CDL School Closes W/Out Notice: Students Paid $Thousands
Topic 32286 | Page 1
Very sad,. People trying to make an honest living getting screwed out of their money.
It all worked out for Michael but he had some hiccups with his training. Although not the route suggest by most everyone here, he chose to take private school training so he could see if this was something that was going to fit his skillset after he decided to quit going to college. He first was going to go to one accredited training school near home but I checked out and saw some reviews with complaints about old equipment, etc. I saw another small school that had outstanding reviews and suggested he check out both. I ended up going with him. We first went to the one with the good reviews and found out he had taught at the other school for 14 years but left because it had changed owners multiple times and they were not putting money back into their equipment. He said that they had a good program but didn't always follow it. We then went to the accredited school. Seemed okay at first but then I mentioned some of the bad reviews and that we had visited this other school run by a former instructor. The guy was very honest and said Michael should go there. He agreed that the owners hadn't put money back into the equipment and, in fact, they just had one truck repossessed. So Michael went to the school with the good reviews and that instructor was very good and gave Michael lots of personal hands on instruction, lots of driving, etc. Unfortunately, just as Michael was about finished with his training, the instructor/owner came down with a very bad case of COVID and infected Michael who, in turn, infected us. The instructor was in the hospital and incubated so I told Michael not not waste his time with uncertainties and go to a third school he had also checked out. So he paid for two schools out of pocket. Fortunately, money was not a factor for him since we had set up college savings for him that he could use. He paid the full price for the second school and after two days of training they said he was ready and he tested the next day and passed. He did well under pressure, he was not expecting to get tested that quickly but another student failed the brake test right off the bat so the school told Michael to rush there and go get tested.
Sorry for the long story but these are some examples of stuff that can go wrong at private schools.
Oh, I should say that Michael did first talk to Prime but since he did not have any recent work experience (had been in college and only worked one summer job during that and then helped on our farm), they would not hire him and put him through training.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Harvey apologizes:
Sorry for the long story but these are some examples of stuff that can go wrong at private schools.
Which is why we recommend Company Paid CDL Training Programs. The majority of people in this forum couldn’t afford the multiple false starts Michael experienced.
In my almost 10 years of CDL driving, I’ve yet to read a compelling reason to go with a private school.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Harvey apologizes:
Sorry for the long story but these are some examples of stuff that can go wrong at private schools.
Which is why we recommend Company Paid CDL Training Programs. The majority of people in this forum couldn’t afford the multiple false starts Michael experienced.
In my almost 10 years of CDL driving, I’ve yet to read a compelling reason to go with a private school.
Yeah, I agree. It worked out for Michael and did give him the chance to learn more what this career would be like before making a commitment. He also got a lot of hands behind the wheel since he wasn't working another job at the same time like other students at the school.
I don't think I ever explained but a college counselor suggested that Michael give truck driving a try when he discussed wanting to stop school based on him liking to drive and other factors. I think it is somewhat surprising that this came from a state college and they did him a good service, but not in the way he originally planned (forestry).
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Harvey apologizes:
Which is why we recommend Company Paid CDL Training Programs. The majority of people in this forum couldn’t afford the multiple false starts Michael experienced.
In my almost 10 years of CDL driving, I’ve yet to read a compelling reason to go with a private school.
A friend of mine went through a private school through WIOA. He couldn't get any of the company-sponsored training programs to accept him because of background issues. He completed training and was hired by TransAm right out of school. That was in 2018. He still drives for TransAm on a dedicated account.
You have valid point that it usually doesn't work out so neat and clean going that route, but for those that it does work, it's a life changer.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Ryan said:
"He couldn't get any of the company-sponsored training programs to accept him because of background issues."
This is a huge problem with going to CDL schools. The schools take your money with no concern for your background. Then it could take months for a company to accept them. If that takes longer than 3 months. The CDL is stale and new schooling or refresher courses are required. Meaning more time and money.
We have seen countless people on this forum who went this route with background issues only to be left with no job and thousands in debt.
And just because they guarantee job placement doesn't mean the people find a job. It means they get referred to a company.
A CDL doesn't automatically make you more desirable to companies. At Prime you are less desirable, do more miles in training and make less money the first month.
I am very happy your friend found a job. However, perhaps he would have gotten a better paying job had he waited to put more distance between the infraction and his application. Also he is still at TransAm so that is awesome for him. However he could have had more opportunities had he had time to improve his record
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Anyone remember THIS joke, from years back?!?!?
Sadly, the above is a reminder. It's happening more oft, than before, it seems.
So MUCH is flippant lately; when my R/C gets where it needs, I'll be joining one of y'all, company trained. (Sorry, Tom! Love ya, but...)
~ Anne ~
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Anyone remember THIS joke, from years back?!?!?
Sadly, the above is a reminder. It's happening more oft, than before, it seems.
Oh yes!
That scam should have been named "Los Dinero"!
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Anyone remember THIS joke, from years back?!?!?
Sadly, the above is a reminder. It's happening more oft, than before, it seems.
Oh yes!
That scam should have been named "Los Dinero"!
Indeed, yessir. Good one; but for sure, for sure. Sad, it was. Dude spent SO MUCH TIME, trying to convince Brett.
Glad Mr. Aquila saw THE FLIES, for the fly paper.. ~
~ Anne ~
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
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These poor people paid months ago and don't have the skills to take the exam. The owner closed the school and is no longer returning calls.
CDL school locks doors
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: