Roadmaster / Sage or Company Paid CDL Training Program?

Roehl? Schneider?, a dozen other who will handle training in a myriad of ways and England and CRST are front-runners? Look harder. Expand your options and your searches and don't rush into this without considering ALL of your options. If it's a choice between England and CRST, you may as well apply and work 2 jobs at the nearest fast-food places and work hard and work your way up. It will be faster and more reliable way to management level and wages then trucking at those outfits A lot depends on you, your financial situation, your family situation, your location, and your expectations and desires. So there are no standard "best answers" to this question.

 

If possible go to school on your own dollar, you don't want a company owning you for 1-2yrs.

 

If you can afford it, go to a private school or community college.You won't be an "indentured servant"'once you obtain your CDL, like you are when you go through a company. If you can't afford it, I would recommend Millis for company paid training,provided your in the hiring area. If your not,Prime,Central Refrigerated,Stevens,Swift,FFE,and H.O. Wolding are also a whole lot better than your 2 choices,at least IMHO. If the 2 you listed are your only options, I personally would go with CRST, as you'll only be indebted to them for 8 months.England is going to force a lease up your a s s,which 99% of the time will ruin you financially for an awfully long time. Good luck in your endeavor.

 

I did roadmaster in Tampa Florida. Not a bad school.they tend to push Werner and covenant because those 2 companies donate equipment to the school. I did my homework and chose Conway truckload. I'm glad I did!

 

i just graduated from sage and also went to roadmaster in 06. go with a company training

 

Always keep your training a way from your JOB this way you can keep the hyena's "Future Employers/Embezzlers" off your back

 

I am a newbie/student and I must say that I am in a blessed situation. I started out going through Stevens Transport's training, only to be sent to American Truck Training in Oklahoma City.

Stevens "students" had only 3 trucks. Most of the time one was in the shop. At a given time there were 15 students trying to practice backing with little or know driving time in actual traffic. I didn't pass my road test. I passed my pre-trip and in-cab. Mind you I never performed ANY OF IT PHYSICALLY WITH A TRAINER! All this was memorizing steps and watching youtube videos. Here's the kicker. Out of the 160 hours of driver training I received, I only drove in actual traffic for about 4 hours. FOUR!!!

Here's where I am in a blessed situation. Not sure about the legalities, but the day before me and my fellow classmates were about to retest, we were called into the school presidents office and was on a teleconference with a Stevens Rep stating that we can either transfer to another school or be sent home. It wasn't because the school did anything, it was Stevens under investigation on making us use bad addresses!! So the 4 weeks of "training" was free to me. After I dodged that bullet I began looking into Complaints with Stevens, and I must say I am so glad I didn't get too deep into employment with them as a student driver.

I have no quarrels with ATT. Personally I feel that the trainers were put in a bind. But I did give up a job and traveled on a gamble that the picture Stevens painted was going to be the way I provide for my kids. God is good.

So I am saving up my own money to pay for school myself. I'm looking at Roadmasters in Tulsa and Central Tech. I have a friend's house I can stay at so I'm not lying about my residency. Its just a matter of waiting to see what programs are out there that may be able to help finance the cost.

Once I have my CDL all I want to do is drive and get paid. HomeTime isn't an issue to me as long as the miles keep coming and I can be off for my 4 days a month to spend time with my kids and see my momma.

 

Stay the hell away from company training. Find a small school and go to it even if you have to get a temporary hotel room. Thats what I did, best decision ever. I saved 3 grand, met great people, and got great training...

 

I am set up to start Training at SAGE in Endicott, NY. Can I get a general consensus on this being a wise or bad decision for you vets?

Thanks for this tremendous source