SCHOOL, Pay on your own or let a company pay for it?

Pay for it up front. Then you are free to work wherever you choose.

 

You don't know if you'll like truck driving, as you've driven nary a day yet. I paid for my own training and have regretted it ever since. I should have gone to a cheaper school and/or gotten the government to pay for my training.

I know....sucking a government titty sucks, but remember all the groups that do take advantage of government handouts, such as ranchers, dairy farmers, corporations, and others.

I'd get a grant for training today. I'd hate it, but I'd still get the grant.

 

There's nothing wrong with getting a government grant. All that money is just sitting there, waiting for people to get it. You might as well get your share. How many times in life can you get free money (legally)?

 

Rangers and farmers take Gov assistance because they are making next to nothing for their product.

 

I would recommend Schneider or PAM. I would NEVER recommend Swift. I don't know how they do things today, but when I started out with PAM I only paid about $1300 for my CDL school. That was paid out thru payroll deduction at 25 bucks a week for about 9 months, which is better than what I've seen of Schneider's program. Do some research though, as the data on PAM I'm giving you is 4 years old.

 

You are getting something back. A year's experience with a (hopefully) reputable trucking company. While your grant idea isn't a bad one, it's not always readily available to everyone. By that I mean that not everyone has the ability to wait 6 months (as is sometimes the case at community colleges) to get a CDL.

Basically, it's whatever works best for the individual. Going to a company sponsored CDL mill worked for me, but that doesn't mean it'll work for everyone.

 

Right, but what I meant was that with all of the companies out there and all the info one sees about various companies...you can ask questions till your blue in the wazoo, you still might be in for unexpected and unwanted surprises at the company and to have to put up with junk for a year...thats not good. Especially when they have you by the....wazoo, locked into a contract, if you leave early that can come back and haunt you it seems.

I don't think you need to go to a comm college to get a grant. Im trying to get some info from the local job shop about gov assistance. Still trying to figure out if I want to drive truck or not though.

 

Scarecrow, would you have any words of wisdom for someone that is going with PAM and headed to their school? I made a horrible mistake in my last job and ended up getting paid $200 a week when I worked 80+ hrs. Have 3 children and we are trying to keep our house. Sorry I didnt PM but I dont have that priveledge yet.

 

"Rangers and farmers take Gov assistance because they are making next to nothing for their product."

I know you're right. I have farmers in my family, and they don't make much.

But when I go to a local grocery store, I have to pay nearly 4 bucks for a gallon of milk, so long is the "middle man" chain.