Should I go to private school, or company run to start?

If you have the money, grant, or other such means to pay for your CDL first, that will open up your doors tremendously. If you go a with a company sponsored, then your stuck with them until the terms of contract are over with. You will essentially be a slave to them for at least the first year.

Getting it on your own, you have the ability to pick a decent company right from the start. Now there is added expenses. Your medical cert, may or may not be covered by the school in question. Endorsements (I suggest Hazmat and Tanker at the very least.) etc...

But if the school covers all that, then I would say go for it on your own, then do the research and find a company that will work with new CDL holders.

@Chinatown might chime in if you need some help in finding a company that will work with you. He's the local Guru headmaster bossman when it comes to finding companies.

 

Raven Transport > Apply On Company Site
Raven Transport hires Raleigh drivers.
Contact Raven Transport and ask if they hire from that school you're interested in.
$60,000 - $75,000 a year - www.raventransport.com
For those brand-new CDL drivers graduating from a National Publicly Funded Truck Driving School, we have a program for you; earn while you train (6-8 weeks) and then $.41.5 CPM until you make the one-year experience level. Paid orientation. Rider program and Pet Policy available.
Our equipment is late model tractors equipped with APU’s, Inverters, refrigerators and lots of living space. 60% of our fleet are automatics with the balance being 10-speed Eaton transmissions. Our fleet is governed at 70 mph. We have no inward facing cameras.

 

To be honest, I'm not sure, but that won't keep you from getting your CDL at first.

Get your CDL, then worry about the past.

 

Your CDL is the keys to the Kingdom.

Go get it on your own. That way you have it free and clear and beholden to no company at all. Because this industry is MOST UNSTABLE in terms of the potential to lose your employment.

Once you have it and realize the enormity of what you don't yet learn, do whatever you can to protect that CDL.

 

That's true. Plenty of jobs will be available once you graduate from cdl school.
Be honest on the applications; some may not ask about any "dismissed charges" anyway. About the DV charge, if asked; "Yes, but there was nothing to it, so it was dismissed."
As for spotty work history, you were working for cash doing landscaping work, helping paint houses, working on cars, etc.
You were a property manager, managing your own rental properties.

 

EPES Transport > Apply On Company Site
$83,000 a year
Trainees must be recent grad from approved CDL school.
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Scholastic Book Fairs - home daily
Click here for more information > Apply On Company Site
For those with a CDL but less than1-year of verifiable, commercial driving experience, we have a paid Driver Trainee program, this is a great opportunity to get road experience.
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All the below hire new cdl graduates on a case by case basis. Submit applications as soon as you get a class start date. You can apply as a student in cdl school. The more applications you submit, the better.
Senn Freight Lines
Roadtex Transportation
Carolina Cargo Freight - www.carolinacargofreight.com
Southern Refrigerated Transport
Carolina Logistics Inc. - www.carolinalogistics.net
Western Express
Celadon
Lily Transportation
Inman Trucking Co.
WLA Inc.
Cooke Trucking Company
Mountain River Trucking
Carolina Southern - High Point, NC

 

If it were me I'd put that 4grand away, and save it for a down payment on my own truck.It's going to take at least a year to make some of the mistakes your going to make, I've never been to school(unless you count the Hard Knock Institute)but I've seen drivers that went and they could fill out a nice logbook, but couldn't get it through the gears.My argument and I'm sure I'll get some heat,is you'll get real world experience in a real world environment.Sign on to a company with a good reputation and manual transmission trucks,get an education and get paid for it.The main thing is you will get a chance to see if trucking is for you.If it was as anal and uptight as it is today, I'd have run.It's not for everyone. Holler out for Chinatown and he'll help.Before you sign anything binding get a second or third opinion,take your time, do the research, you'll be glad you did and you'll still have that 4k to fall back on.