Do I Need To Move?
Topic 12248 | Page 1
Hello everyone. I just spoke to a recruiter at Prime about getting into their driver training program. He said my application looked good and was ready to sign me up when he stopped and said that they don't hire drivers from where I live. I am in a small town about 3 hours from Denver CO, in the northwest corner of the state, in the middle of nowhere basically. Does anyone know if there are any companies that would consider training/hiring me or do I need to move closer to the Denver area? I am flexible, just not sure where to go from here. Thanks!
Hey Josh.
You have been on the site for a while now, have you had an opportunity to review the link: Company-Sponsored Training ? This link will identify trucking companies (like Prime) that offer training and will in-turn hire a driver graduating from their school. I would be surprised if you were unable to find a company willing to hire you regardless of your home address. If your heart is set on Prime and that's where you want to go, moving may well be your only option.
Trucking Truth also has a comprehensive program called the High Road Training Program. This program will take all of the guess work out of preparing to pass the tests required for obtaining the CDL class A permit. I also suggest reading Brett's Book and reviewing Truck Driver's Career Guide.
There is a ton of information on this website covering every imaginable topic relevant to trucking. Good luck as you begin your journey and let us know how else we can assist you.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Thanks for the reply G-town. I was living in the Denver area and decided to move back to my hometown because rent got so high, it didn't make sense to pay $1200 per month rent if I would only be home 4-5 days per month. I used the (very helpful) high road training program to pass my written tests and now have my cdl permit in CO. I am currently browsing the company sponsored training link for another option. The holidays are over and I am ready to start a new career, just hoping I won't have to move again to get accepted to a program. Any other advice from anyone from a small town would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Find companies with terminals in Colorado. You might have to drive to the terminal vs. bringing truck home but who cares, beats having to move to Denver.
I did see a few ads on Western Slope craigslist for a couple companies. Might be worth checking out.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I'm in a similar situation. I live about 10 minutes north of the border and the majority of companies will not consider me because they will not be able to get me home soon. Prime did approve me. Maybe you just need to get the right person on the line. Is it possible to speak to a different recruiter or would there be anyway they'd make an exception?
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Hello everyone. I just spoke to a recruiter at Prime about getting into their driver training program. He said my application looked good and was ready to sign me up when he stopped and said that they don't hire drivers from where I live. I am in a small town about 3 hours from Denver CO, in the northwest corner of the state, in the middle of nowhere basically. Does anyone know if there are any companies that would consider training/hiring me or do I need to move closer to the Denver area? I am flexible, just not sure where to go from here. Thanks!