Hello again forum-friends! So I was lined up to get a loan from the family to do a local CDL program, but that has fallen through. Not happy at the moment. So, against the advice most noobs receive, I started looking at the company sponsored training. Avoiding CRE of course, but talked with Swift. People starting out seem to be happy (as much as they can be) and I could start school in a couple weeks. Now I plan on talking with Prime and the others as well, but I also looked at the community college programs. Here's the problem: with the semester already started, I have to wait until January to start in the program. I know being contracted to a company isn't the best choice, but being unemployed right now, should I really wait for the spring semester? Is the company programs that bad? Thoughts and advice always appreciated! Cheers.
I had no problem with Swifts driving school. At the time I took it it was free and they "asked" with no contract that you stay with them 6 months to help them get their money back and most of the drivers did. I would not hesitate taking a company school. At least you have a guaranteed job when you are done.
Apply for a student loan. Most companies will reimburse you for your tuition cost. Pay that student loan back as fast as you can. Trust me, if you don't and go into default or something, the fees and penalties are insane. If you pay before you're required to, it will look good on your credit report.
I see your in Illinois, try Progressive school. They have a Lansing, Cicero and Belmont location. They will work with you on a payment schedule and if you say you're broke they will offer you a scholarship grant and your price will be around $2,000. And every week they have one to two recruiters come in a week.
I would go with a company that offers training and a guaranteed job when it was over. They put you on a re-payment plan and it would seem to me that if you are paying them back for the school it would be in their best interest to make sure you are given enough miles to do it.
I've been talking to Patty and Central Refrigerated. They are in Washington State. They do their training in Utah and will send you there via bus. Training is 2 1/2 weeks. She told me they prefer you come to them rather than go to a school and the reason is that they will train you their way. She explained that these trucks are very expensive and they want to know that you are trained the right way. After the 2 1/2 weeks they send you OTR with a driver for 3-5 2weeks for more training which you are being paid for. I've been reading a lot in the forums and I haven't seen anything bad about this company. They run refrigerated trucks. She said they just bought 200 new trucks. It's .28 a mile once you are on your own.
