New Guy Taking A Leap

I have been reading that some people who choose to go private school and get their CDL and t he n get employed by a company that has their own school sometimes make the new hire go to their school anyway including signing the contract putting them on the hook for the training costs. Is that a common thing? Presently debating private bank company cdl school so if this is common practice it makes the choice clearer.

Marc… not sure where you read that. I think it’s quite possible if during a pre employment road test, backing test or PTI test; even though the applicant may indeed have their CDL , if they do not meet basic standards of a specific company, they may be required to go through that company’s school. Don’t know if specifics, but yes it’s possible.

Did you get a chance to read the link I sent you yesterday?

Why We Prefer Company Sponsored Training

I believe it’s clear on the best path to take.

I have been reading that some people who choose to go private school and get their CDL and t he n get employed by a company that has their own school sometimes make the new hire go to their school anyway including signing the contract putting them on the hook for the training costs. Is that a common thing? Presently debating private bank company cdl school so if this is common practice it makes the choice clearer.

I have been reading that some people who choose to go private school and get their CDL and t he n get employed by a company that has their own school sometimes make the new hire go to their school anyway including signing the contract putting them on the hook for the training costs. Is that a common thing? Presently debating private bank company cdl school so if this is common practice it makes the choice clearer.

You didn't read that on here.

Yes thank you I did read the article and have been gobbling up other articles here as well. Lots of helpful information.

As for where I read about companies making people ‘redo’ schooling, I did read that in one of the forums topics here and a couple other web boards. Just enough to make me question if it’s a thing. Still not sure about which path to take -company or private school. Soooo many differing opinions and pro cons I am finding but that’s ok. Will probably end up coming down to timing opportunity and cost.

I have been reading that some people who choose to go private school and get their CDL and t he n get employed by a company that has their own school sometimes make the new hire go to their school anyway including signing the contract putting them on the hook for the training costs. Is that a common thing? Presently debating private bank company cdl school so if this is common practice it makes the choice clearer.

You didn't read that on here.

Yes thank you I did read the article and have been gobbling up other articles here as well. Lots of helpful information.

As for where I read about companies making people ‘redo’ schooling, I did read that in one of the forums topics here and a couple other web boards. Just enough to make me question if it’s a thing. Still not sure about which path to take -company or private school. Soooo many differing opinions and pro cons I am finding but that’s ok. Will probably end up coming down to timing opportunity and cost.

I have been reading that some people who choose to go private school and get their CDL and t he n get employed by a company that has their own school sometimes make the new hire go to their school anyway including signing the contract putting them on the hook for the training costs. Is that a common thing? Presently debating private bank company cdl school so if this is common practice it makes the choice clearer.

You didn't read that on here.

Glad to see you're still plugging along AT it, Marc !!

As far as what you've read and/or heard, it could be a reference which had been made to a training school/program not being on the national registry. This is explained within the following link, re: the ELDT that went into effect on 02/07/2022 explained in detail here:

FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training; About the Regulations.

Hope this helps,

~ Anne ~

Marc L,

I have spoken with one company that has a requirement along the lines of what you mentioned. I'll share the company name, and by doing so, understand that it is NOT meant negatively. In other words, I think they're a solid company, and they have a way of finding/hiring drivers that works for them. My info is not hearsay. I spoke with their recruiters multiple times, and they're very responsive on Messenger as well.

KLLM. They have their own school in three states, requiring that you have your permit, and they'll help you get your CDL. Those schools can only train students from those states, and a few other adjoining states. Their schools, as with many companies that offer company training, requires a year commitment.

If you don't live in one of their approved states (I don't), you must get your CDL through other means. For a new driver, that means a private school. After you get your CDL, they will then require you to go through their refresher course, which is only 8 or 9 days, and yes, you'll sign a contract for the cost of that refresher course, but it's only for 6 months, not a year or more.

At the time I was looking, their director of recruiting called me one day and said he was aware I was talking with their recruiters and wanted to update me on a change in their situation. He very politely went on to tell me they were temporarily hiring inexperienced drivers from their schools only. The reason was that they were struggling to have enough trainers to cover their own school graduates, and simply didn't have enough to also work with refresher course students. He said they only required 3 months experience to get you into your own truck, suggested I give them a call when I had earned that experience, and wished me well.

I've not spoken with them since July of this year, so I'm not aware if their situation has changed.

Anne is also correct about the new ELDT mandates. There is a list of schools that are in compliance with the mandate, and if the school isn't on that list, very likely a trucking company will not be interested in anyone coming from such a non-approved program.

As for a company requiring attending their own school after completing CDL school, even before the ELDT mandate, every company that hires inexperienced drivers has maintained a list of schools that each company considers an approved school. There is some overlap, but not entirely. So, it's possible to go to a school that is approved by a handful of companies, but not the one a graduate decides they want to hire on with. In that circumstance, going through the company's school is a very real possibility. It is for this reason that if a person decides for him/herself to pay for school him/herself to first choose a list of companies and find out what schools those companies hire from. Choose a school that is common to all of them. Obviously, it is advised to go the route of company-sponsored training , but we are all adults and each person has an individual decision to make. For some people, the choice is to pay for school themselves. As I described above is a solid way to navigate that decision.

I have been reading many of the training school diaries here as well as other sites ‘testimonials’. I understand the idea of company sponsored training meaning that the company has invested in the trainee so they want you to succeed. However, some of the testimonies I have seen seem to show company schools accepting 8 but washing out 6 or out of 25 only half pass etc. I wondering if there is anything to the theory I saw that companies will have say 5 openings, they accept 15 and then hire the best five washing out the rest. They then because of the contract get reimbursed by the washouts training at no cost to themselves. Not pointing fingers or being a conspiracy theorist or anything but this seems plausible from a business point of view. Given I am considering walking away from my current job / career I don’t want to be a training casualty and end up unemployed. So entourage truth and encouragement is very welcome.

I wondering if there is anything to the theory I saw that companies will have say 5 openings, they accept 15 and then hire the best five washing out the rest. They then because of the contract get reimbursed by the washouts training at no cost to themselves.

Hey Marc. Totally valid concern.

I can tell you unequivocally no, they do not get reimbursed for lost students at no cost to themselves. If the company fires a student, the student does not owe the company any money unless the student violated a major rule of some sort. In that case, the company may try to collect what's owed from the contract, but what are the chances they'll collect anything? Nearly zero.

It's extremely expensive to recruit new drivers. It costs the trucking companies many thousands of dollars every time they lose a recruit.

Interestingly enough, it's the students who actually have nothing to lose by walking away, and that's why so many students fail these programs.

Keep in mind that these Paid CDL Training Programs will give an opportunity to almost anyone who qualifies. Many of the people who take a shot at trucking have no idea how demanding this industry is, and they go into it with a "wait and see" approach. If things work out, fine. If not, fine.

If you begin a long journey and immediately realize you've underestimated the challenges and you have no real consequences for quitting, most will quit. The incentive just isn't there.

Also, remember that a significant number of students fail the physical or drug test. Others have such a terrible attitude and work ethic that there's no chance they'll succeed in this industry.

Trucking companies bring in a ton of students because they know they will lose many of them fairly quickly. They would love to keep every one of them for years, but it doesn't work that way.

They'll give you the opportunity, and they'll also give you enough rope to hang yourself. What you make of the opportunity will determine your fate. It's uncommon to find a student who goes into it with a fantastic attitude and work ethic but just can't pass the program. It happens, but not often. The overwhelming majority of students who do not make it through training have no one to blame but themselves.

Thank you. This is what I needed to hear. I have a clean driving record, not so much as a speeding ticket in nearly thirty years. No health conditions at all, no surgeries, no medications, no adverse health history etc. Health wise I have ‘dad bod’ and have worked behind a computer for ages. I live a clean lifestyle never touching drugs and drink rarely on holidays. No criminal record. College educated. Good learner. Kids are just grown. Even some truck experience in the service, though limited and a long time ago. Basically I don’t foresee any barriers to a career in trucking. I have no doubt that if my fate is in my own hands I can pass. However, I am ignorant to the unknown. I don’t want to take such a risk without addressing issues that may be out of my control ahead of time. This website is helping and I have read the materials. What other hidden pitfalls await?