Question About Trucking Companies That Train For An Upfront Fee?

So I'm searching for my "in" to the industry and came across a local OTR trucking company (don't know if it's ok to post the url here but is available to those interested) that wants $4700 up-front to train and put me in a tractor for a year. During that year $2700 will be deducted from paychecks. The remainder is owed by me to the company for schooling. Is this a normal practice? All the other schools I've looked into pretty much let you pay off the whole thing in a year. Just wondering if it's a good deal or if I should continue searching. BTW, I am in NH and am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel, so if you know someone... ;) Thanks for any info!

Look at what other companies are charging for company training.

Dave

Matt, $4700 is a bit high. Also, I haven't heard of any company that wants you to pay cash at the outset. Nearly everybody finances. On top of that, some companies have it so that after a couple of years working for them, tuition is free.

I suggest looking elsewhere unless that particular company has something you want.

I agree with what the others have said. I just graduated last week - At my school there were 3 companies that would pay the tuition. One of them requires a 9 month commitment after graduation, another a year. The last one deducted x amount from your checks each week after you start driving for them, for 13 months to pay for school. After that they would reimburse you that same amount over the next 13 months... so 26 months for school to be paid for.

Other schools that I looked into had finance options, and you would repay after graduation - if your company offered reimbursement they would send the payment right to them so that you didn't have to worry about it.

The cash pay amount for the schools in my area is $3900 - 4100.

Sounds like your talking about something similar to, or directly about, Earl L. Henderson Trucking.

Total cost of the training is only $4,600 and you pay nothing upfront!

After you are out on the road with a trainer and earning money, you will start paying $50 per week towards your tuition.

When you hit your 6 month anniversary with Henderson Trucking, Henderson will apply $1,000 of company money towards your tuition.

When you hit your 1 year anniversary with Henderson Trucking, Henderson will apply another $1,000 of company money towards your tuition.

This means that as long as you stay with Henderson Trucking for 1 full year, the amount you have to pay for your tuition is only $2,600 or $50 per week for 52 weeks, the rest is PAID FOR YOU!

a company that wants $4700 up-front to train and put me in a tractor for a year. During that year $2700 will be deducted from paychecks. The remainder is owed by me to the company for schooling

Ok wait a minute. That doesn't make sense. They want $4,700 up front and they're going to deduct $2,700 during the year and you owe them more after that?

You can let us know what company you're talking about so we can look into it. But it seems to me that the schooling you're talking about requires no money up front but they deduct payments once you start driving. Can you clear this up for us?

Yes, Earl. L. Henderson is the company. BTW, the link you posted above is NOT the link I followed through Indeed.com the other day. I thought it seemed fishy since all the other companies do differently. When I looked up their linked ad I found the cryptic line "Full Tuition of $4,600 is Reduced to Only $2,600 through Reimbursements at 6 and 12 Months of Continuous Employment", so I assumed it was some sort of school linked to placing drivers with trucking companies after graduation. I only stumbled on their ad by chance and didn't follow-up after I read that, but the other night I was browsing on here and thought I'd post and ask - figure it's better to hear the from you guys than some ambiguous website somewhere. Thanks for clearing that up!

Check your local community college for a program. I attended one for less than $1000, 6 students, tons of drive time, and 8 weeks long.

Check your local community college for a program. I attended one for less than $1000, 6 students, tons of drive time, and 8 weeks long.

I had the same kind of experience with my local community college. Same price and length, but only 1 other student.