This Answer Surprised Me!

Been hitting companys up the last few days, and talked to a recruiter at Palmer/Wilton today and she told me that according to their insurance company guidelines, I couldnt do their company cdl school because I had previously had a cdl.. I said that I didnt lose the license for any reason, but chose to just let it lapse because of a different career choice at the time. But the reason didnt matter. I'm not complaining, it just surprised me because I hadn't heard of that yet!

And she also told me 1) that most of the companies with schools will tell me the same thing. And 2) that I should check with the bigger companies that have refresher training courses like schneider. Concerning #1, is this true? Concerning # 2, have checked on this with Schneider and was told I dont qualify because of where I live, so my question to y'all is, what other companies do refresher training?

Some of the Paid CDL Training Programs will not take former drivers, but not all of them do that. Statistically you are likely to quit again. I'm not sure why they blamed it on insurance.

Ok, you currently don't have a CDL-A. You need one and you need a 160 hour certificate of training.

That the "insurance companies won't allow you to go to a company sponsored CDL school" makes no sense to me whatsoever.

I'm not sure what you told the recruiter, but I'd just recommend applying for company sponsored CDL school by applying to all of them, see what offers you get, then pick one.

Apply For Paid CDL Training

Statistically you [former drivers who no longer have a CDL] are likely to quit again. I'm not sure why they blamed it on insurance.

That's exactly it right there. They figure if you didn't stick with trucking the first time, you probably won't this time either, and I guarantee the statistics would confirm that.

This is why we try to explain to new drivers that when you hear "truck drivers are in demand" they're not talking about new guys off the street. They're talking about proven, experienced drivers. They have tons and tons of people coming off the street looking to get their career started. There's no shortage there at all.

Ok, I get that about the statistics, and they dont want to risk the expense of full training, so, what companies besides Schneider offer the shorter refresher courses, googled it but didnt find much?

Ok, I get that about the statistics, and they dont want to risk the expense of full training, so, what companies besides Schneider offer the shorter refresher courses, googled it but didnt find much?

Possibly JB Hunt. While I was looking at their jobs, I saw a mention of a refresher course. call and ask.

Ok a little more research is clearing it up prior to doing a company refresher, I'd have to test for permit, arrange road test and med card on my own then approach them

Ok, I get that about the statistics, and they dont want to risk the expense of full training, so, what companies besides Schneider offer the shorter refresher courses, googled it but didnt find much?

Any company will evaluate your skills before they commit to duration of the refresher course. You’ll still may be required to do road training once the refresher course is completed.

Call around...a lot.

Michael,

I don't know if Swift hires out of Florida, but this old driver has just been hired by them.

Raptor