Damn dude...
$5K is A LOT TO SPEND on a school that doesn't offer PLACEMENT. While most schools can NOT GUARANTEE PLACEMENT - the more expensive ones DO have "ins" with companies that hire newbs. For THAT KIND OF $$, I would have expected to get more than a handshake and a piece of plastic with 3 endorsements.
I'm graduating a local county vocational school program (McFatter Technical Center, Davie, Florida). While WAY LESS EXPENSIVE than your school (or Roadmasters or some of the other CDL Mills) at $1,850 - I was told UP FRONT that there was no "placement service".
Other things to consider would be; your driving record, criminal convictions, DUI's, etc. Even with a CLEAN RECORD - location is also a major consideration.
In my case - NO ONE HIRES OUT OF FLORIDA - especially RECENT SCHOOL GRADUATES. A glance at Roadmasters "recruiter days" for their Orlando and Tampa locations clued me to this fact right off the bat.
So, I'll "adopt" a Georgia address and go from there.
With all the out of work executives that would flip burgers if they could, with fleets sitting idle (as GMan alluded to), now is probably the WORST TIME for a new to seek employment in the trucking industry - and not applying from the correct geographical location is likely the WORST STRIKE you can have against you...
Rick
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