Bad comments expected... but
 

Well I have an opportunity to attend 1 of 2 Job Fairs on Wednesday before I will have to go to work that afternoon. I can only attend 1, which should I choose.

Schneider National = (Orange Army)
(to pay for my training since I can't)
~ OR ~

USIS/DAC Services/Tulsa (No I am not kidding)
(The benefits and salary are at my current rate)
(Do not want to be slammed here or considered a
spy)

:idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:
Bad comment force field

i'd say it depends on whether you want to drive a truck or drive a desk!

kidding - mostly. :D i've heard that USIS is actually a pretty decent place to work.

Drive a truck
 

Drive a truck for sure. But can not for the life of me pay for school.
WIA failed me, have to be able to eat while in school, etc. Dead end job, wife is a Stay at Home Mom. Which leaves us with precious little extra after bills, mortgage, etc. I have been with the state for 10-years :shock: . We only get a raise if every employee in the state gets one. Averages to about a 5% raise every 2-3 years. BUT... Raise in pay usually comes with a raise in insurance premiums a few months later :cry: . We can live on what I make but it leaves little to no extra. Looking for a better life now and 20 years, 30 & 40 years from now 8) .

I see no need for bad comments here, Okie!!

I understand your desire to drive, but looking at those two precious crumb snatchers, I'd say (as "Toner" put it!!) drive the desk!! You won't get a second chance to relive their childhood with them!!

BTW, driving involves a lot of hours, as I'm sure you have descerned from you reading. Any chance of getting a P/T job in addition to your F/T job?? Yes, it means more hours, and I'm sure that does not appeal to you, but if you plan to make any money starting out, then driving OTR is going to amount to working two F/T jobs anyway, except that for the most part, you only get paid for one of them!!

well here is the thing. If you cant afford the training and really want to drive a truck then probably have to go to a company sponsored school then give them the required time. If you can get a job at USIS and save some money pay for the school yourself I say go for it and then you will not be indebted to a company.

When I started i went to AIT in phoenix they did all the financing paperwork and when I hired on with a company they paid my school loan for me as long as I was driving.

best of luck in whatever you decide

My wife works days, I drive nights. If it is possible for you and your wife to do something similar maybe you could do something like that just long enough to be able to pay in cash for a driving school? We have children and make it work m-f and weekends we're both off for family time.

you could also try getting on as a desk jockey at one of the local trucking companies if you want to be in the industry while saving up for CDL training.

Okie,

I am the director for a truck driving school in Tulsa. We are constantly researching different grants and scholarships to help people with the cost of training. I encourage you to call or stop in for a visit. We may be able to help you in more ways than you think. If it doesn't work out with us, I have 2 close friends that work at USIS and they would have some good info about the company.

Hi okie,

Hey I think your kids hold the answer to your question in their lil hands!
Toner said it best, do you want to drive a truck or rot behind a desk and deal with office politics? (I'm not biased at all BTW :lol: )

SNI will be a great place to get your start if you want OTR.

I wanted to share a pic of my son with you (nobody else though...shhhhh)
:wink:
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/7126/hpim0003fs3.jpg

I'm glad the wife and I got new carpet. That crap was old skool. :lol:

Just a thought here. You have 10 years with the sate? So you probably have a retirement plan of some sort. Most of them will give you a loan. So figure out what you will need to get by on and take out the loan. Apply at a company you like I would suggest Maverick or TMC. And then when you quit your state job you get whats left of your retirement. I also have a state job (10 years also)but I have 200 + vacation hours so I put in for a long vacation so while I'm at school my wife and kids wont starve and the bills get paid. Just some suggestions I wish you the best of luck