Refresher Course Question?

Hello, I plan on going to a private cdl training school soon and would like to know if there is a set amount of time I have without driving a truck before I am required to take a refresher course? I am currently 20 years old and wanna drive OTR. I know to drive interstate the set age is 21 years of age, would it be smart to wait closer till I turn 21 to start my training? I would like get hired by Swift to get started in the industry but I don't wanna have to take a refresher course 9 months from now.

The answer to your question is that it varies a little for each company. In most cases they want you to start your job within 90 days from the time you complete your schooling.

Another consideration is that many OTR companies have a minimum age requirement that exceeds the state's minimum. Some of them want you to be 23, even though you may be legal at 21.

If you already know you want to get started at Swft, why not take advantage of their Company-Sponsored Training Program? You'd get some great training and save yourself a lot of cash.

I feel local schooling isn't as rushed as company training is and I don't want to surrender my license in another state just in case I don't pass. I plan to be with Swift for at least 6 months to get the experience for possible local driving not to mention the school i'm looking at has ties with local companies. Swift hires people who are age 21 and up which is a plus for me. I may just contact Swift and see what they say about a refresher course, I just don't wanna be locked in for a year with them because I OWE them.

The answer to your question is that it varies a little for each company. In most cases they want you to start your job within 90 days from the time you complete your schooling.

Another consideration is that many OTR companies have a minimum age requirement that exceeds the state's minimum. Some of them want you to be 23, even though you may be legal at 21.

If you already know you want to get started at Swft, why not take advantage of their Company-Sponsored Training Program? You'd get some great training and save yourself a lot of cash.

I plan to be with Swift for at least 6 months to get the experience for possible local driving not to mention the school i'm looking at has ties with local companies.

Okay, I understand that, but the reason I suggested it was because you had just made this statement...

I am currently 20 years old and wanna drive OTR.

So I guess I'm confused on what the goal is at this point. You don't seem to mind owing the private school, since you seem to be willing to pay them. But the commitment to Swift has you nervous. I just think you need to make a list of priorities and get this all worked out in your mind first. With this career you will need to be focused and committed. Those are key ingredients to success.

Sorry for the confusion, more or less I wanna gain experience before I go local. This private school I talked with is cdstruckschool. Here's their reply to my question about their local partners - "Trucking companies always put on the ads that they need drivers to have couple years of experience but actually, we have worked with so many local companies that will hire our graduates right out of school. Age required for local work usually starts at 18 but this also depends on each companies insurance policy." You're right, I am in the air with all of this but I am certain I wanna give this industry my all.

I plan to be with Swift for at least 6 months to get the experience for possible local driving not to mention the school i'm looking at has ties with local companies.

Okay, I understand that, but the reason I suggested it was because you had just made this statement...

I am currently 20 years old and wanna drive OTR.

So I guess I'm confused on what the goal is at this point. You don't seem to mind owing the private school, since you seem to be willing to pay them. But the commitment to Swift has you nervous. I just think you need to make a list of priorities and get this all worked out in your mind first. With this career you will need to be focused and committed. Those are key ingredients to success.

Okay, thanks for the clarification. Now, my advice remains the same - here's my recommendation. Talk with a recruiter at Swift and go through their Company-Sponsored Training Program. I'm not sure why you are afraid you might not be able to pass. It probably stems from something you've read online, and I wouldn't trust any of that garbage from the folks who claim they got bamboozled by the trucking companies.

If you commit to Swift, they are going to get behind you 100%. They will make sure they get you started off right. They have been doing this a long time and they know how to recognize the folks who want to succeed at this. Go ahead and make a commitment to stick with them for one year. That is in your best interest.

If you want to be able to make some really good money doing this job as a local driver you really need to have a minimum of one year of over the road experience. I would suggest two or three years myself, but at a minimum you need one year. I'm not even referring to what the local jobs require. I'm talking about the things that are going to give you a really great foundation for success.

I went to a private school, but afterwards I had problems getting my first job. When you go through a company's training program, that company will get behind you and do their best to help you succeed. They now have an investment in you and they need it to pay off. What better combination can you find? You are committed to them, and they to you. All things considered Aaron, that is exactly how I would go about this, were I in your shoes.

Hey I truly appreciate the feedback, I'll definitely reconsider what you have said and talk with a recruiter. Thanks!

Okay, thanks for the clarification. Now, my advice remains the same - here's my recommendation. Talk with a recruiter at Swift and go through their Company-Sponsored Training Program. I'm not sure why you are afraid you might not be able to pass. It probably stems from something you've read online, and I wouldn't trust any of that garbage from the folks who claim they got bamboozled by the trucking companies.

If you commit to Swift, they are going to get behind you 100%. They will make sure they get you started off right. They have been doing this a long time and they know how to recognize the folks who want to succeed at this. Go ahead and make a commitment to stick with them for one year. That is in your best interest.

If you want to be able to make some really good money doing this job as a local driver you really need to have a minimum of one year of over the road experience. I would suggest two or three years myself, but at a minimum you need one year. I'm not even referring to what the local jobs require. I'm talking about the things that are going to give you a really great foundation for success.

I went to a private school, but afterwards I had problems getting my first job. When you go through a company's training program, that company will get behind you and do their best to help you succeed. They now have an investment in you and they need it to pay off. What better combination can you find? You are committed to them, and they to you. All things considered Aaron, that is exactly how I would go about this, were I in your shoes.

Hey I truly appreciate the feedback, I'll definitely reconsider what you have said and talk with a recruiter. Thanks!

Hey Aaron, I sincerely hope everything works out for you. Just so you understand my motivation, I have no ties with Swift or any other large trucking company that provides these training programs. In fact I am very happily employed with Knight Transportation, and I didn't even put in a plug to you for them. I just tried to answer you based on the information you gave us. I just want to see you go into this having a good start, and a good foundation for your future success.

I want to address one thing again based on what you stated earlier...

I feel local schooling isn't as rushed as company training is and I don't want to surrender my license in another state just in case I don't pass. I plan to be with Swift for at least 6 months to get the experience for possible local driving... I just don't wanna be locked in for a year with them because I OWE them.

I have nothing against going to local schools, it is just that now that I have been in the industry for a number of years I realize the really great value and benefit of these Paid CDL Training Programs. Part of the problem with them is that you end up getting a lot of people who are dead broke, due to their own irresponsible actions or poor character, going to them and expecting this job to be some sort of a free hand out. Then when they fail and get sent home, all the nice responsible folks like yourself read their stories of woe and misery on line, and they are afraid the same thing is going to happen to them. These companies have invested a ton of dollars to these programs because it has turned out to be the most efficient way for them to bring in the needed drivers to help them serve their many customers. What you said is true about them being fast paced, but to be honest with you the private schools are pretty fast paced themselves. Most of them cost close to four thousand dollars or more, and they only last four weeks. Once you've paid them your money, their is no guarantee that they are going to be willing to give you extra time on their dime - they might, or they might not.

You are a young guy, and I realize that a one year commitment may seem like an eternity to you. Trust me, you are going to be having the thrill of a lifetime out here travelling across this great country. You will find it hard to believe that a year has flown by already when you get to that point. It will be difficult at first - it is not an easy career to get started, but by making up your mind and committing to that initial year's learning curve you will be way ahead of the game. And having a really large company behind you supporting your efforts and trying their best to help you become a professional driver will mean a lot to your success. Who know's, you may just discover, like many others before you, that this over the road job is really cool! I would be bored to death in a local job, but that is just me. My friend Daniel B did over the road for about three years and then landed his dream job at a local fuel delivery position. To each his own.

I just think you should wait until you are old enough to go through Swift's or some other large carrier's training program, and then hang in there for a year or two. Once you are done with all that you can reassess where you stand and make a decision whether you want to continue on as an OTR guy or move over into a local driving position.

I wish you the best my friend!