Suggestions to get trained and make it through orientation with 3k to survive on

with 3k in your pocket, i'd say bite the bullet and go with a company sponsored training program. reason being is that during the schooling and your otr training your prob not going to be making much and you can use the 3k as a cushion to supplement your paychecks. that said, if after 3 -6 months if it's not working at "training is us express", then leave to greener pastures.

Now before people freak out, I AM NOT PROMOTING JOB HOPPING! all i'm saying is that if you have to leave, that with at least 3 months experience you CAN find a different company that will hire you.

just my 2 cents, and remember this was free advice.

best of luck future Driver.

 

Actually, the Florida panhandle is a good spot for trucking jobs. Look at TDI in Milton, FL or Sanford, FL.

One driver posted here recently he landed a good job with CTL Transportation at graduation from TDI in Milton.

Another good company is SVTN with one of their terminals in Saraland, AL. They run a lot of I-10 so hometime wouldn't be a problem for you.

Here's some more to check, but tankers are best; easy money and good pay.

Sunstate Carriers
Schneider Bulk (tanker division)
Tidewater Transit
Superior Carriers
Trimac Transportation

All the above listed companies hire new CDL graduates even if the website has different. Submit as many online applications as you can and start the applications the first day of CDL school.

 

CDL schools in Illinois cost $1,600 - $2,000. My school had a lot of guys from out of state coming in to get their CDL then would transfer it to their home state.

 

Take the Con-way deal. If you don't make it thru orientation, there will be other companies that recruited at your school.

To make it thru orientation, don't lie on your application (it get's checked and rechecked and rechecked), don't do drugs or booze, don't hit anything in the practice runs, don't be late for anything, and don't fall asleep in any of the speaker presentations.

Good luck man

 

This probably wouldn't be a company you would make a career with, but Southern Refrigerated Transport has a pretty good deal with their CDL school; they provide a bus ticket to the school in Texarkana, provide hotel room and 3 meals a day. They do lots of West Coast/Florida runs. Prime Inc. has something similar but don't think they provide 3 meals a day free.

This way you could hang on to your cash because truck stop food is expensive, once your on the road.

Either way, with either company, in a few months you can switch companies to one of the tanker outfits I listed and your pay would jump to the $55K - $65K range.

 

Is driving a truck an absolute necessity for you at the moment? I mean, some people sort of get prodded into it as an act of desperation. If it's something you really want to do, have you thought about how you can create value (and thus dollars) in a trucking related job, enough to get into a more stable position, then get in the cab?