Hi everyone! Please help me out!!

You want to bottom line it? How much were you paid when you began driving for Swift? How would that compare to if you had gotten licence with your own money and started with another company? And if you really were making decent money at Swift, why would anyone ever leave? If it really was a no-interest loan, then why not tell them you will pay them off with a small monthly payment over the next 50 years?

 

Please read what I wrote. I could have gone through Academy, got my CDL, and went straight to the same company that I could have by getting my CDL with "my own money".

Actually, it would have cost me MORE to go the independent route. I had a choice between two schools; one started every week, and the community college offers four classes a year. The first one would have cost me about 50% more than Swift Academy, and I would be paying that off at 26% (credit card) instead of 0%. The community college would have been a little cheaper, but that would have meant sitting several weeks without earning any income.

And yes, it is really a no-interest loan. The sum of the payments over the 52 weeks exactly equals the tuition of the school. And as for the "50 year" troll, you know that it's the lender that sets the terms of the loan, not the borrower.

FYI, I know of two people that stepped off of their mentor's truck and into a 43 cpm dedicated position with Swift. My plan was to drive for Swift for six months, then move as an "experienced" driver to a different company. When I landed this dedicated position, those plans changed. As long as they keep giving me 2200+ miles/week, I'm happy knowing where I will sleep every night.

 

They lend money out at 0% and have no requirement for you to work for them afterwards .. it is all on your good word ... riiiiiiight .... How does that make sense to you??

Nice location by the way "Somewhere I'd rather not be..."

 

Yes, the loan is at 0%, and yes. there is no requirement to work for them afterword. It's not on anyone's "word"; there is a contract with two signatures on it that say so.

If I work for them, they pay off the loan.
If I don't work for them, *I* pay off the loan.

It's really that simple.

 

I'm kinda in your shoes right now, except it took me getting my CDL-B and driving a school bus to figure it out.

And, much like you, I've been trying to figure out how exactly to do this.

Luckily, my wife works doing the same thing, and can help with the bills when needed. But she talked me into waiting for the summer (when we are on layoff/drawing unemployment) to go ahead and go to driving school on the WIA program, which will hopefully pay most if not all of that cost. For us,that will work best; but I was originally prepared to find the best company that would have me and let them train me.

Now, given what you've told us, and given that you're in Minnesota, your best bet might be Roehl (if they'll have you). From everything I've read, and from everything their drivers here tell me, they sound like a great outfit. If you and they make a good fit, then there's your answer: go to school for them asap, and drive your "indentured period" for them. And if it's still working out, keep driving.

Hope this helps.

 

ANOTHER weirdo here??? Seriously? Lol. Welcome, you'll fit in well here! Living in Minnesota, Rohel and Millis have some of the best training available, and Swift has a terminal just south of the Twin Cities in Inver Grove Heights. As previously said, stay away from CR England, CRST and Western Express. Right now, as a new guy, those two, Rohel and Millis are your best choices, and seriously, probably the best there is for starter companies. Good luck to you and welcome!

 

How does the cost of your local college compare to the cost of Roehl's CDL program?