Going To Paid CDL Training

Hey guys. I'm strongly considering becoming a truck driver and I have tons of questions about the industry and what life on the road is like. I've been doing lot of reading on these forums and on the web site, lots of useful information!

Now I have a question about how this all starts. When you do paid CDL training for a big company like Swift, CRST, Pam Transport, or what have you...do you get paid while you are being trained to acquire your CDL?? How does that work? Right now I make only 10 dollars an hour and my girlfriend and I live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to get by. I know CDL training is expensive, so having that provided to me at no cost to me via one of these companies is a huge blessing in and of itself. But if I'm not earning money to pay the rent while I'm in school, then me and my girl won't have anywhere to stay by the time I finish class! So understanding how this whole process works is very important and will help me come up with a plan for what to do.

I have a couple other questions. Let's say I choose CRST...they have schools right here in Savannah, GA where I live. If I were go with them, would I have to live there during training? In all the FAQs I've read about company sponsored CDL training, room & board is always a topic and it seems to be a given that trainees will be staying at their training facilities away from home. But wait! If my training facility is local, is that necessary? I realize the answer to this question shouldn't dictate where I go. If I can land with a better company than CRST then I will probably go with the better company regardless. Still, getting to come home and be with my sweetheart every night at least during the initial training period and not having to worry about extra costs for room & board is a consideration.

Also, how long after contacting a recruiter will I be shipped off to school? There are a couple things I have to consider here. For one...I have to admit, I do like to smoke weed and I only started considering this new career recently. For a REAL job, I'm more than happy to put the pipe down. Still, I want at least a month to clear my system out to be on the safe side. Another thing is that I will need to put in a few weeks notice with my current place of employment. Doesn't matter how much I hate my work, I always do things the right way and wouldn't just abandon my job because some recruiter wants to ship me off to training right away.

Thank you guys so much for your time and efforts into answering my questions! God bless.

Most companies do hair follicle testing. You will want at LEAST 6 months of no weed and a haircut. When your hair is formed it essentially takes a snapshot in time. How well your diet is, what chemicals you are exposed to, etc... since hair is 'dead' tissue the information it contains isn't corrupted. And remember, if the hair on your head isn't long enough, they WILL find somewhere else to take it from. If none of the hair on your body is long enough, then you get sent home. Probably marked down as a failed drug screening.

Thanks for the words of advice. Does DOT do hair tests at this time or is this just a requirement based on which company you work for? I will talk about this with recruiters from different companies and consider putting this off until I am completely sure I can pass both.

Anyone have answers to my other questions? Specifically about whether or not you receive pay during your company sponsored CDL training and whether you have to live at the training facility if the company sponsored school is local?

DOT is not in the drug testing business. Employers are, in a sense that is.. Not ALL companies require hair testing and neither does DOT for a CDL.

There are many more trucking company's that utilize urine testing then hair. Do your homework.

P.S. "putting the pipe down" should save you some cash as well brother!

My 2 cents.

Welcome to the forum.

DOT doesn't administer the drug tests, the trucking companies do. It's either UAT and/or hair. As you apply, you should ask that question, cause like Patrick stated, 6 months is the minimum you'll need to stay clean in order to have a shot at passing a hair follicle test. Another point I hope you realize that must be emphasized, truck driving and recreational drug use cannot co-exist. Not sure what you have read or heard, you cannot do both. You can be randomly tested without warning and only a trace amount of anything (including alcohol) earns you a pink-slip and a very difficult time trying to get back into the driving profession. Try to break the habit now...while you can understand how your mind and body will respond to the change.

I might also recommend reviewing the following links:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

The above is the recommended Trucking Truth starter kit. Everything you need to establish a realistic understanding and grounded expectations is contained in the first two links. The third link is a proven path to success in preparation for taking and passing the CDL permit exams. Many of the questions you have are addressed in these links. Highly suggest taking a look at this material.

The Paid CDL Training Programs you referred to are basically administered in two parts; schooling to prepare you for passing the CDL tests (and barely anything more), typically lasts for three-four weeks, including classroom, yard skills, and road skills. You will then take your CDL tests. Once you have earned your CDL, there is road-training or as some refer to it, finishing school. Lasting anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months, road-training is where you learn how to operate as a truck driver. Guided and mentored by an experienced trainer, you will learn basic skills, techniques, communication, and knowledge necessary to operate either as a solo or team driver. Each company delivers their training a bit differently, varying in duration, but overall there are more similarities than not.

To answer your specific question about pay; Roehl is the only company I am aware of that pays you while you are in the schooling phase. Running a close second to Roehl in that regard is Prime; they will float you a loan while in their pre-CDL school. Once you are in the road-training part, every company will compensate you for this. During your schooling, you will be sharing a hotel room with at least one other student, unless you live close enough to commute. I recommend taking advantage of the hotel though, many times after-hours study groups form that definitely help with a student's success. Depending on the company, while participating in road training you sleep (and live) in the truck, just like you will once OTR. Study the Company Sponsored Training link for specifics. Most of the companies offering this type of training are represented by experienced drivers in this forum.

I suggest a visit to the other forum specific to student driver diaries. You can also use the search bar in the upper left hand-corner to locate specific information and/or topics.

Good luck!

DOT is not in the drug testing business. Employers are, in a sense that is.. Not ALL companies require hair testing and neither does DOT for a CDL.

There are many more trucking company's that utilize urine testing then hair. Do your homework.

P.S. "putting the pipe down" should save you some cash as well brother!

My 2 cents.

Maybe I should rephrase most with most LARGE companies. Yes I am sure all of those small ones don't. Yes, I am aware that mom n pop operations and O/Os make up the majority of the trucks on the road. However, not too many people straight out of school are gonna get hired by one. The companies that brand new people are looking at, most of those do. Some do urinalysis only, some do both urinalysis and hair, some just do hair. I am more than willing to wager that the greater majority of the big companies, do hair follicle testing with or without urinalysis.

Yes, the DOT only CURRENTLY requires Urinalysis. But, is it worth the risk to show up and find out the company you chose does hair or both.

How many people show up here saying I am a pothead and now I want to drive truck? Several times every month? The advice is ALWAYS the same. Get clean and stay clean for a minimum of 6 months before making the attempt. Otherwise you limit your choice of companies to a handful of the big ones that still just do urinalysis. What is to say those they won't change their policies to include hair follicle testing between now and then. Simply not worth the risk.

Either way the advice is Solid and relevant. Get clean and stay clean for a minimum of 6 months. Because, popping hot will end your career faster than it began.

I couldn't agree more... Sound advice.

DOT is not in the drug testing business. Employers are, in a sense that is.. Not ALL companies require hair testing and neither does DOT for a CDL.

There are many more trucking company's that utilize urine testing then hair. Do your homework.

P.S. "putting the pipe down" should save you some cash as well brother!

My 2 cents.

Maybe I should rephrase most with most LARGE companies. Yes I am sure all of those small ones don't. Yes, I am aware that mom n pop operations and O/Os make up the majority of the trucks on the road. However, not too many people straight out of school are gonna get hired by one. The companies that brand new people are looking at, most of those do. Some do urinalysis only, some do both urinalysis and hair, some just do hair. I am more than willing to wager that the greater majority of the big companies, do hair follicle testing with or without urinalysis.

Yes, the DOT only CURRENTLY requires Urinalysis. But, is it worth the risk to show up and find out the company you chose does hair or both.

How many people show up here saying I am a pothead and now I want to drive truck? Several times every month? The advice is ALWAYS the same. Get clean and stay clean for a minimum of 6 months before making the attempt. Otherwise you limit your choice of companies to a handful of the big ones that still just do urinalysis. What is to say those they won't change their policies to include hair follicle testing between now and then. Simply not worth the risk.

Either way the advice is Solid and relevant. Get clean and stay clean for a minimum of 6 months. Because, popping hot will end your career faster than it began.