Advice On Schools And Sponsorships

Hey All,

I am trying to locate a trucking company that will sponsor my schooling. I've been working with the recruiter @ Driver Solutions, but the company I choose denied the sponsorship for whatever reason. ( I was not told why) They told me they could try to get a sponsorship from PAM Transport, my second choice until I found out the deal on team driving. I have put my application on hold for the time being.

PAM requires a 6 month period of Team driving after school and training as part of the 12 month commitment. The problem I have with that is the team driver will be a rookie just like me... that makes me nervous.

So here my questions....

1.) What other companies with sponsor my schooling besides PAM and USA Truck in exchange for a 12 month commitment or less.

2.) Does the company do solo after training.... and how long is training.

3.) Since I haven't completely eliminated by PAM what is your opinion on the 6 months of Team driving? Good/Bad ....wrong choice

Thanks in advance for your input Kevin

Kevin, welcome to the forum!

I think you've got some legitimate concerns over the team driving with another rookie. In my opinion teaming is tough no matter how you go about it, but then I enjoy my personal space and privacy.

Hey, since you are new to all this I'd encourage you to do some reading in our Truck Driver's Career Guide. There's a lot of information there and if you'll follow all the links you will have a much better understanding about the career you're about to embark upon. We've also got a really effective training program for taking your state exams. The High Road Training Program has helped thousands of new drivers get a leg up on their peers when it comes to acing those tests.

Okay, as far as companies that will sponsor your training, we've got it all laid out for you in the Company-Sponsored Training section of the website.

Now, don't be bashful, you feel welcome to jump in here with any and all questions you may have and there will usually be someone available to give you some advice or at least point you in a direction where you can do a little research on your own.

Again, welcome aboard.

Thanks, Old school

I found this site a few months ago and have been doing a lot of reading in the sections you mention. Like you I like my personal space.

Living in a truck with a trainer that one thing.. he/she is there to help you to fine tune the finer points of being a successful OTR trucker.... I could handle the personality differences for 4-6 weeks. We all have to learn, Just the thought of rookie team member makes me a bit nervous. I was told a story from a friend that recently enter the lifestyle. During the first month her team driver fell asleep behind the wheel.... not once but twice. I wasnt told what woke him up but obviously something did. She complains/reports the incident to the DM after the second incident and then she gets fired for damage to the truck that was there when it was assigned to her/them and puts him first seat ( it was minor cosmetic from my understanding) So she now driving with anoth company after fighting it and clearing her record... SOLO and loving it. I might have to bite my pride and do the team just to get my foot in the door and hopefully I get one that i won't have to smack in the back of the head to keep him/her awake LOL.

Getting straight answer from recruiters and/or reruiting companies such as Driver Solutions, makes me feel like i have to beat them across the head with something.LOL No I not that violent. I checked into many alternatives including Government sponsors programs. While you might get more direct answers be prepared to jumps through all the hoops and loops they throw your way to prevent you from taking advantage of such programs. And dont think they going get in any hurry to help you. So I'm down to two options. One pay for the school myself, unless I win the lottery tat not going to happen. Or sign on with some company that has it own school and hope like heck I dont miss anything in the contract. I am looking in to a few companies.... just comparing the good against the good asainst the bad and worst LOL.... It proven itself to be a whether daunting process of illimination.

Hi Kevin, most if not all the Info you'll ever need is found on this excellent website...Just read through the Company-Sponsored Training and you'll find a suitable company.

I've been wondering a lot lately why so many companies are all gung-ho to put 2 people fresh out of cdl school together running team. I know when in doubt follow the scent money but I just don't see the angle here.

I've been wondering a lot lately why so many companies are all gung-go to put 2 people fresh out of cdl school Together running team. I know when in doubt follow the scent money but I just don't See the angle here.

Scott, I agree ... I cant see the benifit of two rookies togather either.

Ken, thanks for the input :) Old school done provided the link and I've been reading all the info... it really just come down to me asking the right questions.

Hey Kevin....sorry I'm so late to the conversation here.

I think Knight Transportation and/or Roehl Transport have their students run as solo drivers with the trainer in the passenger seat for a short while until you get the hang of it a bit and then you and your trainer will run team. Some companies will allow you to run solo after you complete your training and others won't but it's all there in our Company-Sponsored Training Program Reviews. Are you only looking at that first page by chance or are you going through the pages of information we have on each company? Because our information points out the entire itinerary so go through it all thoroughly.

Or sign on with some company that has it own school and hope like heck I dont miss anything in the contract

It's not as devious as you may believe. They're not "out to get you". They're out to sign up people who want a career in trucking but don't have the funds up front to pay for private schooling. If I were you I would simply apply to all of the company-sponsored programs you feel might suit you and start a dialogue with their recruiters. Get all the information you can and go with the one you feel most comfortable with. And remember, this isn't a life sentence. Most of these companies simply require 8-12 months with them and you're free to move on. You don't want to leave your first company before getting a year of safe OTR driving under your belt anyhow so these contracts are of no concern in our opinion. The companies just want to make sure they can recoup the time and money they're investing in you by providing your training basically free of charge.

I've been wondering a lot lately why so many companies are all gung-ho to put 2 people fresh out of cdl school together running team. I know when in doubt follow the scent money but I just don't see the angle here.

Trucking companies make more money with team operations than they do with solo drivers. Owning a truck entails fixed costs like truck payments, tags, and insurance. The more miles they can turn with a truck the better chances they have of turning a profit. Not only that, but new drivers know very, very little about how to handle life on the road. They get lonely, they get nervous, and they run into a lot of situations they're not sure how to handle. On top of that, new drivers don't have the backing skills to handle the really tight situations very well. So for all of those reasons it's nice to have two drivers together to help each other out. It's the old "buddy system". Grab a friend and survive the trials and tribulations together.

Hey Brett,

Thanks for the input. I have read pass the first page of the companies and actually a few from the company sponsor training section has made it to my top list... Knight and prime are getting consider hard. Just need to speak to a recruiter from both. and they are some others...

You also gave me a new insight of driving team..... even if the team member was a rookie, it would be a extra set of eyes for backing into that extra tight dock.

Hopefull, in the next few weeks I can find a company and be accepted into their program and get started.....

You also gave me a new insight of driving team..... even if the team member was a rookie, it would be a extra set of eyes for backing into that extra tight dock.

Oh yeah....and not just that, but a million things - calling for better directions, helping you navigate with the GPS, communicating with the company on the Qualcomm....there's a ton of ways you can help each other out. You won't always be able to do that because one person is going to be sleeping most of the time the other is driving. But you'll learn to work together where you'll both be awake during the most critical times to help each other out.

Plus, don't underestimate the amount of time you spend alone out there. It's a huge shock for most people when they discover they're in that truck alone about 21 out of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can go several weeks or even a few months without coming across a single person you know. That is a huge shock to the system and it really causes a tremendous strain for a lot of people, especially when you consider all of the stress and pressure you're under as a new driver to begin with. Having someone you know sitting next to you through it all can make all the difference in the world sometimes.