Comments By Mighty Mike

Thanks for sharing everyone.

How far are you from Tampa?

About 2 1/2 hours from my doorstep to Busch Gardens but I have family in Auburndale which is not too far from there. Why?

I refuse to team (after training) so I can understand the ordeal your going through in weighing your option.

I know in my case, Schneider was my top choice in the beginning. As time went on, I realized their training was only for a week. That's no where near enough time for me to get comfortable. Also, even though I live one hundred something miles from one of their locations, everytime I do a job search based on my zip code, no jobs from Schneider show up. I'm currently leaning towards Werner, but who knows! Making these decisions is tough, and I don't have a wife to consider!

Good luck!

Thank you for sharing

Swift pays $10 an hour for all of your driving hours while training and training is basically 4 to 6 weeks. I'm not sure what Schneider's training pay is but their training is only a couple of weeks long.

JJ

Swift will not hire out of Florida

I've read several of your recent posts on this and this is what I see:

1. You're from south Florida where it's very difficult to find a company hiring from that area.

2. You don't want to pay to go to school.

3. A major company has agreed to hire you AND train you.

4. You don't want the contract.

5. You don't want to work for "peanuts".

I think the path has been clearly laid before you. Go with the company that has already hired you...

Thanks! Makes sense but my wife would never go for it............"Honey, I've decided to leave my job making $40,000/yr to make nothing for a month, then $300/week for 2 months, then maybe around $40-50K within my first year. Oh, and I'll be home only 3-4 days a month but that's not guaranteed." Lol..............that conversation would not go too well......Lol

I know. The schools here are amazing though so we had to move here. #6 in the country. I want to travel and do this. I just want to be smart about it and not go with the first offer on the table. I could go CRST but I've heard nightmares about them. Roadmaster would be good as I would be able to avoid signing any contracts but honestly having a guaranteed job is better than holding a CDL. Still in the elementary stages of this journey but thanks for the help along the way.

Thank you G-Town for your response. $500 / week is a bit better than $300 which is what PAM is trying to pay. I will continue to search for companies that pay more.

Should I go with PAM who have already hired me or go with Roadmaster so I don't have a contract?

I have researched day and night every trucking school and trucking company I could find. If I get my CDL Class A from Roadmaster do I still have to get paid "peanuts" while they train me? Or will I be offered a salary by a company and hired as a driver. I am in South Florida and it is slim pickings finding a company to hire me to begin with but I can't live off of $300-$500 / week while I train for 2 months. I make $700 / week now and I am leaving this job to become a trucker to make more. NOT LESS.

Thanks in advance for all your input and advice.

No worries guys. Found out that PAM transportation will hire me. So will CRST and Comcar CT will also. Still looking though and haven't decided yet if I'm gonna do Roadmaster school to avoid a contract or go with a sure thing with one of the trucking companies.