I am wanting to go to school to get my class A CDL, there is a school close to my house and they charge $5995 for a 3 week course. I have been saving my money and have almost enough but i am worried about getting a job after i get out of school. Do the schools actually give you your cdl or do you still have to go to the DMV and do the driving test ?? I am wanting to work local driving a gravel truck or something similar, I already have my class B and have been driving dump trucks for 5 years ( I actually have my class A "permit", basically like a learner permit for you when you was 15 before you got your driver license) , the only reason why OTR is out of the question is all the little catches up front with every company and the fact most pay you $400 a week for 3-6 weeks so not really wanting that. i dont mind being out of town if the money is good and $400 a week is not good. So what are the chances if i go to this school and get my class A license a local company will hire me with no experience except the dump truck which probably wont count ?? Thank you for any advise in advance

 

Welcome to the forum! The chances are slim, but it is possible. If the person who you worked for while driving B class dump trucks has A class equipment, that would be a relatively easy transition. If not, ask local companies. I would think that concrete and construction companies would hire you, but I've never pursued those avenues.

 

6Grand for 3 weeks sounds pretty high to me, but that might be the going rate now but I'd still check around. If the place your at now has dump trl why not use them and there equipment to get your cdl? It would be just about $5995 cheaper! If you do go to a school make sure it's PTDI certified, that means a lot to some companies .

 

guess i should have said i was laid off from the dump truck jobs i had...i did enjoy them and have a spotless record and no tickets and im 27 yrs old....i might check with some local OTR trucking companies to see if they would train and put me on with them, i could offer them a fraction of what the school wanted and get the experience if they go for it...i am out of town operating heavy equipment now but to be honest its hard keeping steady work running equipment you always have to worry if they have another job after this one.....thanks for the ideas !!

 

If you can run a dump its just about time for snow plows...... where you at? It looks like its going to be a busy year.
The DMV gives you your license even if you go with a bigger school its the DMV that licenses you. Get your hazmat, and all other endorsements.
I think a company would give you some credit for class B, but since they aren't logged hours its hard to say what that would mean. You might get local delievery as its almost Christmas.

 

I got a job with a company in Utah that sent me to their school. They paid for a greyhound to get me there, and roomed me their motel, free of charge, while I took their 3 week course. They didn't require money up front, they would deducted a small amount weekly from my check. All I had to do was pay for my food while in school for the 3 weeks. They taught us what we needed to know to get the CDL permit first, then they trained us in backing for a week and then we drove around town for about a week with a trainer, then we did our state testing right there(pre trip, backing, road test). After passing all the tests and getting my CDL, they then put you with a trainer for 60 days for your OTR training, then your qualified to drive for them on your own or with a team mate. It was very easy to get a CDL with them. BUT, during my first week out on the road with my 60 day trainer, he fell asleep at the wheel and wrecked the truck. I headed home very hurt and disappointed. This was about a year ago. I recently got my courage up and looked for a job using my CDL but was unable to find a company to hire me without atleast a year experience. Most companies want you to have a year exp before they will hire you. Lucklly I just found a O/O who heard my story and agreed to let me drive with him to gain additional exp. I'm not sure how that will work out, but, if you want to get your CDL you can go that route. You probally won't find a company to give you a job without a year exp. Good luck, hope this helped Some of the companies that do this type of training are: CR England, Swift, USA, PAM. You can apply online and probally be on a bus headed to their school by the end of the week.

 

The bottom line is you are going to starve. PERIOD!

Statement: We will pay you $400 per week while in training and on the road"
Truth : You will get paid about $300 Now calculate how much you need per day for meals and other incidentals. You will be lucky if you have $100 left!! (Go and pay your bills with that lol)
Now do that for 3-4 months!

Statement: Truckers make great money!! See me roll in piles of moolah with a new shiny truck!
Truth : All lies to the bitter end. I would equate trucking like going to the casino. You occasionally hear about the person that always hits it big. But here is the irrefutable truth!! The trucking companies are the house and you are the player!! Sit down and actually calculate how much you really make given the work time you actually put in. You are nothing but a cash register to these people....pure and simple! They have been out for themselves...and always will!! (Plenty more of you to run through the orientation mill) BTW They get a nice tax deduction anyway for having you down there whether you make it through orientation or not. They actually made money just for you showing up!! lol

Stay close to home and find a regular job if you want to pay your bills, keep your house and keep your car.

 

I guess you didn't notice that this post is almost a year old?