I'm wanting to go to a trucking school but they are rather expensive and i can't afford it.?

Question

I heard about these company sponsered training programs through drivers solutions, does anyone know anthing about drivers solution or have been through their program, and would it be something to take a chance on.

Answer 1

I don't know about driver's solutions....but my advice would be to go directly to the trucking company that offers the training.  Schneider and Swift (I believe) both offer CDL training, which is free provided you sign a contract to work for them for 1 yr.  

Be wary of any "generalized" 3rd party driver training or placement program.  It may be a scam- you pay the "driver's solutions" representative a fee, and he/she finds you a place that will train you to drive a truck.  If this sounds anything like what you're dealing with- DON'T do it.  Look up Swift and Schneider online, and contact them directly.

OR- do a Google search for community colleges or vo-tech schools in your area.  Find out if any of them offer commercial-vehicle driving courses.  Or ask a local school bus driver- sometimes they are trained locally, and a place that offers CDL bus training will either offer Class A training or will know where to send you.  The tuition for a state-run driving school (instead of Roadmaster and the like) is set by the state and is usually thousands of dollars cheaper.  AND they usually make financial aid, loan, and scholarship opportunities available.  

Many towns, counties, and states have a "vocational training aid grant" of some sort....the idea is, they help residents with no job training or skills acquire some sort of training, with the hopes that you'll get a job in town, get a house, and funnel your increased income into the community, thereby helping the community's economic status.  Check with Human Services or the equivalent where you are for something like this.  Good luck.

Answer 2

I don't know about that, but I did go through Schneider's training program.  The deal with that is they pay for your training, and you don't owe them a thing provided you stay with the company for a year.  I have to say their program is very thorough, and if you have a good instructor and you pay attention, you'll be a good driver.

Answer 3

There are some trucking Companies like "SWIFT" which will send you to their own school, but you may have to commit driving for them like for one year..

Answer 4

I believe C.R. England still has a driver training program, in addition to Swift. Probably most of the large long-haul companies do.