Do it on my own

There's probably a million unemployed Americans that would love to be stuck in a contract for a steady paycheck.

 

Good luck. Sounds like you have all the info you need.

 

You don't need to even contact a company.. finance your training and then get the job that you are sure is out there and pay back the loan for the training. The "old, old experienced driver" plan on getting a CDL is not necessarily a good plan. Older and experienced drivers do not make the best teachers of CDL skills test training. They are either too far removed from or never had any CDL training and really are not up on the current things that CDL students have to know or do to be very successful at it. Training takes time. I just trained a driver who supposedly had large vehicle experience and he was pretty darned horrible. It took over 8 weekends to get the guy to the point where he had a 70/30 chance of passing the skills test and pre-trip. No one really wants to go to school and learn new things. BUT the quickest and most sure way of actually getting enough proper training to acquire a CDL is via a training school. Generally the tech colleges overall are more thorough but longer and go well above the basic CDL skills.. When someone needs to get to work, sitting in a classroom or roaming around a range or course is not the best thing (albeit probably needed). The skills of the normal new driver peaks at around three weeks to a month. Their skills improve a LOT at first then they tend to "plateau" and they are as good as they are going to be for a while. They are rather clumsy and rough for a pretty long time. There are those who really dont ever get much better.. and then there are drivers who always want to improve and get better and smoother. I have been in trucks with both types.

 

A school won't get you any better off than with your buddy. It's that 1st year, WITH a month of REAL driver training, teaming with someone, that will really teach you.

 

Teaming doesn't teach anyone anything...

 

I'm sure his two job prospects have a 1099 ready for him. Good luck fighting to get paid every week. Last thing you want a trucking company to know is how limited your options are. There are no buddies in trucking. Only Giver's and Reciever's so bring your lube. The bad company section is full of drivers who tried to take a short cut. Only to be bent over and now they have to do it the regular way. My prayers are with whoever has to train you.

Roll Tide!!

 

I went to a private cdl school. 160 hr course and then went straight to work for a small tanker outfit that didn't have a finishing program. I learned everything on the fly. They hired me cause my father worked there. It cost me $6000 out of pocket for school and I did that to skip the the contract with a mega. There were a couple students who had job offers and the company paid their tuition in full. If this logging company is definitely gonna hire you then why don't you see if they'll do the same thing since you're so positive you'll have a job. I'm not being a smart ### but it will solve your problems.