CDL school on my own or through carrier?

I live in a small town in Indiana. I have no car. I am wondering whether it would be better to go with the carrier get my CDL and have to commit to them for 1 to 2 years or to borrow money and go to a new Ivy Tech CDL program through the vocational school in my town. With the latter option, I can still work a part-time job (hopefully driving a school bus) and I would have a place to stay. We also have a local transit service that would provide transportation.

Thoughts and suggestions?

 

you have no car, but do you at least already have a driver's license?

if not, you have to get that first, and (i think) at least 6 months of having that, before you can try and get a CDL.

as for schooling, if you sign on with a company for training, then they will deduct that cost from your weekly pay. if i recall, if you leave before your time is up, i think that they bill you for the balance. some have said that it effects your credit score if you fail to pay?

i'd rather go to a school on my own, and owe a bank (student loan lender) and owe no one my 1 or 2 years of service in repayments and since they control your destiny, there is no telling that each week you will get a big paycheck, and that schooling comes out of your check, no matter what.

 

I've have had a driver's license for many decades with no violations or tickets or accidents.

I'm still new to this forum, but I'm seeing a lot of negative comments about the mega carriers, except for the fact that it may be a good place to go to get your CDL. now with this new school opening in my little town, high schoolers can get their training for free but adults have to pay about 4,000 something.

One of my thoughts is that if I got my CDL on my own, I could perhaps get a better job with a smaller company and earn enough to easily repay the bank.

I don't really need a lot of home time as I'm staying with my sister and I'm single with no kids. I have about zero expenses except for cat food and a few necessities, plus food.

How easy is it for someone who got their CDL on their own to start up with ?a company?

 

You might consider Carter Express they have a training program.

 

how easy it is to get the CDL on your own, is how quickly you get a job when you pass the CDL testing and get that license.

i think (from when i went to school decades ago) the repayments started 6 months after graduation, NOT when i got my license.

if it were me, i'd not go to any company sponsored training as i'd not want to be held down to that employer, if for whatever reasons, i wanted to leave, for a higher paying job, or a job closer to home, but that's just me.

for those who simply cannot afford their own schooling out of pocket cash or a student loan, the the trucking company training is (for them) a most viable direction to go. WITH the understanding, that one will be under a contract for x amount of time.

usually, that is at least one year. and IF you don;t run enough, and the pay is weaker and weaker, that payback is still deducted each week, where one can starve out.

and many times, it's difficult to leave that employer, as many other employers may not hire you while you have that contract.

but some others might..

it's 6 of one, half a dozen of another.

 

I've heard good things about Carter Express. Aren't they just flatbed only? I wouldn't mind driving flatbed except I have concerns about the physical demands of tarping.

 

flat-bedding does have some physical requirements, and you said in another thread that you started, that you are partially disabled.

i don;t feel flat-bedding would be good for you.

 

You have to have a CDL to drive a School Bus too.

I would say it depends on what your end goal is. Do you want a CDL A or a CDL B? I would figure out how much you would make by paying your own schooling In your town, convenience, timing- how long it will take vs company training and already be working, but you have to give up home time. Like mentioned before, most want a year commitment. ...So, ask lots of questions. Do research on companies that you are interested in. Ask lots of questions do comparisons. Ask lots of questions it's a big decision, but can be worth it in the end.

 

Carter Express is an Indiana based dry van company, they haul a lot of loads to Texas from Mi.
www.carter-express.com

 

Look into a WIOA grant. There is a few hoops to go thru but otherwise it's an excellent deal whereby they pay for your entire schooling. Check online for local agencies that deal in them. Could be county, city or state.