Company CDL Training Programs With Short After-graduation Contract Times?

Kaydie, thank you for the answer

Are there any companies that don't require a full year of contract work after you complete your CDL training with them? Sounds like a year of slave labor to me. Three months or less would be optimal). Thanks.

Celadon has a 6 month contact option...CRST is a 10 month contract..all the others that I know of is 1 year or more.

Richard,

You just got some TOUGH LOVE from quite a few people that want to help people to succeed in this business. Sometimes it's hard to handle. Apparently you chose to ignore it. Good luck to you

No, I actually appreciate the input, a little judgmental for my taste. I am considering all options and weighing in to see if there are any alternatives. At this point a full year does seem too much to me. To each his own. Thanks for the answer.

Richard,

You just got some TOUGH LOVE from quite a few people that want to help people to succeed in this business. Sometimes it's hard to handle. Apparently you chose to ignore it. Good luck to you

TANSTAAFL

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, Richard.

If you don't want to commit to a company, no company will want to commit/train you. And being paid $.30-.48/mile isn't "slave labor".

Brett, a full year is too much, yes. I hear the irony, but taking advantage is exactly what's it's called. Three or four months I'd agree with but 12 is a different matter. You probably got used to it, but the first time I heard it came to me as a shock. If you are looking from a perspective of a company, then sure, it's very convenient. But it's my life not to sound cynical or egotistical or both. They are no altruists, these companies, as you make them sound. Now, if it's a good company, I would actually CHOOSE to continue working for it without being forced to.

So you think it's unreasonable for a company to ask you to work for them for a year after they trained you for a new career and paid for it out of pocket? You don't even know how to drive a truck yet but you're already assuming that the largest, most successful companies in the nation are no good and they're all just lining up to take advantage of you?

Wow. Great perspective. It's like you're offended that they would even ask you to do anything for them in return at all. I mean, they're only offering to take you off the street, train you for a new career, and pay for it, and then take all of the liability risk to put you in a truck by yourself with no solo experience at all. You will literally be one of the most dangerous drivers on the planet and they'll be responsible if you screw up.

But yeah, how dare they ask for anything in return. I mean, seriously, work for them for a year??? Wow, that's just dastardly and despicable!

Richard,

I would not call the replies to your questions judgemental, just realistic. There is a real simple alternative to Company Sponsored Training. Pay cash up front (or get a student loan or grant, if you qualify, and go to the School of your choice. My research has shown me that Community Colleges have some of the lowest tuitions and Private Schools some of the highest, with Company Schools somewhere in between. A price range between $2500.00 up to $7000.00. Swift for example charges $3900.00 + $500.00 for lodging. You attend and pass all of the tests and Mentor training, pass your driving test and obtain your CDL , you can choose to work for them or hire on with any company you choose. You paid your tuition and have no contractual obligations.

Now, if it's a good company, I would actually CHOOSE to continue working for it without being forced to.

Well if you were a good driver they would actually CHOOSE to hire you without any stipulations now wouldn't they? But you're no driver at all so they have to train you using their time, money, personnel, and equipment and they have to recoup those costs. I already know you don't think that's your problem, but it is. Ya know why? Cuz you're the one who doesn't know how to drive a truck.

One way or another you're going to pay for your training whether you want to or not. Either you're going to pay tuition, you'll make less per mile in the beginning, you'll be teaming with other drivers for extended periods of time, you'll sign an employment contract, or some combination of those. But like Errol said, there is no free lunch. You might think you can find training that's free, but there isn't any. The question is how do you want to pay for it? Do you want to spend your money on it? Would you rather sign a contract and pay with your labor? There are a variety of ways to make that happen.

Three or four months I'd agree with but 12 is a different matter.

Based on what? Your feelings? Because they're basing their contract on the costs and risks they incur by training you. Have you ever looked into how much it costs a trucking company to train someone fresh off the street? Do you understand anything about the liability risk they're incurring by putting someone behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound death machine that has no clue what they're doing?

And not only that, but we always recommend that people stick with their first company for a minimum of year because it takes that long to establish your career on fairly solid footing. Before you're going to be given the miles and pay that the veteran drivers are getting you have to learn a whole lot about how to handle a rig and how to manage your time and resources on the road. You're going to have to get through the training and then drive solo for a few months to demonstrate to any company you're working for that you're hard working, safe, and reliable. At that point they'll start opening up their more important freight to you and start challenging you with heavier miles. If you can handle it they'll keep it coming. But they're not going to give you top pay and miles until you've proven to them over a period of time that you're capable of handling it.

So you're not going to know how good it can be for you at any given company until you've been there long enough to learn your trade and prove your worth. And that doesn't happen in three or four months.

Actually, I am considering attending school. But is it possible to find a job afterwards without experience?

Richard,

I would not call the replies to your questions judgemental, just realistic. There is a real simple alternative to Company Sponsored Training. Pay cash up front (or get a student loan or grant, if you qualify, and go to the School of your choice. My research has shown me that Community Colleges have some of the lowest tuitions and Private Schools some of the highest, with Company Schools somewhere in between. A price range between $2500.00 up to $7000.00. Swift for example charges $3900.00 + $500.00 for lodging. You attend and pass all of the tests and Mentor training, pass your driving test and obtain your CDL , you can choose to work for them or hire on with any company you choose. You paid your tuition and have no contractual obligations.

That's quite a big range. Do any of the companies pay 48 cents per mile during training? So far, I couldn't find any. Celadon, for example, is 18 cents.

TANSTAAFL

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, Richard.

If you don't want to commit to a company, no company will want to commit/train you. And being paid $.30-.48/mile isn't "slave labor".

Prime Inc pays 44.5 CPM. That's probably 39.5 CPM plus 5 CPM for lightweight truck.