My husband is thinking of going to school. We live only about 2 1/2 hours from SLC Ut. We have been checking on company paid training and have found CRE and Central Refrigeration there. I was wondering if anyone had been to these here? I was also wanting to know if it is possible to find a job if you decide this isn't the company for you and want to find something different? I just want to know what options there are out there. He is an electrician with with construction on a low, he needs something new. We do have children and he really doesn't want to be gone for weeks on end but will if need be. Please let me know. Thanks.

Avoid CRE like the plague.

I feel the worst thing one can do is go through a company based training program for several reasons: (1) the cost is usually VERY expensive, (2) can amount to poor training simply because they are trying to get you to receive your CDL ASAP, (3) normally you must sign a contract to drive for that company ONLY for usually at least one year, (4) if you choose to leave that company before the one year is up, they can hit you with "extra" charges that can increase your "tuition" by a few thousand dollars or more.....the best choice in training would be through a Vo-Tech school...not only is it usually cheaper, but the training is much more thorough....starting out, you will probably have no choice but to go over the road for at least 6 months in order to receive the experience required by insurance carriers....this means most often you will just have to "gut up" and go with one of the large carriers, put in your 6 months to a year for driving experience, but after that, you can go anywhere and be hired by anyone.

Starting out, we all had to start at the low-end of the scale, but once you have the experience required behind you, better doors will open....Good Luck, and let us know how everything is going.

The problem with that is, we are both unemployed and we just don't have the money or time to have him attend a community college. This is the only way we can even think of him obtaining a CDL.

wolfden I feel your pain, having been unemployed for the last 3 months, some states have programs that will pay for the cost of training... IF you qualify. Best of luck to both of you.

Check to see if you have a Workforce Development program in your state. This is a government run organization that helps people to get retrained.

They paid for my school, cdl fees, hazmat fees and lodging while in school.

I don't know of any program in Nevada for that. Heck, they won't even help me get child support from ex! I also know most companies will not hire you if you have no over the road experience.

Chexk with your local Work Force site or your community college to see if the latter has any truck driving training programs.
I recieved a grant fro the Work Force center to attend a truck driving school.