Looking for advice

Get the twice card and all the endorsements. I never went to driving school but from the guys that have, they told me lots of places will pay you back for your schooling but 4100 isn't that big of a deal. You'll have recruiters visiting the school often and most will pre-hire you before you get your cdl. Decent drivers with no tickets have no problem finding a trucking job, they have a harder time finding one they like.

 

If you can't get reimbursed it is a nice tax deduction.

 

Many companies will hire you, train you (different than cdl school) and reimburse you. Check with the companies you are interested in. If you goal is eventually local or regional work you may consider getting some experience with a Reefer company as you have both Perdue and Montainaire right there in your backyard. Not sure about Perdue but Montainaire wants three years experience.

At Stevens we do have a perdue dedicated account, I do not know much about it but ran into a guy I went through orientation with and he is on it. He is a lease driver so I don't know if that is a requirement or not, I am a company driver.

Stevens will reimburse you for the school at so much per week, I do not know what the amount is.

Whoever you decide on, find out how long it will take to get reimbursed fully, you may end up with a company you want to leave before I this fully paid back and go with someone else, you may find making more at the second company will offset the reimbursements.

Good luck!

 

OTR, I would say that is maybe a little high for a first year, 2nd that should jot be a problem, but if you go with a northeast regional company, they generally have a higher cents per mile. Of course your miles will be less due to traffic and congestion, so I am not sure about that. I know Prime has a Northeast Regional fleet and they will train you, but you would need to talk to someone there for specifics.

 

I have a friend who just did what you did.He paid the 4,000 at the community school.He has ia passport,twic and every endorsement.He passed it all and i now driving for a ''beginner'' bottom feeder company...He hates it and wishes he never did it..

He landed a job at .38 cents a mile and is only getting between 1800-2400...He lives in his truck for 3 weeks and get 2 days off and then back at it...His food bill and road expenses for 7 days is about 100.00...His truck has E-LOGS,QUAL-COM and is cut at 62 MPH...

2000 X .38 = 760.00 (GROSS)

760.00 - 100.00 (FOOD) = 660.00 <--------------------- the real gross...

660.00 / 7 days on road = 94.28 a day...

24 hours attached to truck / 94.28 = 3.92 An Hour..

This formula is not even taking out 25% taxes...

 

So true, but you can survive if you want to.
I spend more than that on food.

 

Ask Perdue. I'd go to Schneider, let them train you and they pay around .30 the first year but you have to have the first year anyway before you can go anywhere. They will tell you if you stay 1 year, your school is paid, if you quit before , you pay for the school. Good equipment and lots of trips to Texas etc. Stay away from Stevens, it's just another rip lease in which you pay them to work. Read it if you don't believe me. Perdue has lease operators and co drivers and they run down to Florida and i'm not sure how far west but you need 2 yrs OTR to work for them.

 

Thats a good word,Surviving.The CEO's know this and use this ''1 yr exp'' to exploit drivers and drive down the wages to a slave wage...CEO's suck...

If you ''survive'' the 1st year,it does not mean you will get a wonderful PAY RAISE or find the pot of gold..I think it's all a scam today.IMO..

Years ago we just went down to the DMV and got our Chauffers and went to work making 500-700 a week..No fuss or hassle,just money and work..