are trucking schools worth it?

DO NOT GOT TO CDL SCHOOL UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT COMPANY YOU WILL WORK FOR.
CDL school is only worth it if you get a good job that pays more than your current job to justify the cost of CDL school or being away from home.

Essentially assume you have the CDL now and learn enough about the trucking companies you want to work for to pick which one. Make sure your work history is spotless, your driving record is spotless, your criminal record is spotless, and you have EXPERIENCE reliably working long hours at one job for at least 1 year. The shorthand is FIND THE JOB BEFORE YOU GO TO CDL SCHOOL.

You do no good for yourself just paying for CDL school and then getting out and discovering your work/driving/criminal/drug history keeps you from getting hired at a job that is worth working. 90% of newbies rush into trucking because they are desperate. They believe the lie about a driver shortage, THERE IS NO DRIVER SHORTAGE, and then find the company they work for doesn't pay what they expected or working conditions are too difficult. Then the new driver leaves LONG LONG before working even 12 months in the industry. Guess what, you still have a school loan that must be repaid whether you are working or not.

FIND THE JOB BEFORE GOING TO SCHOOL.

 

It's a thousand times more important where your work than HOW you got your CDL. A trucking company that fits you and offers a "free" CDL training is a good option IF YOU KNOW THAT"S WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK. A trucking company that offers "free" CDL but isn't the place that you want to work is a terrible idea, almost like slavery. WIOA is a grant that can pay for ANY trade school, not just trucking. If you don't REALLY want to drive a truck, do something else. If you are married or in a relationship, avoid trucking.

 

I went through Roehl's GYCDL program at their Appleton, Wisconsin terminal and it was a good experience. Roehl offers exceptionally good training BUT you are required to sign a contract that puts you on the hook for $7000 unless they allow you to drive 120,000 miles for them.

Overall I would say that my experience with Roehl Transport was positive and I had a willingness to continue working with them indefinitely, however, I was very upset when they terminated my employment by surprise just before I was able to complete my contract. I have linked a thread below where I tell my story about what happened if you would like to read more:

Roehl Transport - Are times changing?

 

In today's driver market, one of the advantages of going to a mega company sponsored driving school is, you will have a job after passing the school. Yes, you are committed to working there for a specified period, either time or mileage, but you are there to gain experience. That is the key to moving on to a better company.

 

I went to trucking school and think it was worth it for me. I knew nothing about backing trailers, coupling/uncoupling, or doing legally-compliant pre-trip inspections prior to enrolling.

 

The attached link is worth reading. I was a CDL instructor for a few years and had my own school for about a year.

The problem with company paid training programs is you are literally their slave for the length of the contract. And depending on how the contract is written if you quit/get fired 1 day before the contract is up you are on the hook for all of it. And I have never heard of a company allowing changes to their standard contract, so even if you took it to a lawyer (most Ive heard from wont even give you time to read it much less take it to someone else to look at) you wouldnt be able to make changes to it.

How do I get a job if I go to a school? Simple. EVERY mega recruits at private schools also. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Werner, Rhoel, Swift, ect so on and so forth. We had at least 1 recruiter come in every week. In MY case (and every school I worked for did the same) I would even recommend you get "pre-hired" before even starting school. Any of the megas will do this. Actually hire you before you even start school. Just like you are doing their school, but without the "slave contract".

CDL schools generally have a financing solution set up also. Going to a CDL school will still result in a contract you will have to pay off, but you wont be held hostage at a company until its paid off. If you find a better paying job, you are free to go without having to worry about getting hit with a big bill from the company that you just left.

I personally dont understand why anyone would even go to a mega school.

 

^^^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^

Check -- & checkmate!!!

-- L

 

I agree with everything except the thing about "pre-hires." Some will offer to pay for your school. If they do and you let them, you're going to be tied to them with a "slave contract." Just don't let them offer to pay for the school and you should be good.