Go cheap on training mantra

Yes, going cheap is the best route to take, given that most guys get out of trucking within a few years after getting in. Some don't even last a year, so it doesn't make much sense to pay big money for training. Besides, the cost of tuition at a mill is high because the government, with all its handouts, has driven up the cost of tuition you will be paying if you pay using your own funds. Don't do it. Anything over about 700 is a waste, in my opinion. But this is just me. Understand that my nostrils are still enlarged from paying through the nose for my own training.

I think you should visit your local employment office and see what kind of retraining grant you can get from the government. I know getting a government handout sucks, but with training costs being so far inflated, you really don't have any choice in the matter. Get a grant if you can. Clinton started a 'welfare to work' plan that allows grants to be paid to some for retraining in a new field. See if you can qualify for such a grant. If you can't, go to a community college. Just go cheap (or free) whatever you do.

Also, make sure the training school is certified. I think it's PTDI (?) that certifies schools. Some (good) companies want grads from certified schools. Crete is one.

5,000 is too much to pay for training. Add to this out-of-pocket cost the opportunity cost, which is the money you won't be making because you'll be in driving school instead of working for a month or so. When I figure my opportunity cost into my total costs, my CDL ran me nearly 10,000 in 1995 dollars. You can do better than this idiocy.

You can also do better than the idiocy of going to work for a company like C.Our. England Advertisement. Stay away from England. Stay away from SwiftQuit. Stay away from J.B. JobHunt. There are others to avoid, too. You can read all about those outfits here.

Good luck, Bama.

 

Im going to millis transfer its 2000 you pay 500 up front 3 weeks of class then you go out over the road 4to 6 weeks they pay you 500 /500/650 /700 something like that. then you take your test.they have different types of pay.number is 1-800-937-0880 ask for jazz.

 

Central Refrigerated also has a Driving school that's about 2 grand. You work for them a year, they pay the majority of it. I think one guy I talked to paid $60 a month towards his loan, which isn't bad. It's about like a CDL Mill, there's 4-5 people per truck, you have limited time doing backs etc, but they send you with a trainer for 4 weeks once you're done, so any problems can be worked out then. I've met several people who went through the school, and they seem happy with it, and don't mind working the year to get it paid for. You don't have to stay with Central, they won't pull your school certificates if you leave, but you'll be on your own for repaying the loan.

Don't lease a truck from England. That's how they make their money, they get people to lease trucks right out of training when they don't know the workings of the industry. What happens if you get a 1-3year lease, and after 3 months hate driving and quit? you're stuck with that lease, you need to find someone to take it over, and there's always the chance you're going to have to pay to get out of the lease. It's not worth it.

I paid $4200 for my schooling and went to Sage. I got a great education, better than a lot of schools, but I paid for it. I had trouble with my trainer once in a while, because he was training me like Central would train their students, and it messed up the training I'd gotten from Sage, but I blundered through and made it out okay.

I second Tip's suggestion of seeing if you can get a grants. In addition to the local employment agency, go to the local college and see if they have aid for driving school. There was a woman in the class right behind me who got a federal grant through the local community college to go to Sage and get retrained. She might have had an edge because she was a single mother, but she still got money to pay for it. The worst thing that happens is you find out they won't, the best is that school will be paid for, so you'll have more options, and not just "Who trains fastest/cheapest/and pays for the training"

 

I'm going to the Community College theirs is broken down like this
Tuition $504.00 $2,799.00 Technology Fee $12.00 $12.00 Activity Fee $19.00 $19.00 Handbook $45.00 $45.00 Processing Fee $40.00* $40.00* Total $622.00 $2,917.60The $2917 is out of state tuition. They are 30 minutes from home class is Monday-Friday from 7:00am-6m for 8 weeks. I'm going to spend more in gas then the class cost.
That is a lot of hours got a feeling some of it is going to be fill time. Well at least it want cost much if I end up not in a year out of trucking. Plus I get college credits for it as well. Tat is somewhere around 400 hrs when companies get you in and out of their training in what 104 hours. I have had to get my CDL permit before attending class so that time is not included. Can someone tell me what their Community College class was like out there. My class doesn't start till Mid Oct. Oh by the way for people wondering how I'm living for 8 weeks going to trucking school, I'm retired military and wife works. So right now I'm waiting on class and reading everything I can find on trucking.

 

Are you enrolled in JCC? It's a good training school with ancient equipment. Good luck in your training! You will enjoy driving the Super-10 transmission once you get the hang of it.