments until after you finish, and many companies will make those payments for you while you work for them, or at least they used to.

    Look into Roadmaster. They're a semi-independent chain of schools that are intertwined with Werner. Werner was my first company, and a lot of drivers there went through Roadmaster and had Werner pay for it after. My orientation was at their terminal near Atlanta and the school was nextdoor. The terminal in Dallas not only had the school on their property, but also a hotel just for students.
     
    lual Thanks this.
  5. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

    39
    48
    Jan 17, 2025
    0
    Update! The state lady finally got back to me and has said that I have the greenlight for the grant to pay for CDL school, and after getting my tax return some of the pressure has backed off so I am going to return to the original plan to get my CDL via a local academy.

    Hopefully I can get started next week, and be ready to start working next month.

    After that ill have a few more options thankfully.
     
  6. Wargames

    Wargames Captain Crusty

    3,223
    7,413
    Jul 22, 2010
    WI.
    0
    I agree, but we’re all retired ha ha ha
     
  7. idriveaholden

    idriveaholden Super Heavy Hauler

    702
    2,209
    Mar 14, 2018
    0
    why when a company will train and give you job.
    And they usually pay it back if you stay with them for a year or 2

    you don’t learn anything practical till you’re with a trainer anyways
     
  8. snowmantrucking101

    snowmantrucking101 Heavy Load Member

    964
    996
    Mar 8, 2017
    Lancaster, SC USA
    0
    No contract for 1 big thing. Big bonus if thing's don't work out.
     
  9. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

    7,581
    20,574
    Jun 1, 2010
    0
    Any tech school is better than the best company provided training. It is also possible to start with a non training company if a person already has their cdl. Having options is always better than being locked in for a year.
     
  10. idriveaholden

    idriveaholden Super Heavy Hauler

    702
    2,209
    Mar 14, 2018
    0
    How, it doesn’t even matter the quality you just need the license. A tech school is more expensive and no job guarantee, you don’t learn anything getting a cdl they teach you how to pass the test. After you have it is when the learning begins in the trainers truck

    you’re usually not obligated to anything but the cost
     
  11. Spartananator

    Spartananator Bobtail Member

    39
    48
    Jan 17, 2025
    0
    There are less positions willing to train these days. Prime is the only company that is actually willing to train and hire me at the moment, and I kind of dont want to deal with a 3-4 month orientation at prime.

    The cost of the CDL training is being covered by the state, so I dont care about the "cost" and as other people have said it means I am not locked in a contract with any company.

    THE MAIN reason I am more interested in getting my CDL from a school is the fact that it opens me up to jobs that DONT train. Very few companies are offering free CDL training in my location, but there ARE places hiring inexperienced drivers who already have their CDL.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.