How much money to bring?

I LIKE your attitude. Failure is not an option.

When I left home to do orientation with Swift I had a duffle bag of food, a duffle bag of clothes and sleeping kit, and a laptop computer bag. I had $300 in my pocket and I knew going in that my first paycheck was 20 days away and it would be TINY due to accounting cutoff date versus pay day. I survived to get a more decent check on the 27th day. By the time my training ended I had saved almost $1500 by limiting expenses and the wife supported herself.

I went in with eyes wide open and made it work. Sounds like you have the same advantage. Far too many newbies have their expectations shattered and can't hack it.

 

If your wife rides with you for a trip after training you could let her drive the car back home from term. but after your on the road going back to the term. where your car was dropped may not happen that often you will be driving your truck home for your time off.

 

Good luck and be safe out there. I will be driving to my Orientation Terminal after CDL school. Mainly because its less than an hour from my house. They even said I could drive home every night if I wanted but that is a bit excessive to drive since they are paying for a hotel. I will bring my bank card and a spare credit card for EMERGENCIES if needed. I figure $100 for every week I am out should cover most needs. Be well and Be safe.

JG

 

Ok. Keep it simple


How much to bring.


All of IT!!!!!

 

I'm sorry but this is not correct. Every training company I have ever been part or heard of paid those sign on bonuses after the school then at the different intervals later. It is a bonus not training pay. Actually a company can get into serious legal trouble if they did this and got caught.

 

500 to 1000 is good. Don't make it obvious when you pay for things how much cash you have on you. Bring the credit card for any emergency.

 

You want to put about 200 in a corner of your wallet and remember it is there to get you the bus ticket if your dumped on the side of the road because of a bad trainer. It does happen. The rule of thumb in 2007 was to bring $400. Your numbers left out one important thing about driving for someone.

After you start working for that company. When do they actually give you your first paycheck?

You need to know this. Dont eat out, this will kill your resources quickly! Anything at a truckstop usually will cost you about $20, so buy it elsewhere. Get to a Walmart if you can. Walmarts even try to cater to truckers (or at least they do here in Maine). Get things that you can leave behind. Food should only be basic stuff, bread peanut butter and grape jelly are a good one for lunch, they dont require refrigeration. Your only getting trained at the moment. When you actually get your own truck, you will need to get your own CB radio. Learn to use it.

Dont count on there being a refrige in the truck. If there is a microwave you can get meals that are prepackaged that are about $2 each that require no refrigeration. You are going camping, but not under the stars. You will do this for the duration of your training. It is after your training you can make life on the road more livable. Just remember, I said expect to leave it all behind? Trainers are quirky. I had one toss me off of a truck in Youngstown Ohio after only 2 hours. He wanted me to touch his junk. I refused. Like I said, trainers are quirky, not everyone is going to be like I had. Yet if you get tossed, if you bought all sorts of stuff? The trainer may toss it out of the truck with you. Sad fact of life.

 

My old co driver lived off of advances. Still does. He would have half his check spent before he even got it. I tried to tell him different but he knew everything lol

 

You would be surprised how many are doing this and cant manage their money when they do this. Good point AustinMike.