CDL School or Company Paid training...Memphis, TN

Well you've come to the right place to get a wealth of info, and hear alot of hogwash as well, that aside this question gets asked quite alot by new up coming drivers my answer is this you have the 2 options like you've said, going the company sponsored way is the cheaper option however like a lease purchase program their going to pretty much own your butt, till your debt is paid back it pretty much means you'll work for them for next to nothing and they can treat you any way they want, cause if you leave guess what? you"ll still owe them the money. Read the fine print very carefully and then read it again, then get someone else to read it again, you'll discover there is a clause in there that don't allow you to leave and get away with paying them back, unless you quit like during orientation cause there is a 10 day cooling off period under contract law again its all in the fine print. The other option which i'd seriously go for, is paying for your own schooling this way your free to go where you want with no contractual obligations choose who you'll go to work for and owe no one nothing and be free to earn all the money you've worked for and keep it. Unfortunately most don't have the $5000 spare for the tuition fees and are forced to do the company sponsored training which the major transport companies exploit quite regularly.

 

If you want to stay local, go food service. McLane Food Service and Sygma Network hire drivers with only a cdl permit and put them in a truck with an experienced driver as a "Driver Trainee."
All those other companies I listed provide meals & lodging plus transportation to get to the school.
Here's an example & all the others are similar:
Contract Freighters - www.cfidrive.com
Company-paid Tuition
With a 12-month commitment to drive for CFI, qualified students can now receive fully paid tuition to attend driving school in Missouri. We’ll even cover your room and board for the duration of the four-week course.

 

Chinatown has a plethora of options, but I will say, brother, if you're focused on staying local for training, you've gotta shake that. Look at this as a precursor to what it's going to be like once you get out here. CFI seems on point with the room and board, plus the school would probably take 3 weeks to a month. That's training for otr and being away from home for extended periods.

 

Since that's your situation, you need to broaden your horizons. Other drivers in your situation made it work, as difficult as it was.

 

Most companies will give you a little pay advance until your first paycheck. Take enough clean clothes to last a week and you'll be ok. Take some microwave foods, such as Ramen Noodles; the school, terminal, truckstops have microwave ovens that are free to use.

 

You don't have to pay the 1900 upfront. They'll let you pay it back once you get a job.

 

Knight has a terminal in Olive Branch, MS. They built a school on the grounds there. Give them a call.