Big company training and big scams associated with them !!!

That'll work if you can find a smaller company that will take you on and train you...

Problem is in this economy, there are a heck of a lot less smaller companies that are needing help or expanding - yet.

So it comes down as you mentioned to the lesser of the evils. There are serious bottom feeder companies that do practically nothing to train you, and throw you in the deep end. If you get in an accident, well... so sorry, you the driver are at fault. Ultra low pay. Tuition scams. Creeps for trainers. You name it.

It depends on what you find, who will take you on, and what you are comfortable dealing with. Too many folks are not interested in getting good training for a career in trucking, but are looking for the shortest training cycle so they can get out on the road. That's bad for everyone.

 

thank you utahhomesick
thanks for telling it like it is . I have not heard much real bad about central so you just brought an whole new light to the conversation . I know where you are coming from and the trials and errors of those shippers and receivers . At no way shape or form can you blame the company for any of that.
Lets just hope that we helped another hand along the way.

 

hello supdty
thank you and its not all about fleece its about any and all aspects of companies . I just started with training and basically started with the big companies and i have an long way to go on here about sharing thoughts and posting realities of trucking on here . I am sure with the help of the community there will be shared opinions which i hope will be geared toward new drivers and even to be shared with experienced drivers alike .
Be cool up in bean town . I can not forget my first time there ..... Rush hour traffic and had 4 wheelers zipping by me in the suicide lane . Talk about an wake up.

 

Thanks IP
You are exactly correct . But there is an lot of good small companies out there and a few bad ones too. I will be getting to them soon . But if someone would like to bring some up now i would love to discuss them at any time .
The training part you hit an home run again. I believe the more training you get the better driver you will become . Now saying that everyone learns different and some will catch on quicker then others .
In my opinion..... everyone should be trained during the winter months and be assured to go through mountainous driving conditions in the winter months . But that is not going to happen for everyone .
I have discussed in detail with every trainee that i ever had about winter conditions and mountain driving just so i could feel like i did my job correctly . I do have an conscious and would be hurt if i knew one of my trainees got hurt by not knowing what to do. No i do not train any more . Thats an whole new discussion there.

 

This is correct but there is even more.

$2500 for school and $2500 for the 'trainer'.

Basically, if you pay the $500 down they deduct the $2000 over the course of the 1st year. Ok. Thats fine. At that point, your done paying for school but if you quit then (at the 1yr point) - you suddenly owe another $2500...unless you STAY one more year.

Thats for the 'trainer' time out on the road. So technically, schooling actually costs $5000.

As long as you stay for the full 2yrs, you only have to repay the $2500 for the schooling costs and your free and clear.

An EXCELLENT Certified IL school program only costs $4100 for the 4 week course. But, Millis will NOT consider you if you haven't gone to their school and/or have min 1yr OTR. People that go to a CDL school and then want to go to Millis must redo 'their' school and of course pay additional.

Still, this is probably one of the best (if not THE best) companies, especially to start with but if you don't read the FINE print - and think your free & clear after 1yr (like most companies).....well.....



-H

 

I'm gonna use the "P" word cactusjack, so don't get your panties in a twist.

Prime forgives half the tuition at 6 months, and you're free to go after 1 year with no fianancial penality. It's $1725 after 6 mos. There policy on outside CDL schools varies from month to month - that's how I came in. As far as I know, you have to get your CDL through them right now.

 

thanks for that bit of information ... That was not listed on their site and would be a big surprise to anyone not in the know ..... Until you get to orientation or possibly ask an recruiter. I can only assume.
That is another pet pieve of mine there is sooo much information that big companies with hold from prospective drivers and recruiters will not talk about until you get to orientation.
Just try and get an company rule book before orientation...
I have asked every company that i have ever applied to for it .... And i have never seen or had any one talk about the rules before orientation... I have walked out in orientations before just because of what i would learn after the fact.
Some companies will not even divulge what the pay is until you get to orientation ....or they will try and cut your pay from the first day of orientation and say the recruiter made an mistake...
I have even heard of an few drivers when they got to orientation sat the operation manager said to forget everything that the recruiter said and here is the real facts.....
Yeah there is some real winners out there !

 

panties in an twist huh....lmao

1 year with no financial penatly..... 1725 after 6 months.... My question is what is the penalty for early termination? Like after you get the cdl?

It sounds like you made the right choice with an out side school.
Thats what i decided to do back in 1993.

Thanks for the information.

 

Don't recall about immediate release...

There are pros and cons. The outside schools are more classroom intensive. Prime CDL training is primarily hands-on, and real world situations. I know some folks have complained about a lack of backing experience, but then again, how much do you get at a school? The one adavantage I see in the third-party schools is the breadth of subjects they give you... that is more dependant on the knowledge of the CDL instructor in one of the company programs, and quite frequently that can be limited. However, even the schools can be crappy - US Truck Driving School and their approach with 4 or 5 students in the truck at once not only means that the worst driver gets the time, but it sucks as well.

 

Some how, the picture of cactusjack with his panties in a twist is NOT pretty!

OK, to get back on track here, (never let it be said that I would be one to derail a thread)

I had heard that SWIFT actually owned another trucking company out of SLC. I can't remember now which one it was, but I'm thinking either Central Ref or PRIDE.

Also there is, (or at least there used to be) an outfit out of Tucson that was supposedly a "stand alone" company, but all they did was contract hauling for SWIFT. The interesting thing about this, is that the few drivers that I talked to for this company seemed to be both intelligent and happy with the company.

This is sort of confusing, seeing as how unhappy most of the SWIFT drivers are that I have known. How can a contractor for a company be better to work for than the company itself???

Also, when I worked for KNIGHT, they would not even talk to someone with less than two years verifiable OTR experience. I have heard that has changed, but as rough as they were to work for as an experienced driver, I would really hate to see a rookie have to deal with them.

Also I believe they own, or used to own Roads West, out of Phoenix.