Profile For Fadedglory

Hello, been lurking around on these forums for quite a while now and I must say this really is a great place for information for newbies to veterans. With that said, I have a question for everyone. What is the negatives and benefits of paying for CDL school myself vs going to a company paid CDL training/paid CDL? Bare with me as I explain my situation. I live in WV, middle of bfe basically, worked as a supervisor for a local cattle and produce farm for the past 14 years. I'm 35 now and ready for a career change and I have always had an interest in trucking. I do have a local school nearby that trains for CDL, it is called Ohio Valley Truck Driver Training, cost is $4,050 for full time 5 week course. Paying for the school is not a problem, I have plenty in savings to cover the cost. My dilemma is once I get through school and get my CDL license will I be able to find a job in trucking. I hear that by doing the paid cdl/company sponsored CDL, that as long as you pass you are pretty much a guaranteed position with the company. Yes, I know that the tuition costs come out of paycheck and there is a commitment. Basically, I am just trying to figure out my best option for getting a CDL and being able to find a job in the trucking industry. Also, I have a ticket on my driving record from an accident in my personal vehicle from back in March 2014, ticket is for failure to maintain control and following to closely, this was a fender bender on ice. Only dang accident I ever had, only ticket I ever had. Heard most trucking companies want at least 3 years clean driving record, so guessing that ticket is going to keep me from getting a job? Any responses welcome.

I do not gt the employment thing, especially with todays unemployment. Is there any legit reason for it??

Not sure what you mean, what is to get? I was laid off, farm I worked for went bankrupt, this happened 2 weeks ago. Not as if I am unemployed and living off welfare here. Simply looking at my options for where I want to go next with my career.

no i get that people are unemployed. What i do not get is why some companies will not even talk to you if you are unemployed. The economy is not exactly in a great spot, and unemployment is still upwards of 10% in some areas. I just know prime would't even let me talk to a recruiter once they saw on my app i was not working because i was taking care of ill family.

Oh ok, I get what you mean now, sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. Yes, I agree, unemployement is high, especially in my area of WV. And yes, these trucking companies should not be so strict when it comes to unemployement, many people have legitimate reasons for being unemployed such as taking care of family, stay at home parent, etc..

You could still look around if you want. Might find something but it's not the companies that are saying no. It's their insurance company that is saying no. Pretty much insurance companies, from a risk stand point, calls the shots. No getting around that.

But if you can't find anything you need to get a job. Any job. You will need to account for all your time, employment wise, for 3 years and work history gaps are not looked apon kindly. Again that's not the trucking companies. That's the federal government telling them that. Get a job, even if part time, to show you are working.

It might come down to waiting a little while. There is no hurry. Trucking is going no where. It will be here forever.

Due to the tickets I would only try for company sponsored schools. You could try a private school but that way you have no guarantee of a job afterwards.

Thank you so much for the advice. Yes, most companies say it is the insurance that won't allow me being hired due to the tickets. Trucking for now looks to be on hold, at least till March. No big deal, trucking is still where I want to go with my career and it will happen someday. Till then I will work wherever I can work.

I do not gt the employment thing, especially with todays unemployment. Is there any legit reason for it??

Not sure what you mean, what is to get? I was laid off, farm I worked for went bankrupt, this happened 2 weeks ago. Not as if I am unemployed and living off welfare here. Simply looking at my options for where I want to go next with my career.

Ok, so to start, I do not have a CDL. I have been around trucking my whole life though, many family members drive now. I am 34 and spent most of my adult life working for a local farming company, the farm recently went bankrupt and I was laid off. After talking with family I have decided that trucking is where I want to go next in my career. I do not have the fiancial ability right now to pay for a CDL school, went to the local workforce office and applied for government grant to pay for CDL school, was put on the list but told that the list is extremely long and I could be waiting for up to 1.5 years to get to me, that is if they would approve me even at that time. So, next consideration is Company sponsored cdl training school. Here is my issue, back in March 2014 I was involved in a slight accident, details are that both vehicles belonged to me, wife was in car driving in front of my SUV on our rural 1 lane back roads here in WV, road was slick from rain, wife topped a hill and a vehicle pulled out of a driveway in front of her, she slammed on brakes and stopped and of course as I topped hill did not see her till it was too late. Ended up rear ending the car putting a slight dent. Now, this was a complete accident, and both vehicles belonged to me, would never have even reported the accident for that reason, but just so happens that a local cop lived right there and heard the accident. So, he ended up writing me 2 tickets for the accident, Following too close and Failure to maintain control. I tried to fight the ticket in magistrate court with no luck, ended up paying the ticket amount and all the court costs and moved on with my life. So I thought, applied to a few company cdl training schools (Stevens and Prime) and was turned down right away because of the tickets. I have a friend that works for Central Freight so I called a recruiter there, got turned down as well but they at least told me that after March 2015 I could go through them as they only look back 1 year. So, I guess I am mainly looking for advice or suggestions, anyone know of any cdl training companies that would overlook my situation and give me a chance? Or do I just need to wait it out till these tickets are a little further in my past.. Any and all advice or suggestions are much appreciated.