Should I go to CDL school or go through a Co sponsored training?

Context: I am 25F and I have decided to go into trucking because I have to move out of where I am staying July 17th. I need something to keep me afloat so I thought trucking would be the best route. I just recently got my commercial learners permit (CLP) in Texas and I need to do Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT).

The problem I have is I cannot afford truck driving school. I talked to Texas Workforce Commission regarding the WIOA grant but I have to go through a length process such as filling out assessments online, taking a finance test, and going to a 4-day job search workshop (that I would have to schedule it is not within the week). I do not have a car and there is no public transportation in my area. So I do not know how I would be able to attend all those workshops and the WIOA is not guaranteed and it'll take more than a month which I do not have. Also, I would have to consider how I am getting to the school as well.

I heard about company sponsored cdl training that'll provide rooming and paid training and it is 2-3 weeks but of course not everything is free. It is contracted and if I break the contract or get fired I would have to pay that money back. I hear it is not worth getting contracted under a trucking company but I am leaning towards that since I have no other choice.

I have very little money, no transportation, no family or friends to go to for support and do not know what to do.

I've been watching Youtube videos, searching Reddit and reading into companies and what they offer but I do not know what to do.

Should I go to CDL school and figure out how to pay or go through a company sponsored cdl training and get contracted?

If someone can give me advice on this and share their story, i'd really appreciate it.

 

Do not go to CDL school or company sponsored training (contract) until you find the driving job that fits what you need and they will hire you the week after CDL school is finished.

MANY, MANY brand new CDL newbies are not getting hired right now. If your driving, criminal, drug, and work history are not perfect you will wait longer than those newbies are waiting for a job, if you can get hired.

THERE IS NO TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE.

Find the job, THEN decide about how to get the CDL, in that order or you will waste your time and money. If the job you want offers company sponsored school, take it. If the job you want requires you pass ABC CDL school, go there.
NOT EVERY COMPANY HIRES NEWBIES FROM EVERY SCHOOL.
Make sure ANY CDL school you attend is AT LEAST 160 hours of instruction or you severely limit which companies can hire you.

80-90% of brand new CDL drivers quit and leave the industry long before they work 12 months as truck drivers. Rushing into the industry with no research and no job search completed is exactly how they did that. Don't do what those failing at something are doing unless you want to also fail.

 

Time is short. You need to be in a better situation by July 17th.
Can you pass a urine drug test or hair follicle drug test.
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In your situation, I'd go to a trucking company cdl school.
Transportation to the school is provided and when you arrive, lodging & meals are provided.
I'll list some schools for you to apply with and you can do that today by filling out the short apps directly from each website.
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Here's the first one:
CDL Training | Stevens Transport

 

Swift Refrigerated – Sign On for the Trucking Career of a Lifetime with Swift Refrigerated

 

Frozen Food Express - Refrigerated Transportation Solutions For Over 65 Years
CDL school in Lancaster, Texas

 

Truck Driving School - KLLM Transport cdl school.

 

Get Your Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

 

Prime Inc. Truck Driver Training | Paid Class-A CDL Training

 

CDL Training & Truck Driving Schools - Roehl.Jobs
1101 E Avenue K, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

 

DRIVER ACADEMIES | WDT
Hauls milk.