Thinking About Going To Private School Instead

when my youngest ages out of the house, haha!

That actually happens?? When??

Actually, my youngest will be the first out, heading for the Air Force. I'll have to build an apartment for the youtube star downstairs though.

Well, congrats for sure, then~!! I'm not the 'only' one dealing with the 'final teen' countdown. Reminds me of that song, LoL.

Final Countdown

My 'YouTube' star has left the building, for ROTC, etc.. as well. Our oldest (AND ONLY!) girl. This was last August on the local Harley shops'calendar.. she's saving for one, and they are helping her.. how cool, ?!?! (Thank you, McCune's Cycle World!)

(I DO HAVE an older son in FL from previous marriage et al, he is in the Army.)

The last one, our son.. is 17 and homeschooling by order of the Governor in our rural community.

He's completing ESPAN'OL .. for a college credit, and then, as he wishes. We've applied for online scholarships with many coding companies, that really ARE interested in his 7 languages (online, haha!) and I'm trying to teach him SPANISH.. sheesh!

Also.. the transition from MOM driving instead of DAD ... can't go smoothly until these KIDDOS get their 'affairs' in order, re: military, college, school, credits, et al.

So.. here, I wait for my turn.

I've offered my husband an early departure, if he could do what l do here.

I also have online freelance jobs; holding my own until we switch seats, so to speak. Might still go team (again) with him training me.. we did that 6 years ago.

That's THAT, then, Mark~!! Ergo, I'll await my turn. You???

~ Anne ~

I’m putting that behind me now and just moving forward . Hopefully i am driving with a company soon

Tierra, everything you've given us makes it sound like you are a great candidate. Someone is going to give you a shot. I got a ton of rejections when I first started this. I never could figure it out. Once I got in I was in - it just took some time. Don't let the rejection bother you. Just move on and keep your head high. You've got this!

I would like to add a few things to this discussion of company vs private training. This forum offeres many useful information coming from experienced drivers. What influenced my choices mostly was an idea that CDL school should never be your main question. After all, there is a simple question: what all this is about? Obviously, it is about driving a truck, enjoying it, and making money. Once we agree, that it takes at least a year to become a more or less OK driver, it boils down to where you want to drive, what kind of freight you want to deal with, and how often you want to be home, that's it. All CDL schools are the same in the sense that they only give you a lincense - a legal right to drive solo. Money is hardly a question, because every state has numerous options of funding through unemployment agencies. You can even completely skip the school, just learn the manual, find someone with a truck, practice and schedule a test with a DMV. But in my personal opinion, it makes much more sense to be trained by the same company that will employ you. There are certain things that each company does differently, so why not save time and learn it the right way from the very beginning?

Tierra read O/s's post.. truly!....and my apologies, ma'am .. for contributing to a hijack of this thread. There's actually some pertinent info .. replying to Mark.

I TOTALLY agree with the above posts, however!

My guy HAD TO go to a private school, sponsored by USX ..back in the day. It's a tough call. Brett worked for that same company (USX) for 6 years, IIRC. Only way to train w/them, but that has SOOOOOO changed, IMHO. So many awesome companies have in house training nowadays. It's amazing.

Wilson IS one of the harder 'cats to catch' if that makes sense.

~ Anne ~

I would like to add a few things to this discussion of company vs private training. This forum offeres many useful information coming from experienced drivers. What influenced my choices mostly was an idea that CDL school should never be your main question. After all, there is a simple question: what all this is about? Obviously, it is about driving a truck, enjoying it, and making money. Once we agree, that it takes at least a year to become a more or less OK driver, it boils down to where you want to drive, what kind of freight you want to deal with, and how often you want to be home, that's it. All CDL schools are the same in the sense that they only give you a lincense - a legal right to drive solo. Money is hardly a question, because every state has numerous options of funding through unemployment agencies. You can even completely skip the school, just learn the manual, find someone with a truck, practice and schedule a test with a DMV. But in my personal opinion, it makes much more sense to be trained by the same company that will employ you. There are certain things that each company does differently, so why not save time and learn it the right way from the very beginning?

Agreed!

When I decided on private school, it was because the company I wanted to go with (Schneider) didn’t do CDL training at the time, in my area. I was concerned with AFTER obtaining my license.

Make the decision that’s best for you. Arguments can be made for both options.

As soon as you’re called Driver, nobody will care much how you got there.

Have u talked to southwest truck driving school? That’s where I am.

The school is 160 Driving Academy. They have carrier sponsorship where either Swift, Werner, Covenant or Landair sponsor and you work for them. So it either be Werner I choose if Approved or I’ll hopefully go through Prime if they approve me once my ticket from 2018 14 over speed limit falls off . Then I’ll only have 1 Speeding ticket (7 over ) and 1 minor accident that I was not at fault for on my 3 year mvr record.

The point I made in my post regarding the reason for considering school then choosing a company is because of the inconsistent and inconsiderate natural of the way the companies can string you along and in the end it was a waste of time . And it’s partially my fault putting all my eggs in 1 company but the reason I did was I was approved and then all of a sudden nothing . So I’m considering is it better to already have cdl in hand when applying to a company is better.

Also I’ve been reading all through the forum and I’m aware of the challenges of becoming a professional driver and it is the reason i am drawn to it. I enjoy challenges , problem solving , decision making etc.

In the end I’ll make the decision which route to take is best for me after weighing all options and opinions.

Also with the school I am considering the cost would be sponsored by a company, the only difference is I would do school in my hometown and avoid having to travel all the way to company for training and having that possibility that the company can decide to send me home at any time for any reason .

So, all in all, it still WOULD BE company paid (sponsored) training? That's what my guy did in 03. Roadmasters partnered with USX back then. Didn't know they still did that!

Care to share ?!?!? (Company & school?)

Either way.. kudos, m'lady. Might see you out there this time next year, when my youngest ages out of the house, haha!

~ Anne ~

Hello, I figured I would put my $.02 in... Company sponsored schools can be great if you don't have the money up front AND you are willing to stay with that company for their contract term (usually 1 -2 years).

For me, the better option was to go to a private school at a total out of pocket cost of about $9k. The school I went to was federally accredited with the department of education, so I got a student loan and pell grant to cover the cost ofthe 22 week program. Before I signed the paperwork, I spoke with the driver placement department with what I was looking for, and they gave me 5 companies that would be a good fit (and I went with my #2 choice).... They offered a reimbursement of up to $7200, which was what I paid to get my license... With their reimbursement and a little extra, I paid off my student loan in 18 months, with the company sending the check to my loan holder....

The benefit for me was that if I the company I went with wasn't a good fit for me, I could leave and go with another company... I was fortunate that the company I went with was really good for me, and I was placed on a dedicated account, and I was home almost every weekend, and most holidays (I was stuck at a terminal for 2 holidays in 5 years, 1 to get a brand new truck with 89 miles on the odometer, and 1 I was getting multiple things serviced on a truck and they had to order parts from the dealer).....

You just have to decide which is better for you....

Chris

I'll await my turn. You???

That's fantastic Ann - You must be proud.

Well, where we live a masters in internet marketing really wasn't much help, my wife's experience in the office got her the financial director gig so I stayed home and did freelance while homeschooling (before it was cool) the kids. Once middle school was done, the two younger opted to go to HS.

But, as kids become adults (or so they tell me) they only get more expensive, so since they don't need me to supervise, i'm free to take some of the load off the wife. Guess you could say it's my turn, though she's still working, to pick up more of the load.

I'm gonna miss being here making her lunches and morning tea, but once my contract is paid I'll look for local or dedicated that brings me back regular.

Old School, I believe you that you want the best for people just starting out. I think your experience gives color to the phrase I used which I don't perceive the same. I expect there will be folks who read it the way you did, and other how I would. It's my opinion that no one should make that decision based solely on a single forum post anyway, and I think I've said as much.

We will continue to disagree on the value of a self-paid cdl class and the meaning of free agent, but I don't have a problem with that. Anyone thinking of trucking should weigh the pro's and con's of each according to their own needs, not what we think anyway. Hiding one perspective does no one any good, but by all means make your strongest argument for what you hold true. I'll do the same, likely we'll agree far more often than not.

Very few things in life are one size fits all. I've got a wardrobe to prove it since age and chocolate have taken their toll. The best value you, or I, can offer future readers is the full range of perspective. Never presuming our own experience will be that of another, even under similar circumstances. As they say, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

So I wish you well and hope you get to know me, we share the same passion for helping others. Sometimes that means backing up and letting them choose. Tough love is great, but "tough" is just the adjective, the real power is in the love.

Safe travels,

Mark

Just a thought....if a company eliminated you before you have a CDL , they would still eliminate you after.

If you go to a company expecting tuition reimbursement, understand it comes in partial payments...some companies drag it out for 6 months to a year. So either way you may be staying at that company anyway.

If you have the money for school but go paid training, you could always pay off the contract and walk away.

Company paid usually helps more than local schools who could charge you additional fees to retest after failing or for extra practice.

If you have a medical issue that eliminates you from getting hired, a local school wont tell you. You could end up with no job and a loan.