Profile For Richard K.

Ok, thanks for all the advice. I am already reading Brett's book

Richard, Thanks for responding. I know some of us hit you pretty hard. I have researched this for almost a year. I have read the good the bad and the ugly. For me, this career looks good for several reasons. 1. I am 56 years old and have not saved any money for retirement. 2 I pay $360.00 per month for health insurance. CRAPPY INSURANCE, $13500 DEDUCTIBLE. I know the first year will not be great financially, might take home $500 per week after taxes, insurance and tuition repayment. I'm OK with that because I can see by year 3 if I bust my a$$, don't refuse loads, don't crash my truck, do what is expected of me, present a professional attitude to shippers, receivers and my superiors, I will land a great driving job. Potentially making 50-60 grand a year. Get on a Walmart fleet and push that to 70-80!!! Sounds like a pretty good 1 year investment of my time and $2000 to Swift. By the way, if I stick with Swift for an additional year, they give me my $2000 back. Totally free schooling. There are many people your age with $30000- 40000 in student loan debt and a Bachelor's Degree making $36000 per year at Geico. It's all a matter of perspective. PLEASE READ Brett's Book if you haven't yet done so. This business grinds people up and spits them out at a turnover rate of close to 100%. You need to have THICK SKIN and be able to see the financial light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. Oh, by the way, my name is John. I hope this was helpful. I start at Swift April 11th. I will be posting a Training Diary on this site. I hope you look it up.

Good luck with your Decision, John

What is the company, if it's not a secret?

Are there any companies that don't require a full year of contract work after you complete your CDL training with them? Sounds like a year of slave labor to me. Three months or less would be optimal). Thanks.

Richard...man, I'm glad I didn't take the attitude you have. I made 50K my first year after my company trained me. Slave labor..lol. Good luck buddy!

Tractor Man (wish I knew your real name), I am 32, in a process of completely changing my career. It's not about getting something for nothing, it's a question of is it worth it or not. I have a specific goal, so I am willing to work hard, extremely hard if needed, but I need to know the effort/return relation and the optimal way of doing things before I make a decision. I must consider all factors

Not a knock on age Nathan. Don,t take it personally. I would assume that you have read this entire thread. Richard seems to want something for nothing. You don't sound like that guy. Yes, Older and Wiser. I have been working almost twice as long as you have been alive, not a knock, just a fact. We learn from our successes and FAILURES! I have plenty of both. Richard seems to think that he can start at the top with no investment of either time or experience. Again that does not sound like you. You started at the bottom and are working your way up in your early 20's. I am going to start at the bottom and work my way up in my mid 50's. His age was only one of 7 questions that I posed to him, then followed up with some of my stats. I'm trying to get the big picture from him so people on this Forum can help him to see if this career is for him, or if his expectations don't match up with reality. That's all. Keep working hard, save lots of money, and you won't end up like this Old Man trying to catch up on the money HE DIDN'T save in his 20's and 30's

Ok, thanks for advice

Ok, the first numbers I pulled out of my ... er ... head. I just checked two early Swift paycheck details. Most are .33, and one each of .35 & .42 for variety. (Those weekly paychecks were $722.03 and $854.85 gross, not take home.)

That's after about 5 weeks of OTR road training, when I was making an average $500/week being paid for my duty and driving hours.

As for hiring on without experience, that's easy. Suppose you buy your own schooling (so you're not tied to one company). Look for the key words "recent grads". But don't try to keep the hiring bonus (which could pay your tuition off), because you'll be under a contract for several months if you take it.

That's quite a big range. Do any of the companies pay 48 cents per mile during training? So far, I couldn't find any. Celadon, for example, is 18 cents.

TANSTAAFL

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, Richard.

If you don't want to commit to a company, no company will want to commit/train you. And being paid $.30-.48/mile isn't "slave labor".

Actually, I am considering attending school. But is it possible to find a job afterwards without experience?

Richard,

I would not call the replies to your questions judgemental, just realistic. There is a real simple alternative to Company Sponsored Training. Pay cash up front (or get a student loan or grant, if you qualify, and go to the School of your choice. My research has shown me that Community Colleges have some of the lowest tuitions and Private Schools some of the highest, with Company Schools somewhere in between. A price range between $2500.00 up to $7000.00. Swift for example charges $3900.00 + $500.00 for lodging. You attend and pass all of the tests and Mentor training, pass your driving test and obtain your CDL, you can choose to work for them or hire on with any company you choose. You paid your tuition and have no contractual obligations.

Brett, a full year is too much, yes. I hear the irony, but taking advantage is exactly what's it's called. Three or four months I'd agree with but 12 is a different matter. You probably got used to it, but the first time I heard it came to me as a shock. If you are looking from a perspective of a company, then sure, it's very convenient. But it's my life not to sound cynical or egotistical or both. They are no altruists, these companies, as you make them sound. Now, if it's a good company, I would actually CHOOSE to continue working for it without being forced to.

So you think it's unreasonable for a company to ask you to work for them for a year after they trained you for a new career and paid for it out of pocket? You don't even know how to drive a truck yet but you're already assuming that the largest, most successful companies in the nation are no good and they're all just lining up to take advantage of you?

Wow. Great perspective. It's like you're offended that they would even ask you to do anything for them in return at all. I mean, they're only offering to take you off the street, train you for a new career, and pay for it, and then take all of the liability risk to put you in a truck by yourself with no solo experience at all. You will literally be one of the most dangerous drivers on the planet and they'll be responsible if you screw up.

But yeah, how dare they ask for anything in return. I mean, seriously, work for them for a year??? Wow, that's just dastardly and despicable!

No, I actually appreciate the input, a little judgmental for my taste. I am considering all options and weighing in to see if there are any alternatives. At this point a full year does seem too much to me. To each his own. Thanks for the answer.

Richard,

You just got some TOUGH LOVE from quite a few people that want to help people to succeed in this business. Sometimes it's hard to handle. Apparently you chose to ignore it. Good luck to you

Kaydie, thank you for the answer

Are there any companies that don't require a full year of contract work after you complete your CDL training with them? Sounds like a year of slave labor to me. Three months or less would be optimal). Thanks.

Celadon has a 6 month contact option...CRST is a 10 month contract..all the others that I know of is 1 year or more.

Are there any companies that don't require a full year of contract work after you complete your CDL training with them? Sounds like a year of slave labor to me. Three months or less would be optimal). Thanks.