Looking for the best start
 

Well I am new to all of this. Like I just started looking a couple of days ago. I am looking for the best way,(best paying) cheapest way to get into a CDL. Now, I know it takes money to make money. That goes with anything, anywhere. I am currently unemployed and I am looking to get into a company trucking job, but I also need to get my CDL. I have absolutely ZERO experience with trucking. SO, the question is: Do I try the Company sponsored CDL training? Or, should I just get a local job and save up some money to get my CDL on my own with the hopes of getting a decent company truck job? Which one is best for a newbie like me? Which should I avoid? Id really like to get on the road as fast as possible, because being unemployed is really driving me crazy. Also, I have read a couple of forums on here where people have mentioned WIA, what exactly is that? And would I qualify for it? I am flat ass broke! I love to travel, this is why I want to be on the road with a truck..... Someone, anyone, lend a helping hand.

Might try Maverick...from what I've heard they are one of the best companies to work for and pay well. They have a training program (drive for them 12 months and they pay for the school).
I should get the call to start training with Maverick (mid-February) in Little Rock, AR.
You might try the Maverick Specialized glass division....I believe they are out of the Carolinas. My recruiter mentioned this to me....they will hire you sooner through the Specialized Div.

KRT

KRT, how long have you been on the list?

Re: Looking for the best start
 

Howdy neighbor,
I too am a newbie, and also went through WIA (workforce investment act) state funded program. Ask your local ESC office they can give you all the info you need about it. Also called JTEC. To me it was worth all the hoops I had to jump through to get the 3k$ to get my CDL. I had no experience with trucks and am now 1 day away from graduation from Cross Country Truck Driving School in Thomasville, NC., and will be working for TMC a flat bedding company out of Des Moines IA. IMHO they were the best choice considering all the facts about trucking jobs that suited my family.
Your best bet is to get your CDL through a school and then you have the option to choose whom you go to work for. You will be limited to how many companies will take students w/ CDL vs. company student training to get your CDL, plus you'll have to pay them back by being an indentured servent. You will also need to look through this enormous amount of info here on CAD and choose for yourself the best route to take for you. There is so much info here one can make an earnest descision and feel good about it. Before you post any new threads take your time and scour these posts. I researched for about 3 months while working a part-time job washing dishes(have to do what you have to do to take care of your family) and just now put my 1 week notice in today. I start class on the 5th of February at TMC. CANT WAIT LOL, BOL

There's quite a bit to consider when deciding which route to take. Do you want to drive refer's, flatbed or dry vans? The amount of work for each differs quite a bit from loading and unloading to rigging loads. Then you need to know which companies hire rookies out of your zip code. Eventually you will start narrowing down the list quite a bit.

As far as getting your CDL goes, you could go either way, school or company. There are some benefits to going to an approved school on your own, as you will have a few more choices of companies to look at. If you're unemployed and want to start earning as quick as you can the company schools may be the way for you. As far as being an indentured servant, as some put it, I don't sweat that too much. Either way you have to pay off a loan, whether to a school or company. Companies usually don't charge you any interest, nothing down, and no credit checks. And the loan is done in approximately 12 months, may vary. Schools charge upwards of 18% interest. Some folks are totally against company training, and others have said they thought it was great. If you're pretty sharp and learn quick you'll do fine in a company school. If you want to lally gag around and take your time then go to a local school. Totally up to you. This is just my opinion, but all either will do is get you to the point of passing your CDL roadtest. The real training /learning begins when you're out on the road with a trainer.

Like someone else said, read the posts here. Take the information that pertains to you and disregard the rest. You will hear alot of back and forth about whether you should go to school on your own or not. Some say a certain company sucks and others love it. Some say this and some say that...lol. Ask alot of questions here if you get confused. Just weed through the responses and pay attention to the folks that have something constructive to say to help you out.

Low Cost Training
 

Options for earning a CDL are company school, community college (tech school), commercial school.
"WIA, what exactly is that? And would I qualify for it? I am flat ass broke!"
WIA - Workforce Investment Act. Been defined by previous poster. Qualified for it? Yes, you're unemployed. Even better if your job was off-shored. Flat busted, no problem. Find out about WIA funded training for new employment the same place you filed for unemployment (one-stop). You will have hoops to jump thru as a previous poster stated.
In my opinion, the order of training from least expensive to most, and probably quality of training (best to worst), is community college, company school (may include company orientation elements), and commercial school. BOL

If you go the private school route, try to make sure that the school is PTDI certified, as that helps in starting with the upper eschelon of "starter companies", such as Crete, as I believe they will only hire from PTDI approved schools. And before you ask, PTDI stands for Professional Truck Driver Institute. :wink: Here is a link to the site for you to check out. It has all of the PTDI certified schools marked down, state by state.
http://www.ptdi.org/

thank you all so much for all of the help and Info. I will be doing some research for awhile! Thanks again!

greg3564,

I have been on the list now for about a month or so......Are you currently working for them or trying to get on?

Some of the company schools are also PTDI approved, such as Swift and Schneider. This makes me wonder why so many people bash Swift's school. If it's so bad why have they received the stamp of approval from the PTDI?