Why Go to school?

BuddyNuggetz · Aug 4, 2011

Well its great to see that not only a lot of you guys chimed in, but a lot of new drivers chimed in. i guess i'm just so eager and ready to get started. Well school it is
thanks guys.

NegativePositive · Aug 4, 2011

The biggest difference in my opinion is that if you go to school you can then find a company that offers tuition reimbursement and not have to worry too much about the loan, whereas if you go to a company you are contractually obligated to remain at that company for X amount of time whether you can stand the place or want to crash the truck through their front door. And believe you me, there are some backstabbing companies that I wouldn't put past purposely screwing you over just so you quit and then tossing you a huge bill for your "schooling". Course to each his own, but going to a CDL school is the way I would/did chose, and right now Schneider is paying my loan so I don't even feel it, and hey, I'm free to up and move on if I like without breaking a contract.

-+

roadkill4512 · Aug 4, 2011

What you fail to realize is that you will pay for your training either way.

The difference is having the freedom to choose who you work for and with what strings attached.

Pretty much any company that will take you on without a CDL and train you from square one is going to get their investment back. Either they will pay you at a reduced rate (ie. 26 cents versus 34 cents/mi) or they will have a time commitment (usually 2 yrs) that you must fulfill or else reimburse them the amount they say you owe for training.

If you pay your own way through school you have more options and no strings attached when choosing who you drive for. You will generally start at a higher pay rate from day one than if they train you pre-CDL.

If you don't have the funds or cannot get a loan to pay for your schooling you can go the company paid route but as I said earlier there are strings attached and it will come out of your pocket.... every paycheck for quite a while.

BornToRun · Aug 4, 2011

GasHauler said: ↑

It's easy to understand if you do some research and find out what the schools offer. The insurance companies say the new drivers must have been trained. Once you go to school yes you can expect the company to put you with a trainer to satisfy the requirement of you knowing enough to drive and not kill someone. Did you expect that the CDL schools are going to teach you how to drive? It's not that simple. However, you have choices. You can go to a company paid school or go out on your own and complete a school of your choosing. I think if you read enough postings on this site the drivers that went to schools on their own vs drivers that went to company school you'll find that a school of your choosing is better.

If you pick a school that a company pays for then you'll be contractual obligated to that company for a year or more. If you fail anywhere along the line then the company will want their money repaid for your school after they fire you. If you're out of work they do not care. Besides that, there's plently of postings that tell that the company paid schools are hell because when you go to work the company knows they can give you any load they want and you've got to take it. So who do you think gets all the loads nobody wants?

If you go to a good CDL school then you're obligated to no one except where you got the money to go. But those lenders of cash do not put bad reports in your DAC record that effects your driving career. I know the community colleges have schools that on the majority are good and they are cheaper than most.

If you try to enter the industry without a CDL schooling then you'll be fighting an up hill battle right off the start. So it's smart on your part to do the research to find what's the best training school out there that will benefit you in the long run. If you can live on hardly any pay weekly them maybe a company paid school might be for you. If you're looking to get the best and have goals for a long career in trucking then a private school may be the way to go. It's up to you but it's also responsible for you to check out all avenues and not to just take the easy way.
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How about if you pay out of your own pocket to a company school? Does that make a difference? Really looking for advice here as I try to make some decisions.

goodchoice10 · Aug 5, 2011

At the end of the day, it's a matter of free will. Just be sure that if you go to a company sponsored program, take the time to read all the paperwork they throw at you to sign the first couple of days. Its easy to get caught up in the hype, then all of a sudden.......OH NO!

but by then it's too late......

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Why Go to school?

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