Comments By Matthew B.

I know that topic can go anyway unless I explain. Well here's a little about myself ! I have spent 12 years with the aviation industry, everything from loading luggage and all the way up to management. Now I am in school, about 9 months from completing my second year in college for my aviation maintenance license/associates degree in applied science. I've maybe gotten it into my head that this isn't what i want to do, granted i probably should of stopped before getting this far. Anywho, I've always wanted to drive trucks, i've driven box trucks for delivery companies, but none were nearly as close as a rig. I've been studying left and right for my CDL permit and also maintaining my studies in school. The only thing currently holding me in school is my promise to myself to finish my degree, though i might never use it. (Note: getting the degree only gets me a piece of paper, to get the license, i gotta spend about $1500 and test about 12 tests.) Back to my trucking question, i have a few ideas about what companies, i want to go with. Mainly ones with whom i can take my cat with me and possibly my gf/soon to be fiancee. My question is what should be my decision, I really wanna get on the road and learn something i have interest in, but also i don't wanna just give up on my degree ! Are there any thoughts from anyone?

Thanks for the info, either way i have to wait until i am done with my current college degree, but i think ill go with the company based schools.

I know Miller Motte has a CDL program, I am wondering if any graduate that has gotten there cdl through this school can tell me the pricing, even if it isnt 100%, just something close to a good number. The other school locally here, has the pricing on there site, i just wanna find info.

I saw a video on YouTube TMC link, the other day and also checked out there site. Has anyone gone through there program?

Thanks for the heads up literally

I am 6ft5 and i've always thought about becoming a truck driver. My question is that being as tall as I am, how uncomfortable would i be starting out, what's the average length of a sleeper when it equates to sleeping.

Thanks for the input, brett and brian, i just need to buckle down and knock out my cdl permit test and endorsements.

Here's the thing, I know I am all over the place with this and it seems like I have no idea what I want to do. I've been working in aviation for about 11 years, loading planes and even a few years in a major hub as a manager. I thought I wanted to go back to college and get my A&P License (Air frame and Power plant). But the local store here is severely backlogged and everyone is on a waiting list. So in that respect, I turned to my back plan for my career choice and I've always wanted to drive a big truck. I've driven delivery trucks before but nothing with a trailer, just mainly a 15ft Box truck. I used to drive a Charleston to Myrtle Beach route once a month and normally, just heavy city driving. Anywho, I've checked out a few schools here and one is Palmetto Training, which is not accredited by any college association, so getting a student loan won't work. They are however affiliated with "CR England" and "Covenant", there total cost is 3895 without permit and 3500 with. The other school is a national chain of schools, that just recently started a trucking school due to the need in the economy. Miller-Motte Technical College, which is accredited but I've heard some disturbing facts about their program from friends who have taken it recently. They charge, 5000 to 5500, from what I've been told; to me that's really high and that isn't pay for your testing at the DMV. Now I've read lots and lots of articles on here and I am starting to think that signing on with a company-based trucking school, might be worth my time and I could gain some much needed experience I don't have. As far as my finances, I am slowly saving up enough money to leave and attend one of these schools. I recently went part-time thinking I was going to catch up in school and keep my place in line for my degree, but the school had alternative motives. Its hard to believe that in this day and age, that money from a huge manufacture can move people off a list and push them farther back. Eh, thus is life, I just wanna get trucking and make a career of myself.

Thanks for making me think brett and this is what i want, i just gotta work towards it.

I would of titled this different, but I didn't know what else to put. Any who, I can't afford to just pick up and go off to training with prime or knight or any of the other good companies. But today this local school called me and told me that they have contracts with two companies; CR England and Covenant Transport. My question would be is that given the bad things I've read about CR England and the amount they charge on interest for there loans, would having them pay for a local school be just as bad as going to there own school. On the covenant side of things, they weren't very descriptive on what they want or how much they will actually cost. My thing is I'd like to work for either melton, tmc or maverick once I get done with school. If I broke my contract and went with another company and just paid the contracting company back, could they somehow put in a bad complaint against me when i try to go to a different company?

There are two local private schools here, Miller-Motte and Palmetto Training. I know that Miller Motte is accredit, which means i can get lottery assistance from the state. But palmetto training to my knowledge and looking up isn't listed as accredited so far. I would rather go to a local school to broaden my horizons for better jobs. I am just coming up short on the financial end, do you have any pointers.