Help... Pam Sponsored Training or Private School?

I'm in school right now facing that $7000 (give or take a few dollars) student loan. I wish I would have looked deeper into going to a company school myself. I think a year of a persons life is worth it if they are properly trained.

 

The thing about company training is what if you don't like the company? Many won't acknowledge your training until you complete the agreement. Then you are back to square one.

Going to a technical school gives you the freedom of not being committed to any one company. A large majority of new drivers are ready to quit their first company by 6 months due to a variety of reasons.

A lot has to do with attitude and being able to deal with that first tough year. It's hard no matter where you go to get your stripes. Companies that train do it to fill seats and a financial benefit from reduced wages.


I think the best route for one to go is a community college. You can get federal student aide that doesn't have to start being repaid until 6 months after graduation. Grants are available. And most of all if you don't like a company, you can move to the next and not be in debt to them. It's a lot easier to owe Uncle Sam than a company that will take you to the cleaners if things don't work out.

A community college is more committed to giving you better quality training with a professional curriculum in a professional learning environment. When you are done you have an accredited certificate in hand. Many trucking companies won't give you any accreditation.


I see you live in Columbus, MS BigChief. Check this college out.

http://www.eastms.edu/students/classes/ct-programs/truckdriving/Pages/default.aspx

 

so if i am reading w/comprehension,you are scared (apprehensive?) of having to manually shift truck. regardless of whatever company that you drive for,manual shifting IS NOT going away anytime soon.
go to the Alabama place or the place that Condo cruiser linked and really learn to drive.shifting is part of driving.get past the hangup Big Chief.you will be fine.

 

Quoted for truth. I know that the community college I trained at, the course was run by guys who were drivers for many years for a company that closed/merged with another. All of these guys had 1,000,000+ safe miles (one had 4,000,000) and they knew what they were talking about. They actually taught you how to drive and not just pass the CDL test.

From some of the posts I've seen, I wonder if half of these company instructors have even driven on the road. Plus the benefit of having the freedom to work for whatever company you want. At the college I went to, because I did well in school I was able to use my instructors as references when getting my first job which was a big benefit. Many companies offer some form of tuition reimbursement if you start within a certain time after finishing school.

 

Are you a financially responsible person? If the answer is yes, then I'd concur with the above - find your own school, leave your options open. If you're not responsible with your finances, then perhaps the company school which only requires a year of employment as repayment might be a way to get what you need and preserve your credit rating.
Don't get hung up over automatic trucks. You really do need to learn to shift a truck manually. What if, at some point down the road, you find a great company to work for which doesn't run automatics, and you've been driving for two or three years without ever having shifted a truck? Well, you'll find yourself out of the running before you were even in it.

 

This is good advice. I drove for Pam for 4 years. Would have left sooner, but developed the fear of switching to manual. Passed up some good opportunities. Finally faced the fear, switched to manual, and got a much better job. IMO, new drivers should do their first year in a manual shift.

 

Missing and grinding gears is all part of the learning process. Unless a student has prior experience which is few, they all grind them. By the end of school you'll have a somewhat good idea but will still have problems. A couple weeks with a trainer and some miles you will improve greatly. Practice makes perfect.