School vs Contract

I'll say any decent company does consider it, while many crappy companies look over it. Example: The guy from my class who jack knifed could still get a job with USA Truck.

Another example is a good guy who I graduated with got completely fed up with his Averitt Dispatcher and quit. So yeah he was on the hook for the tuition. But with his CDL A he got another job driving straight truck filling vending machines. It cost him but he did wind up with a job he's very happy with.


As for myself I entered a year contract with C1 Driver Solutions in Fort Wayne and the recruiter had me placed to start in PAM Transport. The school is a mixed bag at most. IMO to many students backed up waiting for their turn on the range or to drive. However the classroom teacher was cool and some of the driving trainers were helpful. Anyway I got through it and somehow survived my year with all tuition waved.

If anyone here winds up in C1 Driver Solutions and you're having trouble try to drive with Oscar. I think he's the best teacher with the most patience. Also after class if the range is not locked just sit there in the truck cab and practice going through the gears.

 

Also as for researching this site there are limits. Try doing a forum search for CRE or even PAM. It won't let you search 3 letter words which is unfortunate because so many trucking companies are 3 letter acronyms.

 

My school was paid for through WIA, so I didn't have to choose.

But if I did have to finance it myself I would probably choose to go with the company training with the contract.

And from what I have read in these forums, I would probably have gone with Swift. (thanks, Texas-Nana, for the good info on how Swift does it)

Going with a companies' training means I have the best chance of employment when I finish that training. And, the company trained me the way they want their drivers to drive. That has to count for something.

If I financed the CDL through a private school I would have to start paying back the loan after a month or so, whether or not I was working. That could be very hard considering the costs of starting up, not to mention the time involved in going through orientation and waiting for a mentor... lag time for pay to get into my bank account... normal monthly expenses... advances on pay just so I can eat during training, etc..

 

Swift is $450 for the first 4 weeks, $500 for weeks 5 and 6.

 

Of the ones you listed, and from what I have read about, I would only go with either Swift or Watkins Shepard. I haven't seen much about Prime, though.

By the way, I was just hired with Swift. I am waiting on a mentor right now, so I doubt that I could be much help until I really get into it. You will have already chosen a company before I could report back about my experiences as a Swiftie.

 

Just from different things I have read if those are your choices your best bet would probably be to go with swift. I would keep researching everything though. As another poster said time is your friend it is better to take the time and know everything than go into it knowing nothing