Looking for guidance

I started at CREngland almost 12 years ago. I paid cash for the school. Lots of guys did it where they became indentured servants.
If you can, pay cash, and go to a school everyone will accept ( I think ours was 160 hours classroom, that was the requirement back then ), and then of course you must pass the states CDL exams.

Back then it $1600.

I hear people now talk between $5,000 & $10,000.

 

Depending on where you are, you might look at Roehl. They actually pay you a wage while you go through their class. Run with them for a year and then move on once you some miles under the belt.

 

160 Driving Academy has a school in St. Louis on the IL side. You can still attend if you live in MO.
Many companies will reimburse the tuition back to you on a monthly payment schedule.
Maybe contact Old Dominion and ask if they hire from that school. If not, there's plenty of other choices of good companies. On rare occasion, Beelman hires a new cdl grad. Dynamic Transit in St. Louis probably hires from that school, but they run California. I'm sure some tanker companies hire from there. Schneider Bulk is ok and reimburses tuition. Girton Propane Service may still hire new grads.

 

Companies that they tried to push on me for financing were

http://www.160drivingacademy.com/usa-trucking/

https://schneider.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=161418&src=AGCY-10160&lang=en

https://internal-usfholland.icims.c...r---edwardsville-(st-louis),-il/job?mode=view

 

Schneider Bulk (tanker division) is a good choice.
Holland is ok if you want lots of hometime. I once worked under the YRC umbrella with YRC Logistics and the whole company seemed to struggle with bad management, but the pay was ok.
YRC Freight has at times hired a new cdl grad. Teamsters. Holland is part of YRC.

 

Oh yeah I believe they give out free CDL classes at Forest Park CC. All you need is a Missouri DL but don't take my word for it. It may be other ways/schools in St. Louis but I'm not sure cause I'm on the east side of things. Just what I heard...

 

DHL might have something.
Averitt Express may have something you'd like; local/regional work.
Gate Gourmet - local hauling food carts to airliners at the airport. Don't know if that would help though since they usually only require Class-B. Probably depends on the area you live in.

Holland or Averitt might be your best bet for local/regional.
Even Waste Management is now hiring CDL drivers with no experience. Used to need at least a year experience.
UPS Freight sometimes hires new grads. This is tractor-trailer truckload, terminal to terminal.

Food service companies can be home most every day:
Sygma Network
McLane Foodservice
Reinhart Foodservice

 

I haven't worked for awhile but I had some unemployment to keep me afloat. Yeah working and going to the 40hr/4week course is tough but even tougher when you have to leave a secure paycheck. I'm looking at the long term and taking the leap. Hope you do to man. Good luck to you.