Company Paid Training?

[SportsterJ]

What do any of you think about company paid training. I have talked to Driver Solutions, and Trucking Careers of America - who recruit for CR England - that was a scary conversation!
If I had the financing I would go to a regular driving school. I will have to have company paid if I do go into trucking.

Does anyone know about Schneider's company paid training? I know that starting out in trucking is very hard - and I'm not looking for someone to hand me the greatest job to begin with - but I don't want to get taken in the process.

Thank you guys for your input!! It is greatly appreciated and very much taken into consideration!

[HiwayHombre]

Where are you at in Alabama? If near B'ham, contact Walker State Tech in Sumiton. If you'll check, Alabama has state funded schools all over the state that has good training programs for considerably less (or possibly free) than what the commercial schools charge. And, their training is better and more comprehensive... If any way possible, don't sign any contracts for company paid training with ANY of the companies that offer it... You'll more than likely regret it...

[SwitchUp]

Sportster,

I have given great thought about changing careers, hince the name SwitchUp. Currently I work for a federal funded program called The Workforce Investment Act, WIA, here in SC they are located in the local OneStops, (Employment Office's) In other states they are in Community Colleges or may stand alone. Through our programs funding is provided to those that qualify for the assistance to retrain for different careers. Check your local WIA person about these funds.

You do not have to pay back these funds. I work here and am thinking about making the change in career. If I do I will come back and get services through WIA. They can be a huge help.

[HeadRush]

SportserJ,

SwitchUp has given you some very good advice. Stay away from any and all company provided training! They charge 2x or more than what the private schools/community colleges do, and they know that most of their students won't stick around for the term of the contract. Hence higher turnover rates, but another source of income for the company. You don't sound like you're in a rush, but it would be in your best interest to find out if WIA has enough funding for you to go to school - it isn't always available. I would also contact as many local schools as possible to see what other payment options they have. Good luck!

[Redeemed]

SportsterJ

These other folks have given good advice.

As far as Schneider training I have heard good and bad. Good that it is in depth & thorough even though it is very short (time-wise) by most CDL school standards. If memory serves me right (I looked into Schneider too) it is 3 weeks classroom and roadcourse training. If you pass it and get your CDL then you go OTR with a finisher for a few weeks more training.

Bad that they go very fast in training and if you don't keep up they will drop you and send you packing. And guess what, you will still owe them for the entire amount of your school with them even if they send you home. Not nice to owe $3K-$5K for something that you got zilch for.

Check your local tech schools out. Most have good CDL programs and they may have many other sources of financial aid. WIA through your state's employment agency is a good idea too. Worst case try and put back enough for the training. The tech school I went to cost me $1900. Much better than the $4,000 that the CDL specialty schools wanted in my area.

If you a dead set that you must get company paid training then you may want to check out Maverick Transportation. They are based out of Little Rock Ark. & the last I heard they do have a company paid training program. Better still the time they make you work to pay back the training is supposed to be only 6 months. That is much better than the 12 to 24 months other OTR companies do. Maverick is flatbed so take that into consideration as well.

All the best to you and hope it works out.