this lady needs advise

Community College probably best route, if able to work out. Even if not much hours, you still have CDL. Cuts a lot of costs for company training, and will likely cut your training time with them. Additional plus, may avoid that "obligated time" or training fee you will be obligated to said company if you go through their entire program.

That said, most companies only want a year obligation to fulfill. Better ones will pro rate that if you leave earlier, based on time with them. As stated by others, you want to get at least that year in before seeking other employment. Job hoping definitely detrimental early on.

Wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

PEACE

 

What community college did you go to learn how to drive a truck?

 

Fort Scott Community College. They had a satellite location in Kansas City, KS.

 

My first trucking job was with Midwestern Dist., Ft. Scott, KS.

 

Also, Chinatown a pretty #### good source of reliable info IMHO.

Check out what leads he may throw out to you.

 

It's a scary jump. Look carefully. Do your research on the carrier and the school and try to find what fits what you want. But at the end of the day it's still a jump.

In no particular order, what I wish I'd known.
-You won't make much money for the first 2-3 months. Training pay isn't great and you're probably going to be picking up the odds and ends you need for the truck the first few weeks along with learning the work and adapting to the hours. If you have folks who depend on you plan accordingly. The money is there but you generally aren't going to make it right out of the gate.
-The quickest way to wind up on the Greyhound home with a bill for your CDL training in hand is to rush and make a bad decision. Part of why you aren't going to make as much at first is it will take you longer to do stuff. Whether it's trip planning, pre-trips, backing, whatever. Folks will whine that you're holding them up. Folks will try to rush you. None of them are going to pay the bill if you make a mistake. It takes a lot less time to do a proper trip plan and a pretrip than to back away from the 12' bridge, wait for the road service truck, or have a friendly chat with the nice law enforcement officer.
Take your time.
Think.
Check twice.
Get out and look.

 

A truck specific GPS is great, but don't trust it. A map and a mental game plan always serves as a safe backup when that GPS starts up with the gremlins.

 

Everyone has their own opinion. The real question is what will work best for you? Either way you will be obligated to either pay back the loan, or fulfill the contract of a number of years service. Which is best for you? I prefere the community college/private school idea, although if one is straped for cash the company training may be a better option. The decision is yours.

No matter what you read or hear about a certain company or training facility, the experience is not going to be the same for all. From what you have written I would say stay with what you have and make the best of it. You do not have to spend your life there, just whatever time it takes to gain the experience to move to a better place. Generally that is a year minimum, although some have made it in less.

Whatever your decision all I have to say is good luck, and welcome aboard.

 

Beaufort County Community College in Washington, NC has a very inexpensive 16 week CDL training course. Tuition is $220. Books are $115.
Search Beaufort County Community College. Then select Continuing Education.


Also, Johnston County Community College in Smithfield has a CDL school.

Financial aid is available.

 

Is it an accredited 160 hour course? Gotta be careful and make sure the school is an approved school your new employer recognizes.