Laid off. I have no CDL, no driving experience, want to work in oil fields. Help!!

In NYC, most driving schools are package deals. 10 or 20 lessons depending on what you feel you need to pass the road test. Would this be frowned upon by companies?

 

OTR is a scam. And if you are going to spend $3500 for school, you could attend a PTDI certified SAGE school for that kind of money! I would jump online, find a SAGE or PTDI certified CDL school some place close to you or near an area you want to live and enroll. If you are telling me that $25K is all you will make your first year- RUN! You could make 2-3x that in the oil industry.

I know each person has unique circumstances but if you have a clean driving record and come in with a CDL you can find work. Also being a resident of TX is not necessary. I was hired in TX and my CDL was in NC. If you come from AZ with your CDL you will have to retake the written test to move your license to TX. Also get your tanker and hazmat endorsements. You will have a lot of options that way.

 

You already live in Phoenix, why not start here (link provided) where they are accredited? Call them up and ask the difference. Like it was mentioned on here, if you want to get a job with Sunoco for example they are going to require that you attended an accredited school, so why not do that? Otherwise you kind of wasted your time and you may not get the best training if you end up at a CDL mill.

http://ait-schools.com/learn-about-ait-cdl-schools/recognition/

Going to TX first will not make a difference. You show up to the state with your CDL and get a job, you can switch your license over later or not. I drive in OK with a TX CDL, no problem.

 

My understanding is that the trucking companies insurance requires "x" amount of hours training, usually 160 or more. Just renting a truck and getting a license wouldn't qualify you to drive for a company like Sunoco, or Suncoast, or any of the other large/fairly large companies.

Frac companies don't do as much driving, so some of them will hire even without a CDL, depending on need.

You would be better off going to a school if you want to drive full-time.

 

I just became annoyed with AIT trucking because they refuse to quote prices over the phone. They want you to come in for a pre-application and have a recruiter talk with you. That's such a BS tactic. I hung up.
Swift, Knight, and a Southwest all quoted me prices. With that said...at least they are straight forward on tuition costs.
However, the rules change after you become a truck driver with any of these companies they see you as just a number. I'm betting with any trucking company I will make $25,000 my first year. They all say I will make much more--but that's a crock because I have known former truckers from Swift, Knight and some say they have empty loads, and driving out the in the middle of nowhere, etc.

I will keep doing my homework.

 

$25K - $30K is about right with those mega-refrigerated/dry van carriers, for a newbies first year. That's why many of us on this forum with many years experience, recommend getting all the endorsements, TWIC, passport early, so you don't have to settle for poverty wages. The money is with flatbed or tanker! Graduate from a private CDL school & you can start right out making good money in flatbed or tanker. If you can't afford private CDL school, go with Prime Inc. flatbed/tanker school or CRST flatbed or Roehl flatbed. CRST will pay for CDL school with only an 8 month commitment; after the 8 months, any flatbed company will hire you and many tanker/hazmat companies will also. Texas is the best state in the nation for high quality flatbed and tanker jobs.

 

Southwest Trucking School - find out how long the school is, then call some good companies and ask if they accept that school. Ask the school administrator,which companies recruit from the school, then you can double-check by calling the companies if it's a company you like.

Make a list of companies you want to work for, excluding the mega-refrigerated carriers, and ask if they will hire you if you graduate from that school. Maverick will hire with only a CDL & no schooling, if you're in the hiring area.

 

Southwest Truck Driver Training in Tucson

 

Swift in Phoenix also has a certified course. Unless you are looking to go over the road I would advise against just taking any CDL class. If you are trying to get into the oil field it could make the difference. It did for me.

Also, you have the quote for Swift. Would it hurt to go compare prices at AIT? I know their tactic of not relaying prices over the phone sucks but if you could save several hundred dollars it would be worth the time and effort.

http://ptdi.org/schools/schoolslist.aspx#arizona

 

I don't think 3500 is a lot to pay for a career education. Once you have your cdl you pretty much have a very secure career ahead of you and you'll make that money back quickly. Lots of opportunity for truck drivers. Especially if you have a clean background and excellent driving record. Not much to pay for an education that will last a lifetime !