School vs Contract

Doc: Do yourself a favor and spend some time on the CRE threads. I won't spoil the ending, but you should be able to figure it out.
GRT: 8 months for free? Come on.
There are many threads on this site on the school vs contract problem. No sure fire answers, but should serve as good guides for you.
Just from reading your questions, it is obvious that ya'll have not really done enough research. Take your time. In the end your informed decision will be far better than a quick job. Good luck.

 

I do believe that Schneider has reopened some of their schools.

I might can help you with some information concerning Swift. I work for Swift and that's where my husband and I both trained.

Exactly what is it that you're wishing to know?

 

Doc, sorry if you think I am bashing you, not my intent at all. Just my opinion, and probably 80% of the people on this site is that CRE is one of the worst choices possible. Reading of archived threads on this site would tell you that over and.....over and .......over. The reason for my snarky remark was that if you read the CRE threads and had done your research, you would already know that "fact".
Most of all the other big trucking companies are somewhat the same, with really only minor differences. There is nothing wrong with Swift to get you started and alot of other companies. Each are better at some facets of trucking, and maybe worse at some things. Reading these threads will help you find the companies that you believe that you can live with, and what their requirements are in so far as schooling.
If you think that anyone here can tell you exactly what company for you to shoot for because it is the "best", think again.
In so far as help, you have to first help yourself. People will assist you, but only you can arrive at the best answer for you.
It is obvious from your last post that you are getting a little bit exasperated. Time is your friend. Use it wisely.
Once again, sorry for your interpretation of my comments. Not meant that way. But on the other hand, if you ask a question, be prepared for some answers that might you might not particularly like.
I wish you the best to you in your search.

 

Okay, thanks for the pm to clarify.

First off: everyone has an opinion and those opinions are rarely the same. So if you have 20 people answer you about schools vs company training, you're going to get 20 different answers.

The biggest misconception that I continue to see is the idea that when you get your schooling through a company you're always signing a work contract. That a driver is then legally locked into working for that company. There are companies that do that I guess but I do know Swift is not one of them. Maybe in the distant past but it is not that way now.

The "contract" that you sign with Swift is a simple loan contract not a work contract. You can leave Swift anytime you wish but you'll still owe them the balance of the loan. I never understand why people act like Swift is wrong in this. If you went down to Big Bubba's Loans and borrowed the $4000 for school you'd have to pay it back with interest. It wouldn't matter if you worked at Swift, Covenant, FedEx or anywhere else. You borrowed the money......you pay it back.

So with Swift you borrow the money and for the first 13 months you pay it back out of every week's check. AND they refund to you half of that payment each week. So at the end of 13 months you've paid back the loan and they've refunded half of that to you. Then for the next 13 months they refund the other half. So at the end of the 26th month Swift has refunded to you the loan you paid back.

If you want to quit at week 2 and go work someplace else, they're going to say "Okay, bye bye. Send me a check each week". You'll pay that loan back but Swift will not refund anything to you.

Does this make sense now?

 

Yes, Scheider didn't reopen all their schools. Just some. Sorry they didn't in your area.