Help Needed For A Cost Effective Training School
Topic 19626 | Page 1
Have you thought of Paid CDL Training Programs? They train you for little or no upfront costs. Then you drive for that company under contract, usually about one year. I just finished training for CFI. I start orientation tomorrow morning. Then they send me with a trainer for 7500 miles. After that I test out to upgrade for my own truck. You can read my training diary here. CFI's contract is for 12 months. They do not make you pay anything back for the training as long as you fulfil your contract. In my biased opinion CFI is a great company which cares about it's drivers. I hope that helps. Good luck.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Hi, Ray. Welcome to Trucking Truth. I took a similar​ route - got my physical & permit then started looking for a school. I went with Swift. (I'm my opinion, as good as, or better than 🤑 a stack of letters like "CFI".)
Big Scott is showing you the way, use a company sponsored school. Yes, you are on the hook for tuition, but you can work it off in a year. Swift's payment program actually pays it all back to you if you stay two years.
Also, 160 hours for your ticket punch is not the whole enchilada. There's more to driving an 18 wheeler as a career than what you learn in class.
If you get indigestion over making a year commitment, consider this: you could skip out on less than the contract time (still needing to pay off the tuition) but Trucking Truth suggests you lose Brownie points for job hopping. Also, with a company program, you are all but guaranteed a job when you finish class.
More questions? Your answers are here.
Check these out:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I went company sponsored route. Actually earned my CDL over there in Phoenix. You are in a great freight area so the options are really good for you. Company sponsored is the way to go especially if money is an issue.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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I have just received my cdl permit, medical and all endorsements. I am just looking for the 160 hours and don't want to spend a fortune. My plans are while everyone is studying for the test I'd like to begin observation. Any schools in the phoenix area under 3K that will allow me to do this? http://www.arizonacdl.com/ is the only school that will not return my calls or inquiry's. Don't know if they are out of business or not. The community colleges have dropped their programs for some reason. (Don't really care)
Thanks in advance, Ray
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: