I can’t pay for CDL school out of pocket… What are my options?

I live in New Jersey, and I’ve heard of grants or financial aid but I don’t know how those work and my research doesn’t really lead me to one concrete answer. In you guys’ opinion what are my options?

Thanks in advance!

 

@Chinatown China will give you some options, there’s several companies that offer training.

 

WIOA Program New Jersey pays for cdl school, free to you.
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As @Vic Firth posted, several trucking companies offer cdl school plus a job.
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Bradway Trucking in Vineland, NJ has cdl school. Must be 23 yrs. old or older.

 

Stevens Transport trains near you. Pays for private cdl school, plus a job at graduation.

 

You never cease to impress. Your wealth of knowledge on all of these trucking companies and paid training programs is mind boggling. I'm raising my glass of O Positive to you sir!

p.s. May the fangs of Frank never crease your neck! Of course, it'll be a lot easier if you're not a Kentuckian as I'm not exactly known to have an abundance of will power.

 

I got mine paid for through the WIOA program. But there are conditions that must be met before they will shell out the money.
Trucking companies that provide the training don't have those conditions, they just have other conditions on the back end.

WIOA is great if you qualify. No contracts or repayments for the training.

Going through company paid training means you are usually on the hook for the cost of the training, which is taken out of your pay during the first year of employment. Not bad at all if you are at a decent company (or in the right place in any company). But that way is not 'free' to you.

At Swift they deduct the cost of training during the first year, then pay it back to you at the same rate during the second year.
Stick around for two years and the training cost is net zero to you.
(All presuming, of course, that you have a good staff working with you and you are not a total screw-up as a driver.)

 

Got a physical the other day and nurse came into the room and said, "Geeze, your alcohol content is through the roof and you're still coherent. You'll be the talk of this ward from now on."

 

Roehl Transport pays salary of $616.00 weekly while attending their cdl school. Meals & lodging are provided.
Most companies do have a contract which runs from 12 mos. to 24 mos. Nothing wrong with contracts as long as the paychecks are decent and you're driving a comfortable truck.

 

What county are you in? Morris/Sussex/Warren Employment & Training Services would pay for you to attend 160 Driving Academy, at the Sussex Community College location in Newton, assuming you meet the eligibility criteria. This was back in late 2020 at the height of the pandemic, so it's possible procedures have changed. Good luck!

 

Money for CDL Training