How long after getting hires can I expect a check, broke as a bloke

Where is your location?

 

That is one of the problems. Flat newbies to the industry end up with bottom feeder megas because they need money. That will hurt you in the long run. You can work with your state's rehabilitation board who will keep a list of "Friendly" Companies ready to put you to work as soon you have a CDL, get the necessary endorsements (Hazmat takes on personal interview with TSA/Homeland threat assessment and a decision rendered within two months to you before you can put that on the license. then you have other things like TWIC, Fast Card, Passport etc.

One time I did dishes for Long Johns in Maryland for 4 months every night until I raised over a thousand cash for the next trucking company. Not being broke was very important in having savings on hand and not borrowing money. Payroll takes care of itself.

 

In your case I would say the first pay period after you get on the trainers truck. In a bad hardship your carrier might advance you a C note or 2.

 

If you go to Prime Inc. in Salt Lake City, you can get pay advances until your first check. Not sure, but think it's $200 weekly in pay advances. You'll get meals and lodging free though. I think you get something like $750 or $800 training pay after you hit the road with our trainer, then they start taking some out of that weekly to repay the pay advances you took.
I'm not sure exactly on those amounts, but it's pretty close.

 

4 weeks after you get your CDL. Sometimes in 2, but 4 is what I am seeing.

Why don't you work locally, companies are begging for workers all over the place.

 

Yes.