First Step Of S Long Way...

Topic 8260 | Page 1

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Matthias B.'s Comment
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Ok so I'm new to this, I want to start trucking and I have friends and family who already do, but to get your input on here, would it be better to go through an actual company to get licensed or s third party? I see its gonna be a lot of money down in either direction but I want to make the first right move. I'll be living in Phoenix Arizona and have already located a few possible options, I'm just wondering what people with experience have already gone through (I did read some basic information from the website on how to start just checking your input here)

Thanks.

Matthias B.'s Comment
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I started with a typo...as you can see I need help.

Old School's Comment
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Matthias, Welcome to the forum!

Take a look at our Truck Driver's Career Guide, it's got a lot of information in there that you will find helpful as you get started in your new career. You may also enjoy reading Brett's Book, it's a free on-line version that is an easy read and quite informative of the lifestyle of a truck driver.

You can go through Company-Sponsored Training programs with little or no money up front, and they will want you to sign a contract to work for them for a certain period of time as repayment. You can also go through private Truck Driving Schools if you've got a several thousand dollars lying around and nothing to do with it.

There are so many things to consider at the beginning it can seem overwhelming. We've got some helpful sections here at this site designed to help you with How To Choose A School and also with How To Choose A Company. Dig into these sections and then jump back in here with any and all questions that they have triggered in your mind. We will be happy to help you, and there is always someone in here trying to put out some good advice.

You can do this, you just need to get focused and get a little understanding under you so you can proceed.

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.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

Matthias B.'s Comment
member avatar

Hello again!

So I read over a lot of the basic information and from what I'm understanding, I have narrowed it down to 2 company's. Since I will be living in Phoenix, I'm thinking my best bet would be through either Knight, or Swift. Both seem to have a lot of pros going for them but as far as a success rate for graduating trainees, does anyone know wich would be a good platform start as a company? I'm leaning towards Knight only because it seems swift wants you to get a lot of endorsements to start as a jack of all trades from the get go and it seems a smidge overwhelming. On the other hand since swift wants so much is there more versatility within the company and options? I guess I'm leaning towards Knight but would love feedback in case someone knows something that would benefit me more as a start.

Thanks so so much for all the help!

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