No Money To Live Off Of Taking A Paid Cdl Training Class
Topic 2104 | Page 1
Welcome aboard Doug!
Unfortunately, even with the Company-Sponsored CDL Training Programs covering almost all of the up-front costs of CDL training you're still going to have to pay for a few minor fees and you'll have to feed yourself while you're in school.
You really don't need much. If you can gather up a bare minimum of $500 you can probably squeeze by. You would be best off with closer to $1000 though. You're usually looking at close to two months before you get your first paycheck. Most companies will cover the cost of transporting you there and will pay for a place for you to stay. But you'll normally be expected to cover food and you'll always have a few other minor expenses that come up.
Sell a few things or borrow a few bucks from family or friends if you have to. Once you get through the training you'll have no problem paying it back.
Also, look into WIA - the Workforce Investment Act:
WIA stands for Workforce Investment Act and was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and re-entry into the workforce. WIA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or re-enter the labor market.
We have a lot of people come through here that get their truck driving school paid for by WIA.
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.
I have wanted for a long time to be a trucker. The problem is the cost of everything. Is there not a completely 100% backing program anywhere in the world? I am trying to get a job to make money I desperately need. I don't have $120 to fork out for a cdl permit, or money to eat off of while taking the classes.
you should check into Celadon in Indianapolis, the recruiter I talked to said they provide a room and 3 meals a day while you're in school for 3-4 weeks, she didn't say anything but i would assume that you have to feed yourself when you go for on the road training after the classroom work
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.
Sorry, I meant to put in this link to Workforce Investment Act: Commonly Asked Questions
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Last I checked, Central Refrigerated in Salt Lake terminal gave their students food coupons every day as well as kept a roof over students heads. They'll pay for the permits and the licensing (at least they did last year when I went through them) and even the "pay back" fee for training wasn't that bad. They took $25 a paycheck over 1 year which wasn't that bad at all. It came up to about $1500 total.
However, I went to their Fontana, CA school and I had to pay for food through training but not housing. They give you a $200 (or close to it) bonus as soon as you pass and get licensed to help you with on the road training which you'll in turn be payed $250 a week for. It's not much money, obviously, but it kept me going until I got my own truck and earned a real pay check.
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
You might want to check into Knight Transport. They actually pay you while you are going through their cdl training. You will still have to pay a $100 fee to start, but they will start paying sooner than any other company at least of all the ones I looked into. I ended up attending a private school but still plan on driving for them.
Depending on where you live you may or may not qualify, but it's sure worth checking into.
Woody
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.
Doug, if you are seriously hurting that bad, go sign up for General Relief and request emergency funds. I hear that they will often give you a $100 to $200 emergency funds as a one time deal. Its not a lot, but its something!
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I have wanted for a long time to be a trucker. The problem is the cost of everything. Is there not a completely 100% backing program anywhere in the world? I am trying to get a job to make money I desperately need. I don't have $120 to fork out for a cdl permit, or money to eat off of while taking the classes.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: