Updated Raider Express Training

Hi Everyone,

After seeking advice of where to go, I ended up going to Raider Express. I came to train with Raider because of their truly free CDL training. Why is it free? There are some caveats one may consider, but these are my thoughts. The program is really an internal training function for Raider Express to take people off the street and get their CDL quickly. Why is it free when others outsource to companies and have contracts? I think Raider is filling their own internal needs. Let's face it- from employer perspective, the riskiest employee is a new hire, and even more so an inexperienced new hire at that. Too often we forget that we are PART of a business, and that for US to be paid, the company must generate money in EXCESS of what we are being paid to remain in business.

As a result, the initial wages during "training" are LOW. I think this productivity gain is used by the company to provide training (tax break), minimize employee cost (low wages), get productive work completed (fulfilling customer needs) and creates a pipeline. The first week you will receive NOTHING. Do you typically get paid while in school? I didn't, so think this is completely reasonable. The first week is used to filter trainees to see who will be left. Training is then compensated, for 1000.00 overall. Upon completion of facility training, you will then go out on the road with another trainer for a total of 28 days. For this, you will be compensated at 0.15/mile. This is the tradeoff for free vs contract...While 0.15 seems low, you are eligible to be paid for all the team miles, as well eligible bonus, etc. I think this is very fair overall.

If one leaves early, you do not get your license. If you obtain your CDL, and then jump to another company without notice or under other circumstances, then you may not have any documented experience so will have to repeat a training program at another company. If Raider learns your intent IS to go somewhere else, you won't complete training and get your CDL here.

For myself, this company met the requirements I sought- getting the CDL, with no contract, and decent wages after training is complete- it minimized my financial risk and is truly a win-win for both parties. The only item I was misled in concerns the limiting of class size due to the pandemic. Our class started with ~40 people. That does not indicate ANY limiting as a result. To limit exposure, temperature is taken, and masks are required- though that starts to roll from enforcement VERY quickly. Protect yourself and don't rely on others to police mask use, etc. It is a personal responsibility to maintain health. Do so and don't be an idiot...

If you are coming from out of town, then you will be staying at the La Quinta near the school. Word of caution- some of the "guests" you may not ordinarily choose to associate with, and not far away at another hotel chain, it was raided late last year in a prostitution "sting". My experience with the motel is that it is nice and safe, though I did have to move rooms due to noise. As mentioned previously, if possible, AVOID the connecting rooms as the hotel tends to put families in them (as a Raider, you will ONLY get a room with two double beds). The provided breakfast is nothing to be excited about. It consisted of bags of a cake, and water or juice.

More to come...ran into limit!

Best of luck to you