CDL Training

Hello guys and gals, I am looking to snag some advice if it wouldn't bother any of you too much. I am trying to find a CDL training program with no money down. I would much rather not be locked in with a company out of school, but I can understand that I may have to accept that fate as I have no money to put down on a CDL program. I have found one through Tennessee Truck Driving school but I would have to work with one of three companies (Stevens Transport, Covenant, or Total Transportation) for six months to avoid paying $1,000 dollars down. So I suppose what I am asking if you guys know of any financed schools with no money down, preferably without being sponsored by a company.

Welcome, Doug. This is what were here for: answering questions, and some more stuff.

First, for you, understand the concept There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. If you want to learn truck driving, you will have to pay for it somehow. Either money (that's in short supply for many people, I know) or sweat (work).

Do not get into a contract for school thinking this is only temporary. Be mature and first investigate Paid CDL Training Programs for both the training program, and especially how the sponsoring company fits what you're looking for.

If the company looks good to you for a long term commitment, then check out the school and pay-back arrangements. Think "long haul" and make your choice.

I signed up for Swift's school mainly because there's no money up front (except license and physical fees) then I went to work for them. After about 18 months I'm still here.

To mow that old phrase, if you think there's greener grass somewhere else, stay off my lawn.

XPO ask for no money, not even a license/admin fee. They also don't do payroll deductions, or lower your cpm. They do ask for a year though .

Forgot to mention that they pay for food and lodging while in school.

Doug, the short answer is no, there are not any scenarios I know of where someone will finance your training and ask nothing in return.

The bigger concern is that you don't want to commit to working for a company, even for a short time, even if they pay for your new career. We highly recommend to everyone that they stick with their first company for one full year. It takes a long time to learn how to handle that rig and how to handle life on the road. It's probably going to be a solid six months of running solo, after completing all of your training, before you'll even be productive enough out there to allow the company to break even or possibly even turn a profit. It's going to be a full year before you really start getting the hang of backing and maneuvering in tight places and working your available hours to the max.

So when you get started, make sure you commit to that first company for a full year. They're taking a huge leap of faith and taking a huge financial risk forking out money, time, equipment, and people to train someone straight off the street. They have no idea if you can even handle this job or not, but you're worried about making a commitment to them? Come on, man.

The fear of commitment is understandable, because in this case, it is actually fear of the unknown. Back in November of 2014, I had the same trepidation about going to Swift Academy. Yes, Swift is making a commitment on an unknown quantity but they have vastly more resources to recover from a poor investment, whereas a student could be crushed financially. I realize that life is often unfair but I feel we need to be understanding of both sides of the business transaction. Both company and student have valid fears and concerns. I don't think that the OP necessarily wants something for free because he is too lazy or weak. I cannot fault him for wanting to find the best deal possible; after all, isn't that the American way?