Community College As A Means Of Getting My Cdl?

I have heard that paid cdl company training and or private school is the way to go, but for me personally community college is a lot closer to where I live and really my only plausible option. Question is will it still get me in the door at most flat bed companies or will I have to re-consider my options? I also understand that going to a company paid cdl will help with the cost of tuition but I am hoping to get a student aid which should cover the cost of most of he schooling.

I don’t think it’ll hurt your chances. But, will you have to wait until Spring semester? And will it be next May before you’re earning a paycheck? If so AND you’re okay with that, your CDL should be acceptable.

for me personally community college is a lot closer to where I live and really my only plausible option.

Joel, how is it that you see it as your "only plausible option?"

There's nothing wrong with going through a community college. We just wouldn't consider it as one of your best options. Some of them have great programs. Some people think they are better because they take longer. They may cover more material, but the reality is that they do the same thing any other training course does - they help you obtain a CDL - you'll just spend more time getting to that point.

They can't prepare you for the realities of this career. They just help you get to the point of having the proper license for it. As far as your question...

will it still get me in the door at most flat bed companies?

Actually it isn't the type school that gets you in the door. It's a great mix of things that gets your foot in the door. Things like your location, a 160 hour training certificate, criminal background, work history, drug test results, driving records, behavior during orientation, and of course a current CDL and medical card.

Personally I think you have way more options than you realize. But if you think you've got to be near home or home each night while in school, then how do you plan on being gone while working for one of the flatbed companies you're interested in? One of the many great values of the Paid CDL Training Programs is knowing you have a job waiting once you've completed the course. You have no guarantee of a job once you've paid the community college, nor do you have any guarantee they can help you land a job.

So many people get into this thinking a CDL equals a job. We've seen it time and time again where people ignore our admonitions, thinking we have some hidden agenda. Our only agenda is to give you the truth - the best way to help you get started. We see the folks who are convinced they are smarter than us continually struggling at this. It's a shame too. Some of them put such needless stress on themselves.

If I were you, and I knew I wanted to do flatbed, I'd start talking with recruiters at TMC, Maverick, and Prime. Each of those companies have programs to provide you with the training for your CDL, and they can promise you a flatbed job upon your successful completion of the training. That's a no-brainer!

That’s something I’m going to look into ASAP. Generally speaking the college I would go to has a class coming up in October I believe.

I don’t think it’ll hurt your chances. But, will you have to wait until Spring semester? And will it be next May before you’re earning a paycheck? If so AND you’re okay with that, your CDL should be acceptable.

Apparently McElroy are linked to the college I may potentially go to so they say they will pick up the cost of tuition as long as I get my cdl and stay with them for between 1-2 years after hire. This seems like some really good news to hear because I really don’t want to get into more debt than I already am in. Plus, so far McElroy is looking like a good fit for me.

That sounds good Joel - that's what you're looking for!

Yes Mcelroy has contracted with them. They pay for your school and you sign on to work for them upon graduation. You will get your CDL and then go to Mcelroy for orientation and 4-6 weeks on-the-job training. They don’t run as a team during training so the entire time you’re on a trainer truck he’s sitting up front teaching (some better than others). As your training progresses he does less so towards the last couple weeks he’s basically just sitting and watching but there if needed. Carl Negley is the school owner. He’s been in the industry for a long time and had the school for many years. It’s an accredited school 240 hrs. Try to get with Marcus or Richard as your instructor.

So after speaking with my wife again last night, she wants me to go with a private school. It’s closer to home and it will still get me my cdl. Not a guaranteed job, but still I get a cdl at the end of it. I think with my clean record and age, also my positive attitude, I think this will be a good first step to landing a job with a reputable trucking company. Fingers crossed!

for me personally community college is a lot closer to where I live and really my only plausible option.

Joel, how is it that you see it as your "only plausible option?"

There's nothing wrong with going through a community college. We just wouldn't consider it as one of your best options. Some of them have great programs. Some people think they are better because they take longer. They may cover more material, but the reality is that they do the same thing any other training course does - they help you obtain a CDL - you'll just spend more time getting to that point.

They can't prepare you for the realities of this career. They just help you get to the point of having the proper license for it. As far as your question...

will it still get me in the door at most flat bed companies?

Actually it isn't the type school that gets you in the door. It's a great mix of things that gets your foot in the door. Things like your location, a 160 hour training certificate, criminal background, work history, drug test results, driving records, behavior during orientation, and of course a current CDL and medical card.

Personally I think you have way more options than you realize. But if you think you've got to be near home or home each night while in school, then how do you plan on being gone while working for one of the flatbed companies you're interested in? One of the many great values of the Paid CDL Training Programs is knowing you have a job waiting once you've completed the course. You have no guarantee of a job once you've paid the community college, nor do you have any guarantee they can help you land a job.

So many people get into this thinking a CDL equals a job. We've seen it time and time again where people ignore our admonitions, thinking we have some hidden agenda. Our only agenda is to give you the truth - the best way to help you get started. We see the folks who are convinced they are smarter than us continually struggling at this. It's a shame too. Some of them put such needless stress on themselves.

If I were you, and I knew I wanted to do flatbed, I'd start talking with recruiters at TMC, Maverick, and Prime. Each of those companies have programs to provide you with the training for your CDL, and they can promise you a flatbed job upon your successful completion of the training. That's a no-brainer!

How is your wife going to be with you going out on the road if you start this as a career?

That’s a fair question packrat. If it was solely up to me and I didn’t involve affecting my family and the people having to be there to help out while I’m away I would have chosen to go with a paid for cdl with a trucking company. Some were actually cheaper than the one I’m going to. But I’m just trying to compromise and keep the peace!