On a company sponsored training hunt. Which company?

First thing you can do is study and get your CDL permit now. There are 3 written tests to pass, then 3 more for endorsements. There are practice tests right here, just keep taking them until you get 90's consistently.

Having a permit will help you get a dock to driver position at the better paying LTL companies like FedEx Freight, Old Dominion, etc. The is a local and LTL forum here as well.

Look for a dock position now, that gets money coming in, and at least get the permit.

 

@CK73
Give her some suggestions about relocating to Nevada. She can do much better in Nevada than California.
Many truckers prefer Reno over Las Vegas due to Interstate-80 running through there.
@COBB2070 - Any suggestions to help her on California or Reno?

 

Big place. North, central, or south was what I was looking for.

Running i-5 to WA and back, doesn't really matter. Running east west, might make a difference in choice of companies.

 

Prime Inc. trains in Salt Lake City. Can take a pet after training.
Check with California WIOA Program for free cdl school.

 

That's a hard story for the OP, sorry to see her in a position like this, it's horrible and I know how it feels to be transient. Some have used driving school as a way to escape homelessness, with mixed results.

Sorry to say, unless she is willing to give up the pooch or find a place for it during training, I don't have any solutions either. Yes, you could go to Lathrop, CA. training academy and they will put you up in a room, but it's a shared room. Even if it was not, a hefty deposit would probably be required and leaving a dog alone in a motel room for up to 10 hours is not fair to the hotel or dog. It's just not happening, and not to be cruel, but clinging to that fantasy could make you homeless long term.

Far as bringing a young adult along, makes things even worse. It's just not happening. No dog or kids during training.

Then the complications of not having a DL or SS card. Obviously get those first at all costs, you will need them for any endeavor.. How would one even check into a motel without ID?

Good advice though starting with a company in Reno. There are plenty of cheap living options outside of the truck, for temporary housing anyway.. $40-$50 CDL rates galore and Segal suites for more long term transition housing if you want to stay. A great place to start over, but no options exist that I am aware of that will take dogs during training, nor that are ALL inclusive, you still have to pay for most meals, the DOT physical, CDL, and basic things like sleeping bag, gloves, proper attire, etc.

My advice to OP is to get a $500 minimum loan from friends or family, get the DL/SS issue sorted out quick in CA, get a Bus ticket to Lathrop (Swift will pay for it), including housing, included is the CLP (Learner's Permit) training (but not the $35 CLP itself) first week.. All she will need is enough money to pay for food, Physical, CLP, supplies.. roughly $300 for all of that. So, you will not need to self study as the learner's permit study is included as an option while you stay in a hotel/motel.

Lastly, if you have smoked weed or whatnot last several months don't even waste your time. They all do hair follicle tests these days.

Once all of that is squared away as said, Reno is a great place for driver's to start a new life but there's no all inclusive, pet's ok, no DL or SS card needed option anywhere. I am not recommending Swift per se it's just the devil I know, and can speak about first hand.

 

Not to be a negative Nancy, but what makes you think you can drive a truck?

One thing that has been popping up here are newbies crying how hard simple things like backing up are for them, even one who claims the change of the truck won't allow him to back up.

Maybe getting any local job to pay your housing and food until you can get to the point not to use this as a last resort type job could be a prudent move.

 

Lots of local jobs in Sac. Why bother with trucking, I wonder.

Reno gets lots of snow, you'd need to be able to handle and install tire chains in order to go over Donner.

 

Good luck to you.
I hope trucking is your path to turn your life around. It has easy and hard days, but you can make a good living, particularly if you are single and rent/mortgage free.
You can drive a truck, it truly is not difficult, but you do need to be the most defensive driver on the road. Stay alert.

 

Get you nevada asap.

Can get cdl here in as under as 2 hours.