newbie looking for some advice

A CC might require 2 years of attendance, while a specialty provider only does the 160/40hr in one month. Also, here in Albuquerque, if a CC student doesn't pass the CDL test for the DOT, it's back to square one, a 6 month wait for the class to re-convene, another tuition fee. That's a long time, and time is money. I have not personally confirmed this, but shared these thoughts with 2 young guys just out of the CC program.

 

You have to investigate it, just like anything else before committing. I can speak for Mississippi, which the tuition was 1200 (4 years ago) and took about 6 weeks. Now the disclaimer- I already had a CDL for many years before, driving all kinds of day cabs, straight trucks, goose-necks, and everything inbetween. I had been sick, couldn't work for a little over a year, and all the companies I talked to said I needed a "refresher" type course. There's a for-profit school and a CC near my home that offered the course. The for-profit was almost $6000 for three weeks, and the CC was 1200 for 6 weeks, or "when they thought you wouldn't kill someone". I was ready after about the third day, but I stayed and got everything I could out of the program. After I finished, I had pre-hires from 6 different companies.

Now my circumstances were different than most. Again, I got sick (pancreatic tumor) and needed almost 15 months before I could stand more than 10 minutes at a time. I was officially disabled according to the government. With that, I qualified for all kinds of financial aid for job training or any other type of education I wanted. I had the luxury of being able to take my time and train at a slower pace than a lot of other folks. There were 5 other students in my class, with 2 instructors. We practiced in a class, then pre-tripping, double-clutching, backing, shifting, and docking in a big parking lot at the school, then spent 3 hours driving each day on the highways and in town with 6 students split between the two instructors and two road trucks. Our instructors were actually state employees with about 30 years of trucking driving between the two of them. That to me was better than the for-profit school instructors, who might have stepped off a mega carrier truck after 6 months and make 8 an hour.

Again, I had the luxury of someone else paying for it and the time to do it at a slower pace. I didn't know what I qualified for until I started showing up and asking questions. Once I got to the CC, someone took my hand and walked me through the process of financial aid. You would be absolutely shocked at just how much grant money is out there for people wanting to get job skill training. The bonus for me is that I don't owe anybody anything. No loan from the for-profit school, and certainly not under some contract with a mega carrier saying I have to work for them. At the end of the day, the only thing I HAVE to do is stay white and die. I'm not enough of a people person for someone at a company telling me what I have to be doing.

Again, everybody is different. I'm not actually advocating a CC as much as I'm saying to explore EVERY option out there for training so that you aren't in some "indentured servitude" contract with some company like CR England or Swift. Keep your options open as much as you can.

Just my two cents. I hope it works out the way someone else wants it to

 

The cc I went to paramedic school offered CDL classes, dependant on what class lience you wanted, I took the "B" course ( mostly cause it was conveinent) one day a week for 6 weeks, on saturdays, ambulance and firetrucks. The A class was 12 weeks, I don't remember what the number was but there was a cap on the number of students. 1/2 in class 1/2 "on the driveing course or road". We are talking 20 some yrs ago, sooo my lack of recall might be excused.

The one thing I don't think cc or a private school teaches is the reality of "being a truck driver". It's the one thing that the company schools have over them, your liveing it, and with a good trainer getting over it without being to truamatized by it all. Bad trainer could make it worse though.

 

these cdl schools pretty much focus on getting you through the dmv cdl test. Throw in a little extra driving, a few stories, couple log book classes and, maybe, coupling/uncoupling to make you feel like your getting your moneys worth.

 

Absolutley correct. While I've been driving some form of truck and trailer for going on 25 years now, I didn't learn how to be a "truck driver" until I got here and started OTR. I wouldn't say I had a bad trainer, because he was a good dude. He didn't teach me very much, other than the basic stuff. His main focus on the road was casinos and slot machines. I actually liked it because he always got freebies like hotel rooms and buffets from the joints he was gambling at. Additionally, while he was in there at a slot machine, that meant the truck was parked and I slept like a baby because the truck wasn't moving. Once I went out solo, I started figuring out the little things that add up to being a truck driver.

Everybody's circumstances are different, and you have to do what's best for you individually apart from everyone else. What it comes down to, I think, is time. If you can spread out your time, then the CC might work. The class size will be smaller, it's state supported, there are all kinds of grants available, and you don't end up being under some contract to pay back your employer. If you need a paycheck quick, then a CDL mill school might be the answer.

The point I'm trying to make is that company training schools who put you under contract to work for them is just not a good idea in my opinion. It's as if you are paying them to work for heir company. It's the same thing as lease programs. Why in the hell would I want to pay your truck note so that I can buy fuel and haul YOUR freight? It's the same thing in my book. If I want to be an O/O, then I'll go visit my friendly neighborhood big truck dealer and figure out my own financing. Then It's MY TRUCK and MY RULES. if you think a company is looking out for your best interests, then I would to sell you the toll rights to the Jersey Turnpike.