Question:
AS a future truck driver,Ineed to know what you would recommend,going to a community college(southeast community college) or going to company sponsored training.Also what company is good to start with ?? ONLY YOU CAN SAY IT THANXS SPARTAGUS

Answer:
If you have the CASH, by All Means pay for school out of your pocket.(attend a Community College or other Private drving school.)
If you do pay CASH out of your Pocket...
Some carriers have Tuition Reimbursment programs.(this will require that you sign a 1 yr Contract with the carrier stating that you will stay employed with them for 1yr.)
or...
Pay CASH & do NOT go with a "Tuition Reimbursment" program.(therefore, you will NOT be required to sign a Contract & you can come & go as You Please.)
If you do NOT have CASH......
I recommend going to the Employment office & Inquire about WIA or other Government Grants & Government programs.(you will NOT have to sign a contract with anyone, you will NOT have to repay the funds, you will NOT have to stay with the first carrier you sign on with if things do Not work out.
If you do NOT have CASH....
You can go to a Company Sponsored School.(you will be required to sign a 1 yr Contract stating you will stay employed with them for 1 yr.)
=========+++WhatEver You Do+++===================
*****!!!!!Do NOT Take Out A Loan for School!!!!!*****

Answer:
Thanks for your insightful wisdom.If I GO TO SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE i'll be getting pell grant & small staffard loan(about $800-1000)for 10.5 week program.IT only costs $607.50 for an out of state student &I'll live at a shelter for the lenght of the program to keep my costs low.The stafford loan would only be for my personal costs while in school. THAKS A BUNCH!!!!

Answer:
Originally posted by asparagus:
I'll live at a shelter for the lenght of the program to keep my costs low.
Now is this dedication or what? This student is going all the way by living in a shelter while attending Big Truck School! Might as well get used to the life style early...


Answer:
Bedspread your words of incourgement are warmth to my heart.Its economics i just don't have much money but need a better career,don't have one now,i making less than $8000 a year temping.I'm looking forward to meeting you on the road.

Answer:
I'm looking forward to meeting you on the road.
...sheesh... Another one wants to meet me at Jessup and clean my clock...
Son...Have you ever been around a homeless shelter? You don't have enough of a grant to pay for lodging? If not, I would seriously think of training with SCHNEIDER where proper quarters are provided.
Now I am an old fart, and I can see where it is likely you will receive a better education regarding the industry at a Vocational College, but if I didn't have the means to afford suitable lodging...my choice would be SCHNEIDER...
10 1/2 weeks around drug heads, alcoholics and assorted human misery (sounds like a truck stop) is going to cut into your concentration ability.

Answer:
BEDSPREAD I agree its hard to concentrat at a shelter,but its better than not going at all & staying at the shelter i'm currently at in boston.I've already done c.r.englands training,i didn't get enough hands on expierence.THANKS FOR YOUR INFINITE WISDOM.

Answer:
I've already done c.r.englands training...
So you attended ENGLAND'S little CDL Mill Dog And Pony Show? I assume you failed to graduate? How much do you owe them?

Answer:
Your right I failed but don't owe them anything.THANK GOD!!BUT I DID LEARN WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME & WHERE MY WEAKNESS ARE THAT IS I FEEL IS INVALUABLE.

Answer:
Save your time and energy for this career change. BEDSPREAD hasen't driven a truck in decades! He's our resident retiree, cranky old man full of great insight and information sometimes, but woefully out of touch with some aspects of today's trucking.
One correction to cholit snda's excellent advice.
If you pay for your own truck school (not a "company" school that's part of your orientation and training), most companys do NOT make you sign a contract. They'll reimburse your tuition, including loan interest, based on the actual contract you present them from the truck school, at (usually) $100-%150 per month, until the full amount of your school has been paid to you, or you hit their top limit (usually about $5,000) or you quit or get fired -- whichever happens first.
The monthly tuition reimbursement is an incentive to NOT quit, since this reimbursement is typically only available with the first carrier you work for after completing school. If you quit that carrier, the next one will not reimburse you any remaining amount, since tuition reimbursement is basically a sign-on bonus to attract FIRST TIME DRIVERS to that company.
The contract sholit snda refers to, usually applies to "company school". Schneider and Swift, for example, operate their own in-house truck schools and do indeed make you sign a contract since they're fronting you the cost of their truck school in advance.
Of course, the few hundred dollars you're talking about (really?) at $100 per month will be reimbursed in a few months instead of the couple/few years most tuition reimbursements last.
[This message was edited by Shuffler on December 08, 2003 at 13:57.]

Answer:
Exactly where is this community college? I think you had better check on homeless shelters (not truckstops) in that area before you decide to go...


Answer:
I went to a Community College in Fl. for Truck Driving School. There are 3 in Fl. North, central and so. Fl. I was close enough to drive from home every day to go. Cost was 1000 for eight weeks.
Find out if your state has such a progam.
Big


Answer:
BEDSPREAD,i have checked out places to stay.The school is southeast community college in lincoln,nebraska.THE mission is PEOPLES RESCUE MISSION right there in lincoln.AS you mentioned,i realise its not the best place to stay its only for 11 weeks just like basic training.

Answer:
Originally posted by spartagus:
yep did c.r.englands........
Your right I failed but don't owe them anything._THANK GOD_!!BUT I DID LEARN WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME & WHERE MY WEAKNESS ARE THAT IS I FEEL IS INVALUABLE.
Don't get me wrong here, I am all for someone trying to better their own personal, and work situation(I preach it , and practice it), you might look real hard at why you want to become a truck driver, it is my personal opinion, that to many people get into it just because they think it is easy. It's not!
Or, because they think they can make good money. the money won't be there until you get a few years of experience.
Then once they are in, they are miserable. that shows in their job performance, and their attitude towards the entire industry. Just look around the R/T, I'm sure you can spot a few examples, of what I mean.
You also need to look real hard at the reasons that you washed out of C R Englands training course. They had a vested interest in putting you into a truck, and couldn't do it. A community college has no such interest, and from what I understand, the training, and their standards for graduation, are much higher than most Company training schools.
I know it's easy for people with financial woes to get sucked in. I mean "WOW, it's a job that comes with a place to live and everything".
TEAMSTERS UNITE
Answer:
Shadetree56 thanxs for your reply.I have looked very hard at why i want to get into trucking & simply it fits my charecter & desire.I releise it is a demanding job & sometimes just plain frustrating but a good job,decent pay(compared to what i've been doing),& good benifets plus the add benefit of working in the industry with you! If you have any other info to give a newbie like me please post it here!!!!