Hypothetical Question

Oh, and currently the only piece of the CDL skills test im concerned with failing, is the ally dock back up test.

Again - I'd opine (and it would probably be IN YOUR CONTRACT) that if you can't get the skills down enough to pass a CDL test, you might find at least some forgiveness from the company as far as your debt goes.

Rick

And again, dont read anymore into the question than was asked, these hypothetical question comes from more than just this forum, lots talk about bonehead moves, costing them their jobs, some even comment on how much more is involved on OTR driving, indicating maybe it isnt for them ( and yes even in this forum). Then they just disappear, so what happened? Quit, failed, accident, anger management issues, the list is wide and varied.

So I posed the question, what happens with them, their contract, and yes, i get if they simply walk, but that was not the question, what if the COMPANY requests they walk?

Now Prime, Swift, and larger companies do no strike me as outfits that would indebt someone, let ( not cause) a student to fail, then hold their feet to the proverbial fire so to speak.

Again, all hypothecal "what if " questions/scenarios.

What would stop an outfit from doing something like that?

Get it? A Hypothecal query.

Nothing more, nothing less, while still being quite a complex issue.

You are the first student driver I have ever heard say; "parallel is easy." If so then the trouble you are having just might be all in your head cause if your skills are at a point where parallel is no problem, then you clearly have what it takes to handle everything else.

Good luck...!

Most definatly all in my head, thats what is crazy. 😩

Requesting they walk - is the same as being FIRED. People aren't sent home for NO REASON.

You sign a contract that says - in exchange for being trained to obtain your CDL , and being "road trained" as a company driver - you will work for the company for XX number of months to repay not having to pay for your CDL training IN ADVANCE (as "private schools" want their $$ UP FRONT - whether you finance or pay cash - THEY GET PAID).

If you do not succeed through no fault of the company (and being that literally 100's of folks that have NEVER DRIVEN a tractor trailer IN THEIR LIVES, succeed, it's usually NOT the company's fault if someone FAILS) - then why should the company not expect to get paid for the training?

So if it comes to pass that you decide that "OTR driving just isn't for you" - but you have made a legal contract to repay the training you were given, when should the company NOT PURSUE THAT PAYMENT.

Yes - there are plenty of folks that just "give up" - and many of them way too soon. There are folks that are frustrated, get stuck with a crappy trainer, have a bad day, whatever - that jump on here and post that they're ready to "throw in the towel". And we talk to them - usually tell them to take a deep breath and not make decisions in haste. Folks make suggestions (or phone calls) and try to resolve bad trainer situations, etc. And these SAME PEOPLE end up being MODERATORS here, or frequent posters. We've seen members here overcome medical conditions and get back behind the wheel.

FAILURES are usually on THE INDIVIDUAL AND NOT THE COMPANY. And it happens for various reasons.

But yet and still - the person makes a CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO REPAY THE COST OF TRAINING. Usually these contracts are IRON CLAD - as in - good luck trying to "lawyer your way out" of one.

We've seen one member here - that had a problem with something the company missed (think it was in their background - that the member DID DISCLOSE IN HIS APP) that they found AFTER the person had gotten their CDL. The member got CUT LOOSE, but the company "forgave" his debt (and I think that was CRST) because it really wasn't his fault they were cutting him loose. SO the guy DID get sent home - WITH a CDL - and NO DEBT.

A statistical rarity.

Rick

You are the first student driver I have ever heard say; "parallel is easy." If so then the trouble you are having just might be all in your head cause if your skills are at a point where parallel is no problem, then you clearly have what it takes to handle everything else.

Good luck...!

Most definatly all in my head, thats what is crazy. 😩

Happens to the best of us...you'll be fine!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program on "What if"

I don't know what the deal is at other companies, but I know at Swift you have to pay them back no matter why you left. It's just a simple finance agreement here, nothing more. I think I was supposed to sign it within a few days of starting cdl school, but I ended up not signing it until right before I tested. So I guess technically, I didn't owe Swift a penny until I actually signed the document. But the agreement does say I owe Swift even if I'm not hired and that the agreement is not an offer or guarantee of employment. So, according to the agreement, if I hadn't passed my tests and/or not been hired, I still would have owed them $3900, the total cost of the schooling.

Once I finished cdl school AND all my company training on the road and was issued my own truck, Swift started deducting a set amount from my weekly paychecks. So if I were to leave or be fired now, I wouldn't owe nearly as much as I did at first, but yes I would still have to pay them back.

Larry,

I think most company schools would let you attempt to pass multiple times, so that scenario would not occur. Some schools will prorate the expense of you sent home early. I know one of our students, Jolie was asked to leave our program early. I believe she would have been asked to repay some, if not all, of the cost. (She ended up passing the exam and worked for Roehl for a few months) then left.

I think all else is open game for the company. If you leave early whether by choice or on your own, your on the hook for the prorated expense.

Thanks

I don't know what the deal is at other companies, but I know at Swift you have to pay them back no matter why you left. It's just a simple finance agreement here, nothing more. I think I was supposed to sign it within a few days of starting cdl school, but I ended up not signing it until right before I tested. So I guess technically, I didn't owe Swift a penny until I actually signed the document. But the agreement does say I owe Swift even if I'm not hired and that the agreement is not an offer or guarantee of employment. So, according to the agreement, if I hadn't passed my tests and/or not been hired, I still would have owed them $3900, the total cost of the schooling.

And there's a KEY ANSWER to the original question - which was - at what point are you "on the hook" for repayment.

If Swift is doing this - then it's likely that everyone else is too (as the contracts are pretty standardized at this point).

What is also key is that THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL PASS OR BE HIRED.

Now, there's very few folks we've seen here - that didn't pass their CDL skills tests (even if they had to try some of them multiple times). And even fewer of those (barring medical issues that popped up) that didn't just go onto get their own truck and solo out after Phase II/TNT/etc. of training.

Seems you have to be a major screwup at that point - or just decided to walk away.

Rick

Rick says:

If Swift is doing this - then it's likely that everyone else is too (as the contracts are pretty standardized at this point).

There are similarities, but I'm not sure just how similar. As we well know, some companies have you sign a contract that makes it almost impossible for you to find work if you leave before the contract is up. CRST is famous for this, among others. Phoenix has mentioned having to pay CR England if you leave before the nine months is up. I don't know if it's the full amount or not. I think it's important to actually read the contract at whatever company you choose to go with.

Now, there's very few folks we've seen here - that didn't pass their CDL skills tests (even if they had to try some of them multiple times). And even fewer of those (barring medical issues that popped up) that didn't just go onto get their own truck and solo out after Phase II/TNT/etc. of training.

Seems you have to be a major screwup at that point - or just decided to walk away.

At my school there were at least a few people who kept testing over and over again and still didn't get it even after the 4th or 5th time. I felt bad for them because they were all "on the hook" for their training. At least they could hopefully rent a truck and practice enough to come back amd test out. One guy I befriended got sent home during the second week of school for failing his drug test (initial result was negative but came back positive after being sent to the lab). I don't know if he'd signed the contract yet.

What is also key is that THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL PASS OR BE HIRED.

This one's huge. Of course no company wants to put you through cdl school just to turn you away at orientation, but it does happen. One driver at orientation was sent home for an old felony that somehow hadn't come up at that point. He swore up and down he noted it on his application, but for some reason Swift didn't know about it. Thankfully for him, he was an experienced driver so he didn't owe them any school money, but I'm sure it's happened to new cdl holders as well.

Rick stands up and says,

What is also key is that THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL PASS OR BE HIRED.

What? You don't just pay your money and get your ticket punched? You mean students need to really apply themselves and learn something?

I know I'm being silly here, and in my Swift class there were a few that did everything they could, especially in the backing practice, and still couldn't pass the skills tests. And the school have them several chances.

But for a similar few students, who thought that they could coast through all this, there was a rude awakening when they packed their bags to go back home, without passing.