Over analyzing my choices. Pay for CDL or indenture myself?

So your saying I should be prepared to jump to another company after 3 months? That sounds crazy to me.
Regardless, the fact remains that if I want to pay out my obligations to Prime and go my own way, I'm only out $3500 MAX. That would probably be less depending on how long I stayed with Prime.
So if I actually thought it was prudent to leave after 3 months, I certainly could, but is that REALLY a good idea? Jumping ship after 3 months? How do work up a relationship with with your FM? How could you possibly know if line of crap the recruiter is giving you would really make switching after 3 moths a good idea? I dunno. doesn't sound like a good plan.

$3500.00 is around the middle of road cost wise for private CDL classes in my area, and the local community college does not offer CDL courses.

I have yet to find an OTR company that would pay a complete noob $700.00 month while training, and then .43 cents a mile after going solo.

Maybe I'm being stubborn, and have my mind made up already, but If I have to pay for my schooling, what does it matter if I do it before or after I get my CDL? And it's not likely that I would be eligible for financial assistance as I'm making decent money right now.

The main reason I'm leaning away from getting my CDL before looking for a job, is that I'd have to pretty much quit my current job, AND get a hotel room for however long it takes to go thru schooling and find a job. So it would be rather expensive, and I'd have to save up another 2 grand or so. I have about 5 grand saved now, so just paying for school is not an issue. It's paying for a place to live and car insurance, gas, etc while I go to school that is keeping from going that route.

But as stubborn as I might be, I'd still like some compelling reason to pay for my own CDL schooling.

Can someone point me to an OTR company that hires complete noobs and would pay more than Prime, Werber, Swift, etc.. Because I cant find them.
Not only would they pay better, but they should also pay well enough to quickly recoup my expenses (schooling and other costs).

Keep in mind that I'm looking for long OTR work, not local.

I know I sound stubborn, and like I have my mind made up, but I have to tell you my train of thought and reasoning. I really do want to hear some compelling arguments, because if it is really so much better (at least in my situation) I can make it happen.

 

Here's the way I see it. I love Fritos Bean Dip and ate it for years. Now, I've found something better; Old El Paso refried beans. Can eat a whole can during one sitting. Warm it in the microwave for 1 minute, the go to it with a bag of Doritos. Hope this helps.

 

You sir, are my new hero! Sound advice given nearly every time!

Keep up the good work.

 

I'm in the same boat you are. Got a current good paying job and quitting it is going to be kind of tough. I've been considering going to school at Napier. They do weekend classes so I can keep my job while I go to school. However its going to be 3 months before a new class starts and I need 2 grand down and I will have to pay a total of 5200. The cost is 4200 but financing it brings it just over 5 grand. This way I can finish school while working, and then use my vacation time to head to another company for their orientation. It gives me a small window in case something happens and I need my old job.

That being said, your right. Your not going to find another company besides Prime that will pay you $700 a month with no experience. Its hard to beat. For that reason I'm also still strongly considering them. In fact I'm still playing phone tag with one of the recruiters right now. In the end it doesn't matter how you got your CDL, it just matters that what your doing fits your needs. If you find things are really bad later at Prime or somewhere else jumping ship isn't going to matter. And taking the 3500 dollar bill with isn't going to make or break you. Whether its 3 months or a year I don't thinks its going to affect you. I mean your not going to quit unless you already have another job lined up anyway. As long as when your in that second job, you stay there for awhile.

 

Schneider Bulk and some other tanker outfits will reimburse your tuition. Look at the big picture if you plan to stay in trucking; with 2 yrs. tanker experience at Trimac then qualifying for their elite fleet, you can make over $100K per year.

Schneider Bulk
Trimac Transportation
Superior Carriers
SVTN
Tidewater Transit
Coastal Transport
Groendyke Transport
Bay & Bay
A&R Transport
CTL Transportation

All these recruit new CDL grads, but some are picky and only recruit from certain schools.

Prime has food grade tankers.

 

Yeah, if I could find a place right now that would make it possible for me to work AND go to classes, I might be all over that. But I work 12 hour days, and work at leas one weekend day several times a month. It's a good problem to have, but makes CDL classes and working a bit difficult.

Keep me posted on the Prime recruiter stuff if you can. I'd be interested in what they have to say.

 

Staying with a company for a solid yr is good but not many do for million different reasons.Going thru a school you can pick and choose the company and chances are you'll still pick a company that offers training.If you did choose a carrier that trains its not a big deal if you didn't stay a full yr as long as you pay the schooling off.Otherwise you'll still be on contract and I don't know of any companies that hires while a driver is under contract with another company.But if you have the money and you're leaning towards a regular school I would go that route but you also need to do plenty of research on that school.Look for one that offers the longest training rather then these 3 to 5 week courses.

 

That's good stuff right there. Looked at a few of them real quick just now. That some good food for thought.

I'm sort of thinking maybe take up with a company CDL program and then just buy out the training? Would that be a hindrance for any of these companies? If I went to Prime's tanker division, and then bought out my obligation, would they less likely to hire me on?

 

fyi it's $700 a week not month lol

 

Yes it is. I knew that. Was just going over my monthly budget, so had that on my mind. Good catch!