Need help getting started

I am currently unemployed, can not afford to pay for school out of pocket. Looking to get a company sponsor training program, understand up front I will be the newbie and understand what I will have to face in the beginning. Any recommendations of companies to look at to get started. I am not wanting opinions if you felt you were done wrong if deep down inside you have as much to take the blame yourself. Just looking for honest answers. Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum acecarr.

 

Central Refrigerated / Now Basically Swift has a terminal right there next to you in Atlanta. You don't pay for your training till you get out on the road and start earning an income, and as long as you stick with them for a year they'll pay half the tuition. There's a TDA Truck Driving Academy in Conley, GA that they'd probably send you to to get your CDL if you don't already have one. But be warned that Swift is one of the lowest paid out there, so you won't be making a hell of a lot, but if you want a foot in the door it's a pretty easy door to get through with Swift.

 

I have found Swift they send you to Millington, TN for paid training BIG DOWNSIDE they only pay .28mile with 3 small pay increases within the year.

I also just found PAM Trucking will sponsor training in Indianapolis, IN through using greatcdltraining.com pay seems better 35-40K first year. I'm in the middle of talking to recruiter now, we'll see how it goes.

 

They also have a training center in Asheboro NC as well. It would be a lot closer for you since i think they make you find your own ride to the facility. Celadon has a training center in Indy and they will send you a bus ticket

 

I was in your same position a little over a year ago and went into training with pam the school was not great they pretty much teach you the minimum they can to get you to pass and then you go out with a trainer , but most things you learn any way are by experience in my opinion . My trainer was great and i learned alot was with him for 2 weeks you get paid 300 dollars while in training and i started out making 25 cents per mile going solo which is not great . anyway i stayed a year when i left i was at 32 cpm got experience and moved to another company,

the issues i had with pam was no detention pay breakdown pay was i think 29.00 dollars a day and they give you 60 dollars for a hotel if it cost more you have to cover it . also they will take 45 dollars a week from your paycheck for school and a mandatory 25 dollars to 401 k till you have put 500 in
there is alot of sitting waiting on loads because they don't preplan loads some weeks would be good with 3000 miles some would suck and i would barely get 1500 really just depended on loads when i took my one year vacation they average your pay for the last year and my average was 650 dollars a week after insurance school fees etc more like 500 . It sucked but i put in my year and left if you think you can live cheap for a year go for it its hard your away from family and its stressful but in my opinion worth it

 

Millis Transfer in Cartersville is an excellent school and the drivers average $50K per year. Need $500.00 unless that's changed, but well worth it.

Southern Refrigerated Transport - bus ticket to school, free hotel room, free 3 meals a day.

The Hope Grant in GA pays for CDL school with lottery proceeds if you qualify. Ask the unemployment office.

 

Like Chinatown posted...Millis Transfer in Cartersville, GA...I am pretty sure a Millis still works there (Jamie)...you could probably just stop by and check it out. Can't go wrong with MIllis.

 

I have a buddy who just went through Driver Solutions to pay for his training. They got him on with USA Truck. He has to drive for them for a year in order to walk away debt-free. He made $400 per week while training. Don't know what he makes with USA Truck but it got him into the industry after a long career in another field.

 

I see that you live in Cartersville aecarr, so like the others said Millis Transfer would be great for you. To confirm what Chinatown said, you do have to get together the $500 deposit before the school starts, in addition to your DOT physical and CDL A permit. The rest of the tuition is deducted $20 per check until the remainder ($2,500) is paid off. They also will deduct hotel expenses at a rate of $20 per check, but since you live there you probably wouldn't have to worry about that. I will be going to the July 7 school in Cartersville. Good luck to you in whichever route you decide to go