CDL training out of state (MT) / Transfer CDL to home state (WA)

Thanks to everyone for chiming in on this.
As I've been mulling this over, I discovered a related potential risk that I will share with you. Any future drivers out there from WA state, take note. As I mentioned before, WA is one of the few states - the only state? - that will not accept CDL testing results from out-of-sate CDL schools (as explained to me by a recruiter at Prime Inc. and as described on the WSDOL website). Yes, you can transfer a CDL to WA for a fee, but you cannot train/test outside of WA and have your license issued in WA. The WA DOL will not honor the training/testing results.


So, if you are WA resident, consider this scenario before agreeing to do your CDL schooling with an out-of-state carrier:
Let's say I sign on with Wilson and do my free CDL training in MT. I complete all the classroom and driving training just short of actually testing for my CDL. For whatever reason, Wilson then decides that they have seen enough, they don't like me and/or my driving, and they send me home.
As described in the YouTube vlog of a recent Wilson student who was rejected from the program, he was then on the hook for about $4K in tuition costs given that Wilson decided to boot him from the program. That is, their "free" CDL training is only free if they end up hiring you afterward (as is the case with SWIFT and, I'm guessing, various others).

So, the risk for me and any other WA resident pursuing training out of state is this: if you are not hired by the out-of-state carrier you will owe the 4k (or whatever the school charges you) and then would have to come back to WA and pay another 4k or so to redo your CDL schooling in WA.

The moral of the story is this: only sign up for "free" CDL training with an out of state carrier, such as Wilson, as a last resort. If you have the cash, just sign up with a school in WA and then apply at Wilson. It is far less risky.

By the way, I will say that Wilson's training looks very thorough and I don't intend at all to say anything negative about that company.

 

Right, I believe YRC offers no-strings-attached free CDL training, unlike Wilson and most others. The point I was making in my most recent post applies to out-of-state CDL schools that *will charge* you tuition if they decide to discontinue you from their "free" CDL school.