Potential driver, lot of questions

Look at Local LTL companies that do training...

 

OD or Conway...I have never seen a PAM driver smile...

Be Safe Out There

Captain Dave

 

If you get 'free training' and 'something' happens you will be expected to pay it back.
If you don't they may put it on your credit but it's unlikely they will do much more than that.

 

The only FREE training I know of is through your local unemployment office program called WIA if you're financial past qualifies you. But when you sign on with a carrier for a specified time, you must complete that time or owe the money.

 

Check with the unemployment office about tuition.
If you live near London, KY then can probably be hired by Schneider doing Walmart dedicated runs. Schneider will sponsor CDL school and you will need to talk to a Schneider recruiter about that.
Roehl Transport has their own CDL school and some pretty good regional home time offerings. This company has a pretty good reputation.
Earl Henderson Trucking Company the pay is good for new drivers and they have their own CDL school. The new pay package has a guarantee minimum weekly pay for 2100 miles a week @ $.38 cents per mile. Just be on time and don't turn down any loads and you will at the very least get the minimum weekly pay. This company provides hotel room/one person per room, 3 meals a day while in school.

Prepare now; you will need:
original social security card
original birth certificate
steel toed work boots/slipon are best, but any are OK.
flashlight
cheap work gloves
sleeping bag & pillow

 

Hi China, you have a wealth of info, I am city driver in Tucson, AZ , thinking about going OTR. 28 yrs in the city. I want to stay in Tucson, any advice would be appreciated. Thank you

 

If I were looking to get my CDL the 1st thing I would not do is look at OJT ... I'd do as I did in 1988. Look to see if the state I live in offers state assistance and student loans "govt.Loans to help further your education. You say you have a wife and kids. See about supplemental loans for you'll be considered a student. Then use the web as you did here to search the most reputable Truck driving school near you. And research their job placement record and reviews. Look at what many people here say about the start up companies. You said you do not want to go over the road , so don't ! The school you pay almost 4k to should have a job placement program that should offer you local work and if they don't look at another school !

 

If ABF or Conway are in your area they have a driving school position , you'd have to check openings. I went into beverage (beer) right out of school because I wanted to be home every night. Did that for 1.5yrs now I'm a P&D city driver. The plus of beverage (for me atleast) is go in early, do is early. Now my start times are all over the place, but it seems there's no getting around that with LTL companies, at least when your new.