Indentured Servitude or $6,000?

With a few rare exceptions, Schneider requires new hires to have a CDL. They would be my first choice in a carrier to hire on with but since they no longer have their own CDL school I'd have to go private, or use another carriers program and bail which is something I don't want to do.

With the recent hammering the stock market took and some other indicators that make it appear manufacturing may slow down significantly in 2016 and 2017, I am leaning towards the company sponsored programs rather than pulling money out of my own pocket. I think there is too much uncertainly and I could waste $5,800 and not get hired on somewhere. As much as I like Schneider, I may end up somewhere else. I'm trying to figure out another way to do this, but I don't see how I can.

 

The only reason I am considering going this route is because I want to get on with Schneider but I am required to have a CDL to get hired by them. They have a Walmart DC about 30 to 40 minutes from me and their Carlisle OC is just over 2 hours away. I am also interested in their Choice Program and although I know everyone seems to scream "don't do it", I think I could make it work for me quite well. If I were 100% certain I could pay the $5,800 to a private CDL school and get an offer from Schneider, I would do it.

That said, I know I am not going to get a commitment like that from Schneider so I am probably going to go through a carrier sponsored CDL program and just drive for that same carrier. I know everyone says to do your one year and jump ship, but I'd prefer not to do that.

 

Schneider requires I walk through the door with a CDL since they no longer run their own CDL school. I think Schneider has a lot of opportunities that align almost perfectly with what I want to do, but I am struggling to figure out how to make it happen.

 

I'm in Central PA. There aren't a lot of places close to me and that is one of the problems. There are a few CC's close to me that will start a CDL class when they have lined up enough people paying $8k to $10k, but I won't be one of the people signing on. The closest place to me is Sage in New Stanton at $5,800 that starts new classes every month. I see a lot of people suggesting some schools near Chicago at $2k give or take, but I have yet to find one that is accredited and I'm afraid to take that chance.

I'm also at the point where the only reason I am still kicking the idea of private school around is because of Schneider (see my comments above). But since I am unlikely to find a way to make that happen and I have concerns about where the economy is headed, I think it would be best if I go through a company sponsored CDL program so that I am assured of a job when I come out the other side of training.

 

I'm not sure that I would qualify for something like that but I'll check into it.

 

I took a quick look at some of the programs available but again, I am almost certain I would never qualify.

I met with one of their recruiters and he did tell me the 160 hours is a requirement, but I can't recall if he said the school needs to be certified. I am going to contact the recruiter again and plan on asking him about certification requirements.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to make it work with Schneider but I realize I may not be able to do that and need a plan B, which is just going through a company sponsored program.